Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, StarChefs.com^T will present their Rising Stars Revue at McCaw Hall, a walk-around tasting gala for the public featuring the Seattle Rising Stars and their signature dishes, cocktails and wine pairings. Rising Stars is a national award that recognizes up-and-coming chefs, pastry chefs, sommeliers and mixologists from around the country. Rising Star candidates are nominated for consideration by the StarChefs.com Advisory Board, previous Rising Stars Award Winners, local food media, StarChefs^T editorial research and nominations through the starchefs.com^T web site. Winners are chosen by the StarChefs.com^T editorial team via in-person tastings and interviews.

StarChefs interviewed and tasted from over 75 restaurants in the Seattle area to determine those that represent the frontrunners in Seattle’s dining scene. The StarChefs 2009 Seattle Rising Stars Award winners are: Chef Mark Fuller of Springhill, Chef Stuart Lane of Cafe Juanita, Chef Vuong Loc of Portage, Chefs Brian McCracken and Dana Tough of Spur, ChefColin Patterson of Sutra, Chef Jason Wilson of Crush, Hotel Chef Adam Stevenson of Earth & Ocean at W Seattle,  Pastry Chef Dana Cree of Poppy,  Pastry Chef Matt Kelley of Rover’s, Mixologist Jim Romdall of Vessel, Sommelier Nelson Daquip of Canlis, Restaurateur Ethan Stowell of Union, Tavolata, How to Cook a Wolf, Concept Award Chef Joshua Henderson of Skillet Street Food and Sustainability Award to Chef Maria Hines of Tilth.