Calamari Challenge announces the winners!

I had so much fun being a Judge for the #CalamariChallengeYVR and here are the winners!

The Vancouver Foodster Calamari Challenge was a huge success featuring 7 calamari creations from restaurants around Vancouver and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their calamari creation from June 11 – July 5, 2015. Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Karl Kliparchuk. Louisa Chan and Valerie van der Gracht

The Winners are:

1st Place: Argan Bistro

West Coast Blackened Squid Trio

Created by: Chef Jeff Miller

Description: Citrus-soy marinated sous-vide tube, black sesame and squid ink beer-battered tentacles, mesquite-smoked jerky, kelp and jellyfish salad, sake heirloom, kasu foam, fresh wasabi and avocado crema, golden tobiko, micro-shiso.

Argan Bistro

795 Jervis Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-563-8466

Web: http://arganbistro.com/

Twitter: @ArganBistro

Instagram: ArganBistro

2nd Place: C Prime Modern Italian Steakhouse & Wine Bar

C Prime Calamari

Created by: Executive Chef Elliott Hashimoto

Description: Shrimp and mascarpone stuffed calamari with lobster reduction and spicy greens.

C Prime Modern Italian Steakhouse & Wine Bar

1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver

Tel: 604-684-3474

Web: http://www.cprime.ca/

Twitter @cprimesteak

Instagram: cprimesteak

3rd Place: American Grille

Calmar Farci

Description: Chorizo stuffed squid, pepperade with fresh grape tomato salsa

Created by: Chef Danilo Ibara

American Grille

7571 Westminster Highway, Richmond

Tel: 604-232-2804

Web: http://www.american-grille.com

Twitter: @GrilleYVR

Instagram: grilleyvr

In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Calamari dishes were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.

The Winners are:

1st Place People’s Choice:

Blue Canoe Restaurant

Calamari Provencal

Created by: Executive Chef David Friedman

Description: Grilled calamari with gem tomatoes, nicoise olives, capers, garlic, lemon zest, parsley and evoo.

Blue Canoe Restaurant

140-3866 Bayview Street, Richmond

Tel: 604-275-7811

Web: http://www.bluecanoerestaurant.com

Twitter: @bluecanoeresto

2nd Place People’s Choice:

Linh Café

Cha Muc – Calamari Cake

Created by: Chef Tai Luong Nguyen

Description: Fresh herbs, fish sauce for dipping.

Linh Cafe

2836 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver

Tel: 604-559-4668

Web: http://linhcafe.com/

Twitter: @LinhCafeVan

Instagram: linhcafe_yvr

3rd Place People’s Choice:

American Grille