GOLDEN PLATES
Approachability is key for the great Sabrine Dhaliwal The Chickadee Room’s resident star honoured and thankful to be named best bartender in Vancouver
B
by Mike Usinger
eing consistently recognized as one of the greats is something Sabrine Dhaliwal is used to by now, but that doesn’t make the gold-star mixologist her own biggest fan. Informed that she’s been voted Best Bartender in the Georgia Straight’s annual Golden Plates awards, the veteran Vancouver mixologist’s first reaction is a telling one. “I’m very honoured and very thankful for that recognition,” Dhaliwal says in an interview with the Straight. “We live in a city where we’re spoiled with bartenders. So to be recognized as one of the—I don’t want to say ‘elite’, because that’s not the right word—but one of the leaders, I guess you could say, is humbling. I don’t think that I’m doing anything different than anyone else. I’m just kind of doing my thing—trying to make cocktails approachable, and trying to make bar experiences approachable and welcome for everybody.” Raised in Ontario and first arriving in Vancouver around the 2010 Olympics, Dhaliwal quickly began making a name for herself. A chance move behind the bar at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia’s Reflections was followed by celebrated stints at West and Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar. For the past year she’s been busy establishing the Chickadee Room at Juke in Chinatown as
Sabrine Dhaliwal and her ace team at the Chickadee Room balance adventurous cocktails with traditional ones. Photo by Lachlan McAdam.
one of the best new drink destinations in the city. The cocktail program getting all the attention at Chickadee appeals to for-
ward-thinking adventurists without forgetting that some folks are unrepentant traditionalists. Dhaliwal and her team explore new terrain with drinks like Return
of the Sumac (sumac-infused blanco tequila, cynar, Amontilado sherry, and lemmerrakech bitters) and Super Amaro Bros see next page
READERS’ f CHOICES NEW BREWERY
PUB
BREWPUB RESTAURANT
LOCALLY BREWED BEER
1. Superflux Beer Company 505 Clark Drive 2. Container Brewing 1216 Franklin Street 3. La Cerveceria Astilleros 226 Esplanade East, North Vancouver
1. Sawbuck’s Neighbourhood Pub 1626 152 Street, Surrey 2. Colony Bar (tie) Various locations 2. Darby’s Public House (tie) 2001 Macdonald Street 3. Pemberton Station Pub (tie) 135 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver 3. Fountainhead Pub (tie) 1025 Davie Street
1. Brewhall 97 East 2nd Avenue 2. CRAFT Beer Market 85 West 1st Avenue 3. Steamworks Brewing Co. 375 Water Street
1. 33 Scres of Sunshine (33 Acres Brewing Company) (tie) 1. Ruby Tears (Parallel 49 Brewing) (tie) 2. Lions Winter Ale (Granville Island Brewing) (tie) 2. Goldilocks (Strange Fellows Brewing( (tie) 3. Play Dead (Yellow Dog Brewing Co.)
LOCAL BREWERY 1. 33 Acres Brewing Company 15 West 8th Avenue 2. Parallel 49 Brewing 1950 Triumph Street 3. Strange Fellows Brewing 1345 Clark Drive
LOCAL DISTILLERY
RESTAURANT BEER SELECTION 1. CRAFT Beer Market 85 West 1st Avenue 2. Tap & Barrel Various locations 3. Alibi Room 157 Alexander Street
18
THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT
1. Odd Society Spirits 1725 Powell Street 2. Long Table Distillery 1451 Hornby Street 3. The Liberty Distillery 1494 Old Bridge Road, Granville Island
CANADIAN BEER 1. Molson Canadian 2. 33 Acres of Sunshine 3. Steam Whistle
SEPTEMBER 23 – 30 / 2021
LOCAL BREWERY FLIGHT 1. Brewhall, 97 East 2nd Avenue 2. 33 Acres Brewing Company (tie) 15 West 8th Avenue 2. Strange Fellows Brewing (tie) 1345 Clark Drive 3. Parallel 49 Brewing 1950 Triumph Street
BEER STORE 1. Brewery Creek Craft Beer & Wine Store 3045 Main Street 2. Legacy Liquor Store 1633 Manitoba Street 3. Granville Island Brewing 1441 Cartwright Street
B.C. CIDERY 1. Fraser Valley Cider Company 22128 16 Avenue, Langley 2. Merridale Cidery & Distillery 1230 Merridale Road, Cobble Hill 3. Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse 2487 Mt St. Michael Road, Saanichton
B.C. CIDER 1. Lonetree Authentic Dry Cider (Lonetree Cider) 2. Sea Cider Temperance Roxie (Sea Cider) 3. Sunday Rosé (Sunday Cider)
