Metro Vancouver diners, grab your Wet-Naps. Voting has begun for the 5th Annual Chinese Restaurant Awards, and it's your duty to help choose the best.
Founded in 2008, the Chinese Restaurant Awards hand out two sets of honours: Critics' Choice Awards and Diner's Choice Awards.
First place unofficially comes with Chinese-style, in-your-face bragging rights. Expiration date: never.
Seven judges are tasked this year to select winners of the the critics' choice awards. According to the awards' website, gold-winning signature dishes are marked for their "excellence of ingredients, cooking skills, and taste."
Today, the awards, both critics' and diners', are valued as an go-to index of Chinese must-eats. Everything from Northern to Hakka to Sichuan cuisine is available to hungry diners, locals or tourists, who seek it.
Diners can cast their ballots in 18 diverse (and delicious) categories. Categories include:
- Best pan-fried Shanghaiese bun
- Best Northern Chinese restaurant
- Best Hong Kong-style restaurant
- Best vegetarian restaurant
- Best dim sum restaurant
This is your time to help recognize the best Chinese food in the Lower Mainland.
Was that xiaolong bao you had six months ago still lingering in your mind? Were you moved to tears after tasting the perfect peking duck?
You have until Jan. 4, 2013 to choose your favourites online. Winners will be announced Jan. 7, 2013.
Whet your appetite with a visual tasting of past winning and nominated dishes:
