AnnaLena Celebrates Platinum Award at Vancouver International Wine Festival, 4YR Anniversary and Welcomes Chef de Cuisine

The AnnaLena team is elated to announce their creative wine program has been recognized at the Vancouver International Wine Festival with the coveted Platinum award. The Kitsilano locale is in good company with the Vancouver’s elite restaurants and wine programs. Sommeliers Scott Mitchell and Michael Hiram invite Vancouverites to come in to experience their award-winning wine program and favourite pairings on the menu.

4YR Anniversary

Time flies! AnnaLena is thrilled to be celebrating four years of welcoming diners to West 1st. In four short years the popular Kitsilano eatery has been recognized as a best in the city and nation with many impressive accolades; AnnaLena was included in enRoute Magazine as the sixth best new restaurants in the country and earned the Air Canada enRoute People’s Choice award in its first year. AnnaLena was also named to Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants two years running, and was included in the top three of Best New Restaurants in the 2016 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards following a glowing review in 2015. Robbins also won Best Chef and Best New Restaurant in the 2016 Golden Plate Awards in the Georgia Straight and ranked in the top three in 2018 for Best Overall and Best Service.

To mark the 4YR occasion, Executive Chef Michael Robbins and Restaurant Chef Erin Searle have created a menu that reflects where the menu started and give a snapshot delicious new dishes forthcoming. Menu items include smoked tuna, poached lobster, pork cheek and more. The AnnaLena family invites Vancouverites to book their table to join them on Wednesday, March 13th to celebrate their 4YR Anniversary. $84 per person ~ wine pairings $54

AnnaLena Welcomes Jesse Kirkby as Chef de Cuisine

Chef Jesse Kirkby has joined the AnnaLena team after spending the past few years tightening his culinary chops. Moving to France early in his career, Jesse landed a job with the rising star chef Romuald Royer at the Michelin starred restaurant Le Lido. He spent two years in France working at Le Lido and as a private chef in the French Alps.

Returning to Canada, Jesse spent nearly three years at The Oakwood Canadian Bistro where he first met and worked for Chef Mike Robbins. Following time in San Francisco at the celebrated Michelin Starred restaurant Sons & Daughters, he most recently worked under Noma alum and James Beard Award winning chef Blaine Wetzel of the Willows Inn on Lummi Island.

Jesse is excited to bring his worldwide experience to the kitchen at AnnaLena and to continue the excellent food program created by Chef Mike Robbins and Erin Searle.

About AnnaLena

Named to honour Chef Michael Robbins’ two grandmothers, AnnaLena is about imagination, creativity and possibility – combining modern Canadian cooking, creativity and innovation with seamless service in one of Vancouver’s favourite neighbourhoods. Since opening its doors in the popular Kitsilano area in March 2015, AnnaLena has quickly become both a neighbourhood and critics favourite.

AnnaLena was included in enRouteMagazine as the sixth best new restaurants in the country and earned the Air Canada enRoute People’s Choice award in its first year. AnnaLena was also named to Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants two years running, and was included in the top three of Best New Restaurants in the 2016 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards following a glowing review in 2015. Robbins also won Best Chef and Best New Restaurant in the 2016 Golden Plate Awards in the Georgia Straight and ranked in the top three in 2018 for Best Overall and Best Service. With a clear focus on its vision and a committed and talented team, now with Restaurant Chef Erin Searle at the helm, AnnaLena continues to reach for the stars.

For more information on AnnaLena and Chef Mike Robbins and team, please visit annalena.ca or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media release and images provided by Krista Lochhead, Colley Communications Inc.

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