Who says that the Canadian electorate is apathetic? Perhaps they just need something meaningful for vote for? Apathy was nowhere in evidence with voting for the second annual HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards. More than 9,300 votes were cast in 15 award categories. Good food, good taste and the art of dining well are very important topics in cuisine-crazy Metro Vancouver. We take eating very seriously.

The HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards are one of two components of the Edgewater Casino Chinese Restaurant Awards. The other is the Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards which will be announced at a gala event scheduled to take place following the 2010 Olympics.

“Good food is an essential element of Chinese culture,” says Critics’ Panel Chair Stephanie Yuen. “The freshness of ingredients, balance of flavours, and subtlety of dishes are all hotly debated topics amongst Asian diners. It is no surprise to us that the Chinese community embraced the CRA so enthusiastically, but we are thrilled that mainstream society is also passionately involved in voting for their favourite restaurants.”

Many of the winning restaurants are to be found in Richmond. In fact 56 percent of the winners come from Richmond with Alexandra Road being a hotbed of culinary excellence – six winners come from that one street! For true Chinese cuisine cognoscenti, Richmond is a Mecca for the best dining in Metro Vancouver. “There is such a strong Asian restaurant culture in Richmond that it is no surprise to us that many of the winners are to be found there,” comments Ms. Yuen. “Now that the Canada Line is running, it is even easier for people from Vancouver to come and explore Richmond’s rich culinary offerings.”

The HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards included 15 categories with Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in each. See the attached list for the full list of winners. “The best thing about the Diners’ Choice Awards is that it encourages people to get out and try somewhere new, so everyone wins in the end.”

The CRA wishes to thank the following partners who make the Awards possible: Edgewater Casino, HSBC Bank Canada, Mercedes-Benz, Tourism Richmond, CBC TV and Radio, China Eastern Airlines, Heineken, Underwater Harvesters Association, Georgia Straight, CHMB AM1320, Ming Pao, World Journal, Klip Magazine, 818Channel, Edible-Britishcolumbia.com, Westca.com, Aperture Photography, Chinese Canadian Chefs Association and the Vancouver Multicultural Society.

Be sure to watch CRA’s web site (www.chineserestaurantawards.com) for updates on The Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards and the Awards Gala in 2010.

HSBC Diners’ Choice Awards – 2010 Winners

1.         Best Cantonese Dim Sum Restaurant

Gold: Empire Chinese Cuisine                       8251 Alexandra Road, Richmond                      604-303-9780

Silver:   Red Star Seafood Restaurant                various locations                                               604-270-3003

Bronze: Vivacity Restaurant                               110-8352 Alexandra Rd., Richmond                    604-279-1513

2.         Best Northern Chinese Restaurant

Gold: Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant           110-8380 Lansdowne Road, Richmond             604-278-8829

Silver:   Lin’s Chinese Cuisine and Tea House      1537 West Broadway, Vancouver                       604-733-9696

Bronze:Number One Shanghai Restaurant           120-4200 No. 3 Road, Richmond                        604-279-1728

3.         Best Casual Restaurant

Gold:    Top Chinese Restaurant                       2751 Kingsway, Vancouver                               604-436-1623

Silver:   Koon Bo Restaurant                              5682 Fraser Street, Vancouver                           604-323-1218

Bronze: Ken’s Chinese Restaurant                      1097 Kingsway, Vancouver                                604-873-6338

4.         Best Fine Dining Restaurant

Gold: Northern Dynasty                                 1180-8391 Alexandra Road, Richmond  604-303-1192

Silver:   Jade Seafood Restaurant                      8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond                       604-249-0082

Bronze: Grand Honour                                       110-5750 Granville Street, Vancouver                  604-263-3983

5.         Best Hot Pot Restaurant

Gold: Garden City Hot Pot                             1205-8788 McKim Way, Richmond                    604-303-0909

Silver:   Chubby Lamb Hotpot Restaurant           2160-8391 Alexandra Rd, Richmond                   604-303-8843

Bronze: Landmark Hot Pot House                       4023 Cambie St, Vancouver                               604-872-2868

6.         Best Taiwanese Café/ Restaurant

Gold: Pearl Castle                                          1128 – 3779 Sexsmith Road, Richmond            604-270-3939

Silver:   Well Tea                                                Various locations                                              604-278-7268

Bronze: BBT Café                                              5979 West Boulevard, Vancouver                       604-266-2195

7.         Best Hong Kong Style Café

Gold:    Copa Café                                            4030 Cambie Street, Vancouver                        604-873-8974

Silver:   Gloucester Café                                    3338 Cambie St, Vancouver                               604-873-3338

Bronze: Curry King Café                                     5 – 4250 Kingsway, Burnaby                               604-437-3638

… more

2010 HSBC Diners’ Choice Award Winners – continued

8.         Best Congee Restaurant

Gold: Congee Noodle House                          141-143 E. Broadway, Vancouver                      604-879-8221

Silver:   Neptune Wonton Noodle                        110-8171 Ackroyd Rd, Richmond                       604-207-9889

Bronze: Kwong Chow Congee & Noodle             3163 Main Street, Vancouver                              604-876-8520

9.         Best Noodle Restaurant

Gold: Au Wing Kee Restaurant                       2568 Kingsway, Vancouver                               604-438-8520

Silver:   Mak’s Noodle Restaurant                       185 – 8291 Alexandra Road, Richmond               604-231-8141

Bronze: Mckim Wonton Mein Noodle                  1180-8788 Mckim Way, Richmond                      604-270-6632

10.       Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Gold: Bodhi Choi Heung Vegetarian Restaurant  3932 Fraser Street, Vancouver                    604-873-3848

Silver:   Simply Vegetarian Restaurant                135-8291 Ackroyd Road, Richmond                   604-278-0852

Bronze: Bo Kong Vegetarian Restaurant                         3068 Main St, Vancouver                                   604-876-3088

11.       Best BBQ Shop

Gold: BBQ Master                                          145-4651 No. 3 Road, Richmond                       604-272-6568

Silver:   Dollar Meat                                           66 E. Pender St, Vancouver                               604-681-1052

Bronze: Parker Fresh Meat                                 1020 – 4380 No. 3 Road, Richmond                    604-233-1138

12.       Best Bakery Shop

Gold: Saint Germain Bakery                          140 Oakridge Centre, 650 W. 41^st, Vancouver    604-272-6568

Silver:   New Town Bakery & Restaurant              158 E. Pender Street, Vancouver                        604-681-1828

Bronze: La Patisserie                                         Various locations                                              604-269-0002

13.       Best Dessert Place

Gold: Bubble Fruity                                       180-8188 Saba Road, Richmond                       778-297-6821

Silver:   Dessert Dynasty                                   #149-4800 Kingsway, Burnaby                            604-438-8608

Bronze: 100% Healthy Desserts                          150-8291 Westminster Highway, Richmond         604-214-9891

14.       Best Service Restaurant

Gold: Jade Dynasty Restaurant                      137 E. Pender Street, Vancouver                      604-683-3822

Silver:   Sun Sui Wah Chinese Restaurant            Vancouver & Richmond locations                       604-872-8822

Bronze: Dragon View Seafood Restaurant          1298, 3779 Sexsmith Road, Richmond               604-241-8828

15.       Best Environment

Gold: Dinesty Chinese Restaurant                  160-8111 Ackroyd Road, Richmond                  604-303-7772 Silver:            Northern Delicacy                                  Unit 2788, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond      604-303-1192
Bronze: Shanghai River Restaurant                     110-7831 Westminster Hwy, Richmond               604-233-8885