Vancouver is finally enjoying the culinary recognition it deserves. First the city was listed as one of the “Top 10 best restaurant cities in the world” by Food & Wine magazine alongside culinary giants like New York, Paris and London. More recently, two internationally-acclaimed chefs have set up kitchens in the ocean-wrapped city. Superstar Manhattan chef Daniel Boulud has opened a Vancouver version of his popular New York restaurant, DB Bistro Moderne, and taken over the management of Lumiere. Chef Boulud’s signature Daniel restaurant on Park Avenue in New York was rated one of the 10 best restaurants in the world.

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten is also getting in on the action. Vongerichten, the force behind a global empire of restaurants that spans from London to New York via Shanghai, marked his first foray into both the Canadian and West Coast dining scene by launching MARKET by Jean-Georges in the new Shangri-La Hotel (opened in January 2009). The restaurant is divided into four distinct areas: a dining room, more casual bistro, outdoor terrace and a bar.