2014 Chinese Restaurant Awards add culinary star power

The Chinese Restaurant Awards added star power this year, attracting some of the best chefs in China. Three of five visiting Chinese chefs run Michelin-starred restaurants (Michelin inspectors visit only Hong Kong in China). The superstar chefs joined top-notch local Chinese chefs, cooking a 10-course Gold Medal Dinner after the awards ceremony Wednesday.

"This is the most famous collection of chefs ever assembled outside of China," said CRA founder Craig Stowe in an interview. "They were all intrigued and excited. They know there's a big Chinese population here and that food is important to them. They know the best Chinese food outside of China is in Vancouver." Some would say Vancouver outshines China because of the quality of products.

"We took the chefs to lunch at The Keg restaurant (at 688 Dunsmuir St. in Vancouver) and they were stunned by the quality of beef. They thought it was spectacular. It was Triple A Alberta filet mignon," says Stowe. "They know B.C. Dungeness crab, absolutely, they know Alberta pork, they know geoduck and they know we have spectacular seafood. The next step is to showcase Canadian beef." Some 90 tonnes of seafood is exported to China from Vancouver every week, says Stowe.

Now in its sixth year, the CRA is the go-to guide to Chinese food in Metro Vancouver for locals and tourists alike. Visitors to the website chineserestaurantawards.com are split evenly between locals and tourists.

"Most people have no idea how staggeringly important having good Chinese restaurants is to the B.C. economy," says Stowe.

"The high quality and variety separates Vancouver and Richmond from every city in the Western world. It's our secret weapon in attracting investment, trade and tourism.

"A lot of people in government and tourism don't realize it generates interest in business and visits to the city.

"It's a mecca and it's important for investment and immigration. All business in China is done around a table over lunch or dinner."

This year, the CRA gave awards for 10 signature dishes in nine categories, down from the 24 in previous years. Dynasty Seafood on Vancouver's West Broadway took two awards - one for the geoduck, done two ways and another for the hand-shredded chicken with bamboo.

"Diners discover restaurants and signature dishes they'd never have tried without the direction of the Chinese Restaurant Awards," says Stowe. "Local Chinese diners and chefs say they trust the results. Award-winning restaurants experience a spike in their

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2014 Chinese Restaurant Awards add culinary star power