Best Regional: Aurora Bistro

Aurora Bistro’s Jeff Van Geest wins Gold for his unswerving commitment to local ingredients transmuted through cutting-edge technique. “He’s a chef’s chef—one of the best of a particularly elite breed,” enthused one judge.

C’s less showy sib, Raincity Grill (Silver), has weathered a change in chef with its principles intact. Its 100 Mile tasting menu perfectly encapsulates a buy-local emphasis that sees 98 percent of ingredients sourced regionally—“flawlessly paired local flair with a double dose of earthiness,” according to one judge.

Raincity’s loss was John Bishop’s gain, with chef Andrea Carlson adding to Bishop’s (Bronze) seasonal devotion.

Honourable Mentions to C (“for laying out the principles of sourcing so clearly just about everyone has followed,” said the judges) and Fuel.

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