Greater Vancouver has a strong tradition of culinary excellence, founded on its wealth of expert chefs. While many grew-up locally, almost all have travelled the world to learn their craft, often studying under the tutelage of some of the greatest culinary auteurs on the planet. Some of the city's local chefs are now reaching the same lofty international heights as their mentors.

Vancouver's leading hotels are also home to some of the region's top dining rooms, including Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel, Voya at the Loden Vancouver, and Elixir at the Opus Hotel. Of course, the city is not only about fine dining: Vancouver has developed a rich menu of laid-back bistros where sharing a few tasting plates, a great bottle of Okanagan wine and a sunset view across the mountains is the perfect West Coast dine-out experience.

Story idea Since the Vancouver Aquarium launched Ocean Wise, a conservation program which calls for the cooperation of restaurants in choosing sustainable seafood items for their menus, nearly 100 restaurants in Vancouver alone have signed on. Consider a story highlighting the success of the program and how it has expanded nationwide. Interview the Executive Chef Robert Clark from C Restaurant, who is a co-founder of the Ocean Wise program, and hear his passion for a sustainable seafood industry. For more information, visit www.oceanwisecanada.org.

• Key Restaurant Districts
• Regional Specialties
• Acclaimed Restaurants

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Key Restaurant Districts
Vancouver is teeming with distinctive dining areas, where you can't throw a California roll without hitting a good eatery. These include Robson Street, with more than 50 restaurants ranging from Korean noodle houses to super-chic movie star hangouts; Yaletown, where the city's beautiful people come to feed at the hippest eateries; Kitsilano, complete with vegetarian haunts, quirky coffee houses and fine dining; Denman and Davie Streets, housing the city's best selection of good-value, mid-priced restaurants; Broadway, a street that's so long it's home to almost every type of restaurant the city has to offer; Commercial Drive, with its independent coffee bars and diverse ethnic eateries; South Main (SoMa area), filled with small, eclectic joints not short of catering to the veggies; Granville Island, with its fine dining and casual eateries, all sharing some great city-and-mountain views; and South Granville, combining a couple of the city's best restaurants with a highly browsable shopping area.

Story idea How about a day trip story covering Vancouver's eclectic Commercial Drive neighbourhood for coffee lovers? You could cover the Calabria Coffee Shop (a symphony of statuary and mirrored walls), Joe's Cafe (the first coffee shop to introduce cappuccinos to the city), Abruzzo Cappuccino Bar (the city's best spot to watch a soccer game) and Turk's Coffee Exchange (where coffee is a serious business and there are eight different types of espresso bean.

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Regional Specialties

And where to eat them...

• Geoduck (this giant among clams is pronounced "goo-ee-duck"): available at Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant (www.sunsuiwah.com) and Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar (www.bluewatercafe.net).
• Salmon jerky: available at Granville Island Public Market (www.granvilleisland.com) and Salmon Village (www.salmonvillage.com).
• B.C. rolls: Tojo's Restaurant (www.tojos.com).
• Alder-grilled salmon: Aqua Riva Restaurant & Bar (www.aquariva.com).
• Salmon candy (hot smoked salmon): Salmon House on the Hill (www.salmonhouse.com) and Granville Island Public Market (www.granvilleisland.com).
• Drunken live spot prawns: Kirin Seafood Restaurant (www.kirinrestaurant.com).
• West Coast oysters: Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House (www.joefortes.ca), Blue Water Café & Raw Bar (www.bluewatercafe.net) and C Restaurant (www.crestaurant.com).
• Dungeness crab: C Restaurant (www.crestaurant.com).

Story idea Consider a summer feature on picnicking around the Lower Mainland. Your story could mix some of the region's renowned foods with its array of spectacular al fresco destinations. This could include a gourmet West Coast lunch from the takeout window at Raincity Grill enjoyed on the grass in Stanley Park; a bento box of takeout sushi on the beach at Spanish Banks; or a bagful of artisan breads and cheeses from Granville Island Public Market sampled on the waterfront overlooking the Burrard Street Bridge.

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Acclaimed Restaurants
Each year, Vancouver Magazine awards the city's top restaurants from various categories.

Restaurant of the Year (2009)
Gold: Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill (www.cioppinosyaletown.com)
Silver: Blue Water Café (www.bluewatercafe.net)
Bronze: West Restaurant + Bar (www.westrestaurant.com)
Honourable Mention: C Restaurant (www.crestaurant.com)

Other Acclaimed Vancouver Restaurants

Ashiana Tandoori (www.ashianatandoori.com)
Best Indian (bronze)

Bacchus Lounge, Wedgewood Hotel (www.wedgewoodhotel.com)
Best Bar/Lounge(gold)
Best Formal French (silver)

Bin 941 (www.bin941.com)
Best Small Plates (silver)

Blue Water Café (www.bluewatercafe.net)
Best Service (bronze)
Best Seafood (gold)
Best Formal Japanese (silver) - Raw Bar

C Restaurant (www.crestaurant.com)
Best Regional (silver)
Best Seafood (silver)

Chambar (www.chambar.com)
Best Bar/Lounge (bronze)
Best Other European (gold)

Cibo Trattoria, Moda Hotel (www.cibotrattoria.ca)
Best New Restaurant (silver)

CinCin (www.cincin.net)
Best Last Course (silver)

Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill (www.cioppinosyaletown.com)
Restaurant of the Year (gold)
Best Formal Italian (gold)

Cobre (www.cobrerestaurant.com)
Best of the Americas (gold)

Cru (www.cru.ca)
Best Small Plates (gold)

DB Bistro Moderne (www.dbbistro.ca)
Best Next

Elixir at the Opus (www.elixirvancouver.ca)
Best Casual French (bronze)

Fraiche (www.fraicherestaurant.ca)
Best North Shore (silver)

Gotham Steakhouse (www.gothamsteakhouse.com)
Best Steakhouse/Chops (gold)

Gusto di Quattro (www.quattrorestaurants.com)
Best Casual Indian (bronze)
Best North Shore (bronze)

Hart House Restaurant (www.harthouserestaurant.com)
Best Metro Vancouver Destination (bronze)

Hy's Encore (www.hyssteakhouse.com)
Best Steakhouse/Chops (bronze)

Il Giardino (www.umberto.com)
Best Formal Italian (silver)

Kirin Mandarin Restaurant (www.kirinrestaurant.com)
Best Formal Chinese (gold)
Best Dim Sum (gold)

La Bodega (www.labodegavancouver.com)
Best Other European (silver)

La Terrazza (www.laterrazza.ca)
Best Formal Italian (bronze)

Le Crocodile (www.lecrocodilerestaurant.com)
Best Formal French (gold)

Migz BBQ on Broadway (www.migzbbq.com)
Best BBQ (bronze)

Miku (www.mikurestaurant.com)
Best Formal Japanese (bronze)

Morton's The Steakhouse (www.mortons.com)
Best Steakhouse/Chops (silver)

Raincity Grill (www.raincitygrill.com)
Best Regional (bronze)

Sala Thai (www.salathaidowntown.com)
Best Thai (gold)

Sun Sui Wah (www.sunsuiwah.com)
Best Formal Chinese (bronze)
Best Dim Sum (bronze)

The Irish Heather Gastropub (www.irishheather.com)
Best Other European (bronze)

Tojo's (www.tojos.com)
Best Seafood (bronze)
Best Formal Japanese (gold)

Uva Wine Bar, Moda Hotel (www.uvawinebar.ca)
Best Bar/Lounge (silver)

Voya Restaurant and Lounge (www.voyarestaurant.com)
Best New Restaurant (bronze)
Design of the Year (silver)

West Restaurant (www.westrestaurant.com)
Best Service (gold)
Best Last Course (bronze)

Story idea Not every Vancouver restaurant is a fine dining joint. Consider a story on the trail of the city's bargain dining options. The story could include visits to Granville Island Public Market for cheap takeout; a trek to the Punjabi Market area for an all-you-eat curry lunch special that's never more than $10; and lunch at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (www.picachef.com), where eager student chefs serve up gourmet meals at bargain prices.

Story idea How about a feature on several Lower Mainland park restaurants? The story could include visits and chef interviews at the Fish House in Stanley Park, Deer Lake Park's Hart House Restaurant in Burnaby, the Mill Marine Bistro in the waterfront Harbour Green Park and Watermark Restaurant in Kitsilano Beach Park.