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News & Press ReleasesCulinary Leaders to Gather at Glamorous Multimedia Gala5th Annual BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Gala Raises Funds, Recognizes Industry’s Best, soft opening new Vancouver Convention CentreMarch 23, 2009 — The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame is pleased to announce a very special evening. On Monday, March 30, 2009 more than 600 of the most passionate foodies from the British Columbia culinary scene will gather at the new Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre to celebrate their finest. Who better than BC’s culinary leaders to test the kitchens and ballrooms of Vancouver’s most recent signature venue? At the fifth annual induction gala, Global TV’s news anchor Chris Gailus will oversee the interactive Hall of Fame presentations and special industry celebration. The evening commences with a sparkling wine reception - where CTV’s News at Five anchor Coleen Christie will host the who’s who of BC’s vibrant and unique restaurant industry. Some of the past and present Restaurant Hall of Fame Inductees set to attend include David Aisenstat, Sid Cross, Jamie Maw, Geoffrey Howes, Scott Jaeger, Thomas Haas, John Bishop, Harry McWatters, Erwin Doebeli, Rod Butters, George Tidball, Anthony von Mandl and Bruno Marti, plus many, many more. The Lieutenant Governor of BC, His Honour Steven Point, formally opens the 5th Annual Gala Awards Dinner at 7:05 pm. Other dignitaries in attendance include Mayor Gregor Robertson, John Furlong and various Consul Generals. In addition to live music, on-screen video presentations, the Wall of Wine draw, fountains filled with florals, a “large floral design competition” showcasing the best of BC’s Florists & Designers, the Joy Caros art gallery of past inductees, the memorable evening will feature a reception with mouth-watering canapés, served with Summerhill Cipes Brut, Summerhill Organic Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, Inniskillin wines and Granville Island ales and lagers, a sumptuous three-course dinner prepared by Chef Blair Rasmussen and his culinary team, paired with BC’s Peller Estates 2007 Riesling, Sumac Ridge Estate Winery 2006 White Meritage, and Mission Hill Five Vineyards 2006 Pinot Noir. New this year - the dessert reception - several dessert stations (did you say Chocolate) accompanied by British Columbia’s Tinhorn Oldfield Collection merlot, Kerner Icewine, The Fort Wine Co. Blackberry ports and Cranberry dessert wine, and JJ Bean Coffee. Fittingly, the charitable recipient of the 2009 gala is the BC Hospitality Foundation, which offers financial assistance to people who work in food, beverage and hospitality professions at a critical time of need. www.bchospitalityfoundation.com The 2009 Inductees are eleven exceptional individuals in varying categories who are truly deserving of a place in the Hall of Fame:
• Pioneers: George Frankel, Bruno Patassini, and Primo Villanueva Closing the induction portion of the gala will be the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to freelance food writer and BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Historian Duncan Holmes. This highly-anticipated event sells out quickly, and limited tickets are available at $200.00 (plus GST) per ticket, which includes complimentary Meridian Valet Parking. Order of proceedings: Reception - 5:30 to 6:45 pm; Gala Dinner and presentation (Black Tie Optional) 7:00 – 9:00 pm; Dessert Reception 9:00 to 10:30 pm. In 2004 the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame was founded by the BCRFA and directors Bing Smith and Don Monsour. The Hall of Fame was conceived to celebrate and promote excellence in BC’s culinary traditions; to pay tribute to the outstanding individuals, past and past present, who have shaped this vibrant industry. Inductees were chosen by a panel of 80 judges comprised of industry leaders from throughout the province. The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame recognizes the inductees at a gala induction dinner held in the spring of each year. Long term, all inductees' names and photos will stand in the permanent home of the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame located at the Centre for Excellence and Innovation in Hospitality at the Vancouver Community College downtown Vancouver campus. The goal of the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame is to embrace our digital and technological society, creating a virtual Hall of Fame which will tell the stories of our inductees, with the goal of mentoring, leading, and inspiring the youth of today, the inductees of tomorrow. For more information, please contact:
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Background InformationAbout the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame was conceived in 2004. The first group of inductees were honoured in March of 2005. The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame was founded by the British Columbia Restaurant & Foodservices Association, led by Bing Smith and Don Monsour (Executive Directors of BCRFA at the time) to celebrate and promote excellence in BC’s culinary traditions and to pay tribute to the outstanding individuals, past and past present, who have shaped this vibrant British Columbia industry. With the support of BCRFA, Bing Smith and Don Monsour took their vision from conception to reality. This award recognizes and celebrates the individuals in the restaurant industry who have made significant contributions to the BC restaurant scene. Our pioneers are being respected with this award as they created our industry. Our active restaurateurs and industry inductees are honoured as leading lights in our present time, as well as designers of our future. Our friends of the industry assist us in making today and tomorrow a success. The incredible changes in the BC dining scene were made possible by the vision, creativity and unbelievable hard work of the individuals recognized through induction into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame. Long term, all inductees’ names and photos will stand in the permanent home of the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame located at the Centre for Excellence and Innovation in Hospitality at the Vancouver Community College downtown Vancouver campus. However, the goal of the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame is to embrace our digital and technological society. The virtual Hall of Fame will tell the stories of our inductees, with the goal of mentoring, leading, and inspiring the youth of today, the inductees of tomorrow. Nominations are accepted year round, closing for the respective voting year in October; sent to the voting committee in November of each year, with Inductees being announced early January each year. For information see the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame website at www.bcrhof.com. Anyone, at any time, may nominate a deserving person to the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame. Inductees were chosen by a panel of 60 judges in 2005, increasing to a panel of 80 judges today. The voting committee is comprised of industry leaders from throughout the province. The voting is done electronically, keeping the system transparent and anonymous. Who Votes? For 2009 there was a total of 80 Industry Leaders on the BCRHOF Voting Committee, including 27 past BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Inductees. This group was comprised of 40 Active Restaurateurs, 16 Industry Members, 10 suppliers and 14 Media. The inaugural group of sixteen inductees was led by Erwin Doebeli and Umberto Menghi and included legends such as Nat Bailey, Hy Aisenstat, George Tidball, Bruno Marti and Harry McWatters. This is the first, and remains the only, Restaurant Hall of Fame in Canada.
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