The GOODS from West

Vancouver, BC | Sabrine Dhaliwal of Vancouver’s West Restaurant has been crowned the winner of ‘The Challenge’, Belvedere Vodka’s international contest to create a legendary martini cocktail. Held in London, England, the two-day competition saw the world’s finest bartenders face off in a series of unique and demanding challenges with a jury of international judges. Ultimately, Dhaliwal’s ‘Pink Skies’ martini earned her the victory, fittingly on World Martini Day.

Dhaliwal qualified as a finalist when she placed in the top three in the ‘Best of the Americas’ run-off in New York City. Competitors for ‘The Finals’ included top bartenders from the US, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia, and Sabrine was the only woman to qualify.

Belvedere Vodka recently partnered with the new James Bond ‘Spectre’ movie, and in her first martini challenge of ‘The Finals’, Dhaliwal was zipped around London on a motorcycle, directing her driver to four landmarks – Trafalgar Square, The Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament – to collect mystery ingredients for a Bond-themed cocktail.

Her second challenge on Day One was to create a vodka-based cocktail with a Bond narrative. For this she chose her signature ‘Pink Skies at Night’, complete with a background story based on famous Bond women.

Day Two saw Sabrine’s final challenge. At celebrity chef Marcus Wareing’s new Tredwell’s restaurant in St. Martin’s Lane, the international bartenders were tasked with choosing a course from the dinner menu, and matching an original cocktail of their own creation.

“Most of us were in the same boat,” Dhaliwal said. “Fighting jetlag in a strange city, whisking around picking up mystery ingredients, providing contextual narratives for what we were making. I had a secret ingredient of my own though – I dialed in my inner Miss Moneypenny!”

At the end of the dinner, the judges weighed in with their remarks, and then their marks. A somewhat surprised, but absolutely delighted Sabrine Dhaliwal was announced the winner. “In the fog of fatigue, it took a few moments to sink in,” stated Dhaliwal. “And then pure joy – I am just so thrilled to be bringing this award back to Vancouver and the team at West.”

Sabrine’s award-winning cocktails will be featured over the summer months at West Restaurant. For more information about West Restaurant or to make reservations, please visit westrestaurant.com.

DETAILS

2881 Granville St. | Vancouver | MAP
Voice: 604 738 8938
Web: westrestaurant.com
Email: [email protected]

Gallery

Hours

Restaurant: Nightly from 5:30 – 11:00pm
Bar: Nightly from 5:30 – midnight
Lunch: Daily from 11:30am – 2:30pm
Weekend Brunch: 10:30am – 2:30pm

Our Team

Quang Dang, Executive Chef
Rhonda Viani, Pastry Chef
Owen Knowlton, Wine Director & Restaurant Director
Sabrine Dhaliwal, Bar Manager

About West Restaurant

True to our Region True to the Seasons

Recognized as the “jewel in Vancouver’s culinary crown,” West’s outstanding contemporary regional cuisine and seamless service has garnered much critical acclaim, including four consecutive wins as Restaurant of the Year by the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, and a prestigious four star rating by Mobil Travel Guide.

Pristine local ingredients are sourced to deliver superbly conceived dishes offering modern interpretations of classics. Exuding energy and action, the kitchen offers two ‘chef’s tables’ that render an up–close culinary theatre experience.

The elegant dining room is highlighted by a magnificent, temperature-controlled wall of wine housing West’s extensive wine collection, an ever-evolving list of acclaimed Old World producers, rare finds and exciting New World vintners. At the gleaming cherrywood bar, martinis and cocktails are composed of fresh herbs, juices and creative infusions.

West is located in Vancouver’s chic South Granville neighborhood (just five minutes from the downtown core).

Accolades

Wine List Award, Gold
Vancouver International Wine Festival, 2013

Best of the City “Gold for Best West Coast Cuisine”
Westender Reader’s Choice Award, 2013

Silver – Executive Chef Quang Dang
Gold Medal Plates 2012

World’s Most Imaginative Bartender, David Wolowidnyk
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® World’s Most Imaginative Bartender Competition, Morocco, 2012

Wine List Award, Platinum (Best Overall)
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, 2012

‘Best of’ Award of Excellence
Wine Spectator, 2012

Top 50 Restaurants in Canada
Vacay.ca 2012

Best Upscale Restaurant, Silver
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2011

Sommelier of the Year, Owen Knowlton
Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, 2011

Four Star Award
Mobil Travel Guide, 2011

Four Diamond Award
AAA / CAA, 2011

Best Service, Gold
Restaurant of the Year, Bronze
Best Last Course, Bronze
Best Regional, Honourable Mention
Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, 2010

Best West Coast
WHERE Magazine ‘To Dine’ Awards, 2009

Ranked No. 1 in BC for Food & Service ?Vancouver
Zagat Survey, 2009

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