Eleven B.C. restaurateurs, chefs and other culinary industry supporters and standouts will be inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame, the organization announced yesterday.
Those being honoured will be inducted at a September 30 ceremony at the Vancouver Italian Cultural Centre.
The hall of fame was established in 2004 to recognize excellence in the restaurant industry in B.C.
This year's inductees in the active restaurateur's category are:
- Jeff Donnelly, founder and president, The Donnelly Group, which owns and operates 15 restaurants, including Bimini's Tap House, The Lamplighter, Granville Room and Bar None;
- Paul Smolen, owner, Hart House Restaurant, which features fresh local ingredients, including herbs from an on-site herb garden, in the restaurant's Pacific Northwest cuisine; and
- Sean Heather, owner, Heather Hospitality Group, whose Gastown restaurants include Shebeen Whiskey House, the Salty Tongue Café, Salt, Fetch, Judas Goat, Everything Café, and Bitter and Rainier Provisions.
Industry award inductees are:
- Julian Bond, executive chef, program director and COO of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA);
- Ernst Dorfler, owner-chef, Five Sails, winner of 30 gold medals at local, national and international culinary competitions; and
- Jay Jones, executive bartender and brand ambassador, The Donnelly Group, named enRoute Magazine's Canadian Bartender of the Year and "most imaginative bartender" by GQ Magazine.
Friend of industry award inductees are:
- Joy Metcalfe, Joy's Journal, which chronicles Vancouver's gala events, such as balls and fundraisers;
- Caren McSherry, founder, The Gourmet Warehouse, who hosts The Saturday Morning Chef on BCTV's morning news, writes a weekly column for TV Week magazine and has authored four cookbooks; and
- Christine Coletta, owner, Coletta & Associates Okanagan Crush Pad, in recognition for her contributions to the development of the B.C. wine industry.
Coffee and beverage category:
- John Neate, founder, JJ Bean Coffee Roaster, which has 13 uniquely designed cafes and approximately 300 wholesale customers in Canada and the U.S.
Pioneer category:
- Wally Shaw, in recognition of the late founder of the BC Chef's Association and co-founder of the Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks.
