Exceptional Eats! Awards

Here at EAT magazine, we’ve decided that just writing articles isn’t enough. We want to give your voice a forum for identifying, recognizing and celebrating what is going on here on Vancouver Island that matters to you.

What excites you about the local food scene? What is it about food that affirms and consistently supports your decision to stay on Vancouver Island? Your voice reinforces a collective commitment to Vancouver Island and informs potential gastronomic developments. That is to say, your bums in seats for eats, unfolded wallet at a farm stand and drool on the counter at the cheese shop sustains Vancouver Island’s culinary culture, keeps it going and keeps it coming. Go team!

And so, we introduce to you the Exceptional Eats! Awards, a celebration of the notables from Victoria to Sointula and Tofino to Salt Spring. We have developed a list of short questions in consultation with a collection of individuals including food journalists, prominent Islanders, farmers, chefs, dedicated foodies and pe ople who just like to eat. Share your voice and vote for the Island’s best. This food-friendly poll is designed to reflect and respect what is significant and intriguing in our culinary culture. This is not about the biggest stack o’ pancakes or the best place to get a date. Get real. This is about food. This is about the real food and drink and the people who make it happen.

Please vote by filling out the survey. The Exceptional Eats! Awards can reflect the tastes and priorities of this community only if the community participates. It is time for Vancouver Island to share its voice in acknowledgment and gratitude. The Exceptional Eats! Awards will be an annual event, celebrating the bar, and raising it. It is time for our own awards, for ourselves, the industry, for visitors and for the love of the food.

By voting, you will become eligible to win one of the prizes generously donated by our sponsors. The winners will be announced in the March/April 2010 issue of EAT along with the results of the survey. By recognizing excellence, we are giving a big round of applause to all the chefs, servers, brewers, farmers and vintners and more who together make this Island such an exceptional place to eat and drink.

To vote, CLICK HERE

Voting ends Feb 01, 2010.

Both name and email address is required to be entered in the draw.

Please note: You will only be able to take the survey once per computer.

The Prizes:

• A Luxury Weekend at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria donated by the Empress (www.fairmont.com/empress) and EAT Magazine.

• The Mocca Master Thermal Brewer – The World’s Best Coffee Maker donated by www.CoffeeCrew.com

• Dinner For Two at Deerholme Farm donated by Deerholme Farm (www.magnorth.bc.ca) and www.VancouverIslandLocalFood.com