(Chilliwack Times—published on 05/12/2006)
Bravo for Bravo
That’s according to the folks at the world-renowned Vancouver International Playhouse Wine Festival.
Bravo Restaurant and Lounge just picked up a bronze medal for its wine menu at the highly-regarded international event. The award came from a panel of industry experts and wine critics who could only give thumbs up to one of Chilliwack’s newest fine dining experiences. And this is the second year in a row that the martini bar has won an award from this prestigious festival. That’s not bad, considering it’s barely been two years since Bravo first swung open its doors.
“We’re pretty happy about it,” co-owner Damian du Plessis says. “It’s a pretty great recognition to have.”
Indeed, judges visit the restaurant and not only enjoy a meal but check every angle of how the meal is made, any prep time, the wine list, the cooking with wine, staff and even the customers. Everything is under the microscope including the decor, service and general ambiance of the place.
“They come out and they see the place and the clientele, they talk to the staff, check out our service,” du Plessis adds. “It’s pretty in-depth.”
He notes that staff is quizzed by the judges about their wine knowledge; for example what wine goes well with that night’s main course. The international festival, which just wrapped up, attracts some of the biggest industry names from around the world and is firmly established as Canada’s premier wine event. This year’s event featured 186 wineries and 1,320 wines from 15 countries.
As they lauded Bravo, the judges cited the Chilliwack establishment for its “outstanding selection, service and value.”
Du Plessis says they now offer more than 90 different types of wine, ensuring that just about every customer will find a wine to their satisfaction. And he notes, one of the great things about winning is that Bravo was the only Fraser Valley establishment to win such a prestigious award.
“It pretty well puts us on a par with some of the top restaurants in Vancouver and throughout the Fraser Valley,” he says. “It’s a pretty good award to win.”