The Michelin Guide has deemed eight Vancouver restaurants each worthy of one of its prestigious culinary stars.
The Parisian ode to fine dining unveiled its second Canadian edition at a gala on Thursday that showcased foodie stars including the Vancouver outpost of acclaimed Beijing restaurant iDen & Quan Ju De and Japanese-Italian fusion by Kissa Tanto.
“The very first selection is a good start. (It) truly represents the high quality of the local culinary field and the great diversity and care given to the incredible local products,” the guide’s international director, Gwendal Poullennec, said on Thursday ahead of the reveal.
The guide’s anonymous inspectors praised the “crispy and juicy duck” found at iDen & Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House, where the signature dish sells for $128 and comes with caviar for an additional $140.
Contemporary restaurants AnnaLena, Barbara, Burdock & Co and Published on Main also received accolades, which each earned a star identifying them as very good in their category.
A single Michelin star also went to sushi bar Masayoshi and Quebec bistro St. Lawrence.
No restaurant has been awarded two stars, which recognize establishments offering “excellent” cuisine, and none have won the rare three stars, which distinguish exceptional cuisine that deserves a special trip.
However, Poullennec pointed to the high standards needed to earn even a single star, which anonymous inspectors determine using a global methodology that Poullennec says is applied equally in all countries. visited by the guide.
Factors include flavor, cooking technique, product quality, consistency and whether the chef’s personality is reflected in the dishes.
“You know, being part of the selection is really an achievement in itself. To be awarded a star means that you are not only one of the best restaurants in your city, but in your country and in the world,” Poullennec said.
The century-old system has also awarded 12 restaurants Bib Gourmands, reserved for establishments offering good food for good value, defined as a two-course meal with wine or dessert that costs less than $60.
Vietnamese restaurants featured prominently in this ranking – including Anh and Chi, Phnom Penh and Lunch Lady – while Italian, contemporary and Indian dishes also stood out.
The complete selection, including recommended restaurants, totals 60 restaurants.
The Vancouver Michelin guide follows a Toronto-focused list in September that hit Canada’s first two-star restaurant and bestowed single stars on a dozen restaurants.
As in Toronto, Michelin’s arrival in Vancouver is partly due to a multi-year funding agreement to help promote pandemic-reduced international travel.
The Destination Vancouver manager said the marketing organization had negotiated a minimum five-year commitment with Michelin, in hopes that the boosted global profile of local food stars could attract visitors again.
Royce Chwin added that while the partnership means Destination Vancouver will boast Michelin accolades for certain restaurants, it doesn’t stop the organization from promoting other restaurants as well.
“We know there’s a type of visitor who will look at which Michelin towns are, and they’ll organize trips and go to those towns to visit Michelin-rated restaurants,” Chwin said.
“When we do that, we’re really building capacity, we’re building a visitor economy for Vancouver.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 27, 2022.
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