Craig Stowe, Director of the Chinese Restaurant Awards, unveiled at a Launch Lunch the judging categories and introduced the judges and sponsors for the third annual HSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards. The Launch Lunch, co-hosted by HSBC Bank Canada and Tourism Richmond, was held at the award-winning Red Star Seafood Restaurant in Richmond.

“Last February, the world’s most prestigious travel publication, Condé Nast Traveler, proclaimed what many residents already knew, that Metro Vancouver has the best Chinese food in the world. These Awards celebrate that excellence,” states Mr. Stowe. ” In an era when the words ‘local’ and ‘seasonal’ have started to spring up on menus all over Metro, we are reminded that the Chinese have always eaten this way. Chinese cooks, professionals and home cooks alike, look for the freshest possible ingredients at the peak of their seasonal best. Chinese cuisine, its flavours as well as techniques, have come to influence many of Metro’s top Mainstream chefs. That’s why it is important to shine the spotlight on some of the Chinese food scene’s culinary stars who are contributing so much to Metro’s vibrant restaurant culture.”

As in the previous two years, the 2011 HSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards are divided into two components: The Diners’ Choice Awards and The Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards.

More than 9,300 people cast their votes for the 2010 Diners’ Choice Awards. The dining public, both Mainstream and Asian, discussed the merits of the restaurants and preparation of various dishes. Food blogs and e-zines were jammed with comments and recommendations. Given the level of last year’s interest, and with HSBC Bank Canada and Tourism Richmond returning as sponsors, it is expected that the 2011 awards will attract even more public interest and participation.

The Diners’ Choice Awards allows the public to participate in all the fun. This year, for the first time, members of the public can play an important part by nominating restaurants. From September 28 through October 5, the public is invited to nominate their favourites on the Diners’ Choice web site. The top 20 restaurants nominated by the public will form the list that will be voted on to receive Diners’ Choice Awards. Voting will take place, also on-line, from October 6 through November 12 at www.votedinerschoice.com .

For the Critics’ Choice Signature Dish component, the judging panel is comprised of 11 restaurant professionals and journalists who possess a strong knowledge of Chinese cuisine. “They have to understand the cooking methods, history and traditions of Chinese food,” says Judging Panel Chair, Stephan Wong. “This is really important. It creates a level judging field where they all share the same criteria.” Upon joining the panel, each judge receives a directory of the more than 400 Chinese restaurants in Metro Vancouver. By mid September, they have submitted three to five nominees for each category. Then all the judges go out and taste each other’s recommendations. This goes on through November and December, when they meet to vote on the 24 Gold Signature Dish winners as well as name a Chinese Chef of the Year and a Best Wine and Spirit Service Award. The Chef of the Year will be awarded for the first time this year.

With more than 600 Chinese chefs in Metro Vancouver, how is one chosen for Chinese Chef of the Year? This year the HSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards is pleased to welcome three professional organizations to the judging panel: Canadian Dim Sum Chefs Association, Chinese Canadian Chefs Association and Hong Kong Canadian Chinese Chefs Club. These three organizations will spearhead the search for Chinese Chef of the Year through a series of competitions – the final competition taking place on the same day as the Awards Ceremony. Watch the CRA web site for more details as they are announced.

All winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held on January 18, 2011.

The public is encouraged to start dining and cast their votes.

More information 

Web site (Information and nominations) www.chineserestaurantawards.com

To Vote for Diners’ Choice Awards (Oct.6 – Nov.12): www.votedinerschoice.com

Updates: visit HSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards’ Facebook page or follow us on Twitter

http://twitter.com/CRADiningGuide

Photos:

images for download are posted on:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cra2011launch/

Selected high res images are available at:

www.ChineseRestaurantAwards.com/CRAphotos2011/HSBCCRA2011Launch.zip

The HSBC Chinese Restaurant Awards wishes to thank title sponsor HSBC Bank Canada and the following sponsors who help to make these awards possible:

Tourism Richmond, Remy Martin, Mercedes Benz, Quintessentially Canada, Amoy Food limited, Tsit Wing Group, Underwater Harvesters’ Association, Wingtat Game Bird Packers, CityTV, OMNI TV, CHMB AM 1320, Fairchild Radio AM1470 & FM96.1, Global Chinese Press, Gcpnews.com, World Journal, Canadian Dim Sum Chefs Association, Chinese Canadian Chefs Association, Hong Kong Canadian Chinese Chefs Club.

Attachments: Judging Panel,  Signature Dish Magazine Blog (An Open letter to Jamie Oliver & Chinese Dining in Vancouver in the Seventies)