The BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Gala Evening pays tribute to the people and the restaurants that have shaped British Columbia into a vibrant world class culinary scene. The BCRFA is proud to play an integral role in acknowledging those that have helped us to achieve this outstanding reputation.

All inductees must have exhibited the highest levels of excellence bringing both honour and pride to the British Columbia hospitality industry. They exemplify the best of our industry by demonstrating strong character and dedication. They should be shining examples of inspiration to present and future generations.

PAST INDUCTEES

  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

    • John Harper - Spectra Foods & ABC Restaurants

    • Bob Gaglardi + Al Howie - Northland Restaurant Group

    • Ron Toigo + Peter Toigo Jr. - White Spot Hospitality

    LOCAL CHAMPION

    • Roger Sleiman - Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

    • Shira Blustein - The Acorn

    • Eli Brennan - Water St. Cafe, Nanoose Bay Cafe, Qualicum Beach Cafe, Deez Bar and Grill

    • Ronnie Lee - Lil’ Ronnie’s Beachside BBQ, Tofino Catering

    ACTIVE RESTAURANTEUR

    • Tannis Ling + Joël Watanabe + Alain Chow - Bao Bei, Kissa Tanto, and Meo

    • Iori Katakoa - Yuwa

    • Jason Chan - Kirin Restaurant

    • Paul Grunberg - Banda Volpi Hospitality (Savio Volpe, Elio Volpe, Caffe La Tana, Pepino’s Spaghetti House)

    FRIENDS OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Glen Korstrom - Business in Vancouver

    • Lana Popham - Ministry of Agriculture and Food

    LEADING EMPLOYEE/MANAGER - FRONT OF HOUSE

    • Hector Medina -  Bodega on Main


    LEADING EMPLOYEE/MANAGER - BACK OF HOUSE

    • Jason Kleinfeld - Carderos

    SUPPLIER

    • Jenice Yu - Eat Fish

    • Jon Crofts - Codfather’s Seafood Market

    RISING STAR

    • Matt Cusano - Ciao Chili

    HOSPITALITY SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN ADMINISTRATION AND/OR OPERATIONS

    • Christian Kelly - Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited 

  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

    • Vie’s Chicken and Steak

    • Andrew George - Skills Trades BC

    • Richard Baker - Seasons In The Park

    INDUSTRY PIONEER

    • Al Cave - Boston Pizza and Mr. Mike’s

    • Mike Cordoba - Boston Pizza and Mr. Mike’s

    • Sam and Joy Kongslip - Sala Thai

    LOCAL CHAMPION

    • Alex Chen - Wild Blue

    • Neil Henderson - Wild Blue

    • Dan Carkner - Modest Butcher at Mt. Boucherie

    • Paul Simpson - Top Shelf Hospitality Group , Boom and Batten, Glo, Med Grill, The Loghouse

    ACTIVE RESTAURANTEUR

    • Karri Green Schuerman - Chambar Restaurant

    • Jay Gildenhuys - Shelter Restaurant

    • Scott Ward - Browns Socialhouse

    • Mark Filatow - Waterfront Wines

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Shelley McArthur Everett - SMC Communications

    LEADING EMPLOYEE/MANAGER - FRONT OF HOUSE

    • Albert Chee - MOTT 32

    • Pierre Rosso - Le Crocodile


    LEADING EMPLOYEE/MANAGER - BACK OF HOUSE

    • Jeremy Luypen - Kelowna Gospel Mission

    SUPPLIER

    • Tony Stewart - Quails’ Gate Estate Winery

    • Glorious Organics Co-op

    RISING STAR

    • Vincent and Amélie Nguyễn - Anh and Chi, Good Thief

    HOSPITALITY SERVICE EXCELLENCE IN ADMINISTRATION AND/OR OPERATIONS

    • Dina Moffett - White Spot Hospitality

    INDUSTRY LEADER

    • Michel Jacob - Le Crocodile

  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

    • James Iranzad - Gooseneck Hospitality

    • Kelly Gordon - Romers, Steamship

    • Claudio Ranallo - La Piazza Dario

    INDUSTRY PIONEER

    • Ron Slinger - The Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub

    • David Wong - Six Mile Pub

    LOCAL CHAMPION

    • Robert Cassels - Saveur Restaurant, Victoria

    • Ross Derrick - Broken Anchor Hospitality, Kelowna/Big White

    • Gino Di Domenico - Tacofino

    • Jesse McCleery - pilgrimme

    • Chef RD Stewart & Karen Roland - Red Door Bistro

    ACTIVE RESTAURANTEUR

    • Michael Doyle - Aquilini Group

    • Audrey Surrao - RauDZ Creative Concepts

    • Neil Aisenstat - Hy’s of Canada

    • Lily Verney-Downey & Warren Barr - Pluvio Restaurant

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Bert Hick - Rising Tide Consultants

    WOMEN IN HOSPITALITY

    • Jennifer Rossi - Kitchen Table Group

    • Donna Wadsworth - Savoury City Catering

    • Kelsey Oudendag - The Okanagan Table

    • Cathy Tostenson - White Spot Hospitality

    LEADING EMPLOYEE/MANAGER

    • Andy Crimp - Cardero’s

    • Ken Nakano - Inn at Laurel Point

    • Celestino Posteraro - Cioppino’s

    SUPPLIER

    • Chris Brown - Arterra Wines Canada

    • Yvonne (Koo) Leong - Koo Produce

  • Susan Mendelson, chef/owner of The Lazy Gourmet (Vancouver)

    Manuel Ferreira, restaurateur, Miradoro Restaurant at Tinhorn Creek (Oliver) and former owner of Le Gavroche (Vancouver)

    Ronald St. Pierre, chef/owner of Locals Restaurant (Comox Valley)

    Meeru Dhalwala, co-owner/chef of Vij’s and Rangoli Restaurants (Vancouver)

    Stephen Cipes, founder/owner, Summerhill Pyramid Winery (Kelowna)

    Bruce Fox, Executive Vice-President Business Development at Browns Restaurant Group (Vancouver)

    Barb Finley, chef, educator and founder of Project Chef

    Frank di Benedetto, owner of FDF Brandz (Vancouver) and operator of over 175 locations of Ricky’s Family Restaurants, FatBurger, Famoso and ABC Family Restaurants

    Finally, with his posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame, we celebrate the life and career of:

    Gary Hynes, publisher/editor of Eat Magazine (Victoria)

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Robert Belcham - Campagnolo, Monarch Burger, Popina Canteen

    • Chris Mills & Geoff Boyd - Joey Restaurant Group

    INDUSTRY PIONEER

    • Nick & Pauline Felicella - Nick’s Spaghetti House

    LOCAL CHAMPION

    • Andrea Carlson - Burdock and Co., Harvest Community Foods

    INDUSTRY AWARD

    • Stephanie Jaeger - The Pear Tree Restaurant

    LEADING EMPLOYER

    • Eva Gates - Sequoia Group of Restaurants

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Sandra Oldfield - Elysian Projects

    SUPPLIER

    • Allison Spurrell - Les Amis du Fromage

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Neil Wyles - Hamilton Street Grill

    • Andre St. Jacques - Bearfoot Bistro

    • Paul Hadfield - Spinnaker’s Brew Pub

    • Jamie Henderson - Keg Restaurants

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Chris Whittaker - forage

    • Amber Anderson - H.A.V.E. Cafe

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Pat Allabarton - Milestones

    • Franco Coccaro - La Bussola

    BUILDER AWARD

    • Sue Singer - Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

    COFFEE AND BEVERAGE AWARD

    • Pete Boeda and Barney McKenzie - Bean Around The World Coffee

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Dennis Green - go2HR

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Daniel Frankel - Tap & Barrel Restaurants / The Daniel Group

    • Gord Martin - Bin 941, Go Fish

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Jeff Van Geest - Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek

    • Takashi Ito - AURA Restaurant at the Inn at Laurel Point

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Mike Bernado - Vij’s, Rangoli Grill

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Christine Blackwood - Blackwood Career Apparel + Essentials

    • Frank Geier - Gordon Food Services

    • John Schreiner - Freelance writer

    COFFEE AND BEVERAGE AWARD

    • Vince Piccolo - 49th Parallel

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Paul Smolen - Hart House Restaurant

    • Sean Heather - Heather Hospitality Group

    • Jeff Donnelly - Donnelly Group

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Ernst Dorfler - Five Sails Restaurant

    • Julian Bond - Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Jay Jones - Donnelly Group

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Joy Metcalfe - Journalist/Society Columnist, Joy’s Journal

    • Christine Coletta - Okanagan Crush Pad

    • Caren McSherry - The Gourmet Warehouse

    COFFEE AND BEVERAGE AWARD

    • John Neate - JJ Bean Coffee Roasters

    PIONEER

    • Wally Shaw - BC Chef’s Association

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Brent Davies - Sequoia Group of Restaurants

    • Jim Treliving and George Melville - Boston Pizza International Inc.

    • Charles McDiarmid - Wickanninish Inn, The Pointe Restaurant

    INDUSTRY AWARD

    • Sebastien Le Goff - Cactus Restaurants

    • Blair Rasmussen - Vancouver Convention Centre

    • Mark Taylor - Raincity Grill

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Tim Pawsey - Freelance food and wine writer, The Hired Belly

    • Howard Soon - Sandhill Wines

    PIONEER

    • John Levine - Playhouse Wine Festival, Brother Johns

    • Nicky Major - Major the Gourmet Catering and Special Events

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Antonio and Patrick Corsi - Quattro Restaurants

    • Emad Yacoub - Glowbal Restaurant Group

    INDUSTRY AWARD

    • Robert Le Crom - Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

    • James Walt - Araxi Restaurant + Bar

    • Megan Buckley - Hy’s of Canada

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Richard Caras - Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants

    • Kasey Wilson - Wine Access, AM50 Best of Food & Wine, Global Mail

    PIONEER

    • John Dys - De Dutch

    • John and Ron Teti - Puccini’s

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Harry Kambolis - Raincity Grill, C Restaurant, Nu Restaurant

    • Richard Jaffray - Cactus Club Cafe

    • Warren Erhart - White Spot

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Frank Pabst - Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar

    • Pino Posteraro - Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Brian Hopkins - West

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Barbara-Jo McIntosh - Barbara-Jo’s Books to Cooks

    • Rhonda May - Cityfood Magazine

    PIONEER

    • Peter Bonner and Wayne Holm - Spectra Foods

    • Xavier Hetzman - Westin Bayshore, Co-founder of the British Columbia Chefs’ Association

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • David Aisenstat - The Keg, The Shore Club, Ki, Hy’s Whistler

    • Geoffrey Howes - Salmon House on the Hill, Aqua Riva, Horizons

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Thomas Haas - Thomas Haas Chocolates

    • Scott Jaeger - The Pear Tree Restaurant

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Darren Gates - Joe Fortes, Gold Fish

    • Jean Turcotte - The Cannery

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Sid Cross - Co-founder of The Chef’s Table Society of BC, Western Living Magazine contributor

    • Jamie Maw - Co-founder of The Chef’s Table Society of BC, Vancouver Magazine

    PIONEER

    • George Frankel - Bridges Restaurant

    • Bruno Patassini - Westin Bayshore

    • Primo Villanueva - Primo’s Mexican Grill

    LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

    • Duncan Holmes - Freelance journalist

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Michel Jacob - Le Crocodile

    • Sinclair Philip - Sooke Harbour House

    • Vikram Vij - Vij’s, Rangoli

    LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

    • James Barber - Writer, host of TV cooking series, The Urban Peasant

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Bernard Casavant - Bernards, Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl

    • David Hawksworth - The Restaurant at the Hotel Georgia

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • John Blakeley - Pastis

    • Brent Hayman - Raincity Grill

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Anthony Gismondi - wine critic, writer, broadcaster, and speaker

    • Mark Hills - Hills Food

    PIONEER

    • Diamond Almas - Seven Seas

    • Bert Love - Love’s Cafe

    • Tommy O’Bryan - O’Doul’s, Tommy O’s

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Jack Evrensel - TopTable Restaurant Group

    • Fuller Family (Bus, Stan, Jeff, Stewart) - Earls, Joey, Saltlik

    BUILDER

    • Bing Smith - Vitality Foodservice Canada

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Rodney Butters - Fresco (Kelowna)

    • Robert Clark - C Restaurant, Raincity Grill, Nu

    • Pierre Dubrulle - Dubrulle Culinary School, La Gavroche

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Bobby Copiak - Il Giardino

    • Robert “Frenchy” Gagne - Joe Fortes

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Don Bellamy - BCRFA

    • Hans Konings - Konings Wholesale (Sysco Vancouver)

    PIONEER

    • Glenn Anderson - Kettle of Fish

    • Jeffrey and Peter Barnett - Elephant & Castle

    • Pulos Family (Andy, Lee, Peter) - Spaghetti Factory

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • John Bishop - Bishop’s

    • Bud Kanke - Joe Fortes

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Karen Barnaby - The Fish House

    • Rob Feenie - Lumière

    • Hidekazu Tojo - Tojo’s

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Francesco Alongi - Don Francesco’s

    • Ruy Paes-Braga - Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Jurgen Gothe - CBC Radio, The Georgia Straight

    • Anthony von Mandl - Mission Hill Family Estate Wine

    PIONEER

    • Charles Chamberlain - Tomahawk Barbeque

    • Jeff Mooney - A&W Restaurants

    • Jean Claude Ramond - The Smoking Dog

    • Joel Thibault - Chez Joel

    • Peter Toigo - White Spot Restaurants

  • ACTIVE RESTAURATEUR

    • Erwin Doebeli - The William Tell

    • Umberto Menghi - Umberto’s

    INDUSTRY AWARD (BACK OF HOUSE)

    • Bruno Marti - La Belle Auberge

    INDUSTRY AWARD (FRONT OF HOUSE)

    • Ann Bentley - Aqua Riva

    FRIEND OF THE INDUSTRY

    • Harry McWattters - Sumac Ridge Winery

    • Peter Whittall - Neptune Food Service

    PIONEER

    • Hy Aisenstat - Hy’s Steakhouse

    • Nat Bailey - White Spot

    • Frank Baker - The Attic

    • Mario Corsi - Park Royal Hotel, Corsi Trattoria

    • Frank and Eva Iaci - Iaci’s

    • Mike McLaughlin - Old House Restaurant (Courtenay)

    • Louis Stervinou - Devonshire Seafood House, Ondines

    • Peter Szasz -Szasz Restaurant

    • George Tidball - Keg Restaurants

    • Joe Troll - Troll’s Restaurant

Event Partners

Hall of Fame Partners