The Brasserie L'Ecole crew - winners of the Best Food award

photo by Rebecca Wellman

THE 1ST ANNUAL EXCEPTIONAL EATS! AWARDS

THE WINNERS.

Last issue we posed the question: What kind of eater are you?

We knew EAT readers can be vocal about what they like. They eat loyally at their favourite restaurants; shop for quality ingredients at farm markets, specialty delis and bakeries; and support a sustainable, seasonal and local approach to eating. 

Some prefer taste above all else, others support ethical buying and concern for the environment over genetically produced foods; while still others follow the 100 mile diet and forgo bland foods flown in at high cost. 

To Vancouver Island, a big thank-you for your tremendous response to the 1st Annual Exceptional Eats! Awards reader’s survey. You went online in droves and barely flinched at the wopping 38 questions we posed. You’ve proven beyond a doubt you are one of the most passionate and savvy food & wine regions in BC, Canada—hey— even North America. Go ahead and boast. You live in a vibrant, giving and bountiful food community. From our top chefs to the farms and farmstands up and down the Island to your overwhelming support for local small shops, restaurants and businesses, Islanders are a unique bunch and deserve your own food and drink awards.

Without further adieu, here are the results and winners. 

 

The lucky winners of the prize draw are:

The Luxury Empress Weekend  Caryn Clark (Sponsored by Fairmont Hotels & EAT)

Mocca Master Thermal Brewer Lon Temereski (Sponsored by CoffeeCrew.com)

Deerholme Dinner for Two  Joanne Spence (Sponsored by Deerholme Farm)

 

 

LET’S EAT OUT VANCOUVER ISLAND

RESTAURANTS/LOUNGES/CAFES/BISTRO/EATERIES

 

1. Which Island restaurant has the best food?

Brasserie L’Ecole (GOLD)

Cafe Brio  (SILVER)

Zambris  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Camilles Restaurant

Stage Wine Bar

Il Terrazzo

Sooke Harbour House

Bistro 28

 

2. What’s your go-to restaurant for best overall restaurant experience?

Brasserie L'Ecole (GOLD)

Cafe Brio (SILVER)

Il Terrazzo (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Aura

Zambris 

Deep Cove Chalet

Empress Dining Room

Wickaninnish Inn & The Point Restaurant

 

3. What restaurant or eatery regularly introduces you to new food or drink items?

Cafe Brio (GOLD)

Zambris (SILVER)

Bistro 28 (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Stage

Superior

Aura

Veneto

Devour

 

4. Where would you take out-of-towners for what you would best describe as an Island experience dining-wise?

Sooke Harbour House (GOLD)

Red Fish Blue Fish  (SILVER)

The Pointe at Wickaninnish  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Deep Cove Chalet

Hastings House

Oak Bay Marina 

Zanatta Winery Vinoteca

Point No Point

SoBo

Aura Waterfront

The Empress Room 

 

5. Best Island restaurant for a workday lunch?

Zambris (GOLD)

Hernandez (SILVER)

Pink Bicycle (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Dadaico

Smokin Bones Cookshack

Pescatores

Pagliaci's

Lucy's in the Square

Canoe Brew Pub

Devour

 

6. Best Island restaurant for breakfast?

TIE: Mo:Le / Blue Fox Cafe (GOLD)

Shine Cafe  (SILVER)

John’s Place Restaurant  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Floyd's Diner

The Village on Estevan

Lady Marmalade

 

7. Best Island restaurant for appies and drinks?

Stage Wine Bar (GOLD)

Tapa Bar (SILVER)

TIE: Veneto /Chateau Victoria  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Canoe

Solomon’s

The Mint

Irish Times

Spinnakers

Pescatores

Glo

Brasserie L’ecole 

 

8. Best Island restaurant to take the kids to and still enjoy fabulous food and no hairy eyeballs?

Pizzeria Prima Strada  (GOLD)

White Spot  (SILVER)

Fifth Street Grill (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Ferris

Canoe

Milestones

Moxies

Rebar Modern Food

Pagliacci's

Lucy’s on the Square

Nautical Nellies

Earl’s

 

9. What's the best menu item in town for under $10?

5 Tacos for $5, Hernandez Cocina   (GOLD)

Pulled Pork Sandwich $5, Pig BBQ Joint  (SILVER)

Vietnamese Ginger Caramel Chicken, Foo  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Fish Tacones $5, Red Fish Blue Fish

$5 and $10 menus, Fifth St.

Frites with parmesan, garlic, parsley, truffle oil $8, Brasserie L'ecole

Haloumi with local tomatoes & herb vinaigrette $10, Stage

Grilled Meatball Pannino $5, Italian Food Imports

Cambodian Jungle Curry $10, Noodle Box 

 

10. Which Island restaurants with Oceanwise certification has caught your attention?

Red Fish Blue Fish

Canoe

The Marina

Lure

Blue Crab

Spinnakers

 

11. What restaurant do you associate with authentic farm-to-table or “haute-barnyard” cooking (uses local ingredients)?

Camilles Restauarant (GOLD)

Sooke Harbour House  (SILVER)

Cafe Brio  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Brasserie L’Ecole 

Zambris

Locals

La Piola

Spinnakers

 

12. They say you can tell the quality of a restaurant by its soup. Who makes the best soup on the Island?

Carrot Coconut Ginger Fernwood Inn (GOLD)

Chicken Penne Ferris (SILVER)

Cream of Roasted Garlic Tapas Bar (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

French Onion Brasserie L'Ecole

Seafood Chowder SoBo

Lobster Bisque Deep Cove Chalet

 

LET’S EAT IN

VANCOUVER ISLAND PLACES/FOOD SHOPS/MARKETS/GROCERS

 

13. What local specialty food shop or deli has changed or influenced how you cook or what you buy?

Ottavio Italian Bakery & Delicatessen (GOLD)

Choux Choux Charcuterie (SILVER)

Charelli's Cheese Shop & Deli (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Plenty Epicurean Pantry 

Ambrosio Markets & Deli

Red Barn

Italian Food Import 

McLean's Specialty Foods

 

14. What local farmers' market, stand or store inspires you to eat local and seasonal foods? 

STORE

The Root Cellar (GOLD)

The Red Barn  (SILVER)

Thrifty Foods  (BRONZE)

 

FARM MARKET

Moss Street Market (GOLD)

Madrona Farm  (SILVER)

Bastion Square Farm Market (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

FARM MARKET

Comox Farmers' Market

Sun Wing Tomatoes

Mitchell Farms

Dan's Farm and Market

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

STORE

Market on Yates

Ambrosio Markets & Deli 

Brambles Market

Peppers Foods

 

15. What Island seafood store or counter offers exceptional seafood from sustainable sources?

Finest at Sea (GOLD)

Thrifty Foods  (SILVER)

Victoria Fisherman’s Wharf  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTION

Market on Yates

Satellite Fish Company

Portuguese Joe's Fish Market

Mad Dog Crabs Seafood

French Creek Seafood

 

16. Where do you shop for the best fresh quality meat?

Slater's First Class Meats (GOLD)

Thrifty Foods (SILVER)

The Red Barn  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

The Village Butcher

Market on Yates

Glenwood Meats

Cowichan Valley Meat Market 

Alia Halal Meat & Deli

Peppers Foods

Nesvog Meats & Sausage

 

17. What food or drink-related event, activity, festival or class did you attend this year that informed, inspired you?

Feast of Fields (GOLD)

Defending Our Backyard  (SILVER)

Great Canadian Beer Festival (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Cooking Classes

Heidi Fink Cooking Classes

French Mint, 

Terralicious

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Festivals

Taste

Art of the Cocktail 

Victoria Tea Festival 

Tofino Food & Wine Fest

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Activities

Madrona Chef Survival

Spanish Day at Ottavio

Dine Around

Tasting at Sea Cider

 

18. Where can you find the best quality chocolate in Victoria?

Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut (GOLD)

Rogers' Chocolates  (SILVER)

Chocolat  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Purdy's Chocolates

Plenty Epicurean Pantry 

Organic Fair

Spinnakers

Market on Yates

Hot Chocolates

 

19. Where do you go for hard-to-find ingredients?

Blair Mart (GOLD)

Ottavio (SILVER)

Chinatown (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Charelli's

Ambrosio

Plenty

 

20. What’s your favourite bakery or pastry shop?

 Fol Epi Bakery  (GOLD)

Wild Fire Bread & Pastry  (SILVER)

Pure Vanilla Bakery & Cafe  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTION WINNERS

The Italian Bakery

Bubby Rose’s Bakery

Patisserie Daniel

Ottavio

True Grain Bread

 

LET’S DRINK

VANCOUVER ISLAND WINE, BEER, SPIRITS, CIDERS, NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 

 

21. What store carries the best selection of B.C. wine?

Fort Street BC Liquor Store (GOLD)

BC Wineguys Cadboro Bay Rd.  (SILVER)

Everything Wine  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

The Wine Barrel

Spinnakers Spirit Merchants

Cascadia Liquor

Hillside Liquor

The Wine Shop at Mattick's Farm

 

22. What store has the most comprehensive wine, beer and spirits selection and has the most knowledgeable staff and best customer service?

Fort Street BC Liquor Store  (GOLD)

TIE: Cascadia / Spinnakers  (SILVER)

Hillside Liquor  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Cook St. Village Liquor

Everything Wine

The Strath Ale, Wine & Spirit

Liquor Plus

Beverly Corners Liquor Store

6 Mile Liquor Store

 

23. Which Island owned and operated beverage business (cidery, microbrewery, distillery, or winery) has best educated or challenged your palate (you tried something new)?

Phillips Brewery  (GOLD)

Merridale Estate Cidery  (SILVER)

Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Salt Spring Island Ales

Driftwood Brewery

Spinnakers 

Victoria Spirits 

Tugwell Creek Meadery

 

24. Your choice for the top Island owned and operated coffee house?

Habit Coffee (GOLD)

Caffe Fantastico (SILVER)

Discovery Coffee (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

2% Jazz Coffee

Moka House Coffee

Serious Coffee

Mirage Coffee

The Black Stilt

Buon Amici's Coffee 

 

25. Your choice for the best Island owned and operated tea house or purveyor?

Silk Road (GOLD)

Murchie’s (SILVER)

Special Teas (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Venus Sophia Tea Room

NetkenicTea Center

Mela’s Tea Room

The Empress

White Heather

 

26. Which specific local beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) do you love to introduce to friends and visitors? (Please name the business and specific product)

Victoria Gin, Victoria Spirits (GOLD)

Longboat Double Chocolate Porter Phillips Brewing Company (SILVER)

White Bark, Driftwood Brewery (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Race Rocks Amber, Lighthouse Brewing Company

Canton Orange tea, Silk Road

Metheglin, Tugwell Creek

Crooked Tooth Pumpkin Beer, Phillips Brewing Company

Reserve Pinot Noir, Alderlea 

Brandenburg No. 3, Venturi Schultze

Cafe Americano, Cafe Fantastico

Cask IPA, Spinnakers 

Celebration, Starling Lane  

 

LET’S GIVE CREDIT

VANCOUVER ISLAND PEOPLE |FOOD HEROES

 

27. Vancouver Island restaurants and shops harbour knowledgeable foodies and food experts. Who do you turn to for dependable advice, tips, recipes or information?

EAT Magazine (aw shucks, blush, thanks) (GOLD)

Greg Hayes, Cafe Brio (SILVER)

The Charelli's ladies (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTION

Eric Akis, TC columnist

Andrew Moyer, Ottavio

Larry Arnold, Spinnakers, EAT

Kathy McAree, Travel with Taste

Luke & Paige at Choux Choux

 

28. What Vancouver Island chef has inspired you the most?

Peter Zambri (Zambris) (GOLD)

Sean Brennan (Brasserie L’Ecole (SILVER)

David Mincey (Camilles)  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Jeff Keenliside (Lucy’s in the Square)

George Szaz (Stage)

Edward Tuson (The Edge)

Cory Pelan (La Piola)

Alison Bigg and Jena Stewart 

(Devour)

 

29 & 30. The best servers and bartenders talk you through the food and drink and knowledgeably answer your questions with a wonderful personality and excellent timing. Who is your favourite?

Solomon (Solomons) (GOLD)

Michael (La Piola) (SILVER)

Francis (Zambris) (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Restaurants

Lisa (Cafe Brio)

Jeff (Paprika Bistro)

Micki (Lucy’s)

Brian (SIPS)

Bar

Steve (Stage)

Steve (Brasserie L’ecole)

Shawn (Clives)

Vinnie (Canoe)

Hector (Marriott)

 

31. Name the Island’s top food educator or teacher.

Mara Jernigan, Fairburn Farm/Slow Food (GOLD)

David Mincey, Camilles/ICC (SILVER)

Don Genova, Slow Food (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Denise Marchessault, The French Mint

Sinclair Philip, Sooke Harbour House/Slow Food

 

32. Name the Island’s most vocal activist, an advocate for food security or food issues.

David Mincey (ICC) (GOLD)

Dr. Sinclair Philip (Slow Food) (SILVER)

TIE: Mara Jernigan (Slow Food) /Carolyn Herriot (Garden Path Centre) (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Lee Fuge (Foodroots)

Ken Heuston (chef, Past President ICC)

Gary Hynes (EAT Magazine)

Tina Fraser Baynes (organic farmer)

Peter Zambri (chef)

Brent Petkau (oyster grower)

Bill Jones (Canadian Chefs Congress)

Dan Jason (seed saver)

Lana Popham (MLA for Saanich South)

Lyle Young (poultry farmer)

 

33. The Lifetime Achievement Award -  Who would you select to honour for their longtime passion and commitment to the evolution and success of Vancouver Island food culture?

David Mincey

A well-know food and wine personality in Victoria for many years, David Mincey has gone beyond being the chef and restaurateur behind the successful Camille’s Fine Westcoast Dining on Bastion Square. His extraordinary classes on   chocolate at the University of Victoria make him the resident expert on the subject. He also gives to the community in other ways. His tenacious support of local farms through the development of a grant program to assist farms with infrastructure and as the force behind the start-up of the Island Chefs Collaborative Farmers Market on Bastion Square, makes him deserving of this award. He has done a tremendous amount for the Island and its food culture. David. We thank-you!

 

34. What local food-related project or movement deserves recognition?

ICC Bastion Square Farmer Market  (GOLD)

TLC’s Save Madrona Farm  (SILVER)

Slow Food Vancouver Island  (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Lifecycles Fruit Tree Project

100-Mile Diet

Food Roots / Pocket Markets

Ocean Wise

Grain Growing on the Island

LUSH Valley

Community Gardens

SPIN / Backyard Farming

 

35. Mate’s Mate: Who in the restaurant industry gets your respect for helping you out when you first started out.

Paul Hadfield, Spinnakers (GOLD)

Jo Zambri, Zambris (SILVER)

Gilbert Noussitou, Camosun College (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

David Feys, Feys + Hobbs Catered Arts

Sinclair Phillip, Sooke Harbour House

Brock Windsor, chef

James Barber, chef/author

 

36. Name your favourite local farm

Madrona Farm (GOLD)

Sun Wing Tomatoes (SILVER)

Mitchell Farms (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Fairburn Farm (water buffalo)

Cowichan Bay Farm

Ragley Farm

Dan's Farm and Market

 

37. What farmer has mentored, trained and/or inspired a new generation of farmers on the Island?

David Chambers, Madrona Farm (GOLD)

Tina Fraser Baynes, Haliburton Community Organic Farm (SILVER)

Mary Alice Johnson, ALM/Full Circle (BRONZE)

 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Lyle Young, Cowichan Bay Farm

Micheal Ableman, Foxglove Farm 

Tom Henry, Small Farm Canada

Dieter Eisenhawer, Eisenhawer Organic Produce

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