Yesterday, the first edition of the Michelin Guide Vancouver was officially revealed and Published on Main (3593 Main Street) was amongst eight restaurants to receive the prestigious one Michelin Star. During the inaugural event, inspectors also selected wine director Jayton Paul as its recipient for the 2022 Vancouver Sommelier of the Year Award.
“Many years ago, while I was cooking with chef Scott Jaeger at his restaurant The Pear Tree, there was a sticker of the Michelin man on the stove that was only visible to the cooks, always there as an inspiring reminder to keep pushing for excellence,” says Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, executive chef of Published on Main. “Michelin always seemed out-of-reach, as previous to this year, the guide never made its way to Canada. However, it’s amazing to now finally see Vancouver’s culinary scene be recognized internationally, allowing us to showcase some of the best ingredients in the world, most of which grow in our own back yard.”
As per the Michelin Guide:
Timing is everything, but Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson and his team have a preternatural ability for sensing when produce is at its peak. Whether showcasing it on the plate or pickling and preserving it (those jars even double as decor), they’re sourcing and foraging from local farms and forests.
The contemporary fare bears the chef’s distinct imprimatur. This is food that is at once familiar and surprising. A small dish of asparagus with brown butter crouton and a sauce gribiche is the very essence of spring, while an artful bowl with a pinwheel of side-striped prawns, refreshing apple and cucumber and a cool touch of horseradish delivers a sweet-tart, one-two punch. The roasted halibut’s lush and buttery “broth” is unlike anything you anticipated.
Jayton Paul, who was named 2022 BC Sommelier of the Year this spring, was awarded the Michelin Guide Vancouver Sommelier of the Year Award, which recognizes exceptional sommeliers in their craft.
“This is an incredible honour, one we very much appreciate and won’t be taking for granted,” says Cody Allmin, co-founder of Boxset Collective, the team behind Published on Main, Bar Susu, the upcoming Novella, Twin Sails Brewing, and Thorn & Burrow Wines. “Almost three years ago, we opened Published on Main, hoping to create a place on Main Street where people could simply go for a great meal, be it a casual snack or special occasion, and experience something different with each visit. That’s what we’ll continue to do as we grow and evolve.”
Michelin’s inaugural Michelin Guide Vancouver awarded eight restaurants with one Michelin Star, as well as 12 Bib Gourmands. 40 restaurants, including sister restaurant Bar Susu, were on the Recommended List, rounding out its first edition in Vancouver.
