VANCOUVER — The Top Table Group has announced that executive chef Frank Pabst, of Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar, and restaurant director Brian Hopkins, of West, will be inducted into the British Columbia Restaurant Hall of Fame on Sept. 27.

Founded six years ago by the B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association, the award honours those, “who have demonstrated exceptional professionalism working in the restaurant industry by making their restaurant a special experience.”

REGINA — Milton Rebello is the new top toque at the Radisson Plaza Saskatchewan.  

With 19 years of culinary experience, Rebello has apprenticed under some of the world's finest chefs in India, Dubai, Bahrain, Tanzania, Saudi Arabia, Doha and the United States. He’s also worked on cruise ships.

A graduate of Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, Rebello has worked at four-star restaurants in New York and Connecticut. He is a Journeyman Red Seal Chef and has worked in leadership roles with Coast, Fairmont and Westin Hotels in Canada.

VANCOUVER — Four weeks later Eat! Vancouver staff has announced the winner of its Black Box competition. Nevada Cope has taken the coveted prize, beating out 16 male chefs, including last year’s winner Harmon Gill, to become the first-ever female chef winner of the Master Chef Competition.

Cope created her winning dish using quail, ground pork, chorizo, turnip and Windset Farms Gusto hot peppers from the final Black Box.

The top toque received a Ken Onion 11-piece Block set of chef’s knives, valued at $2,200, as well as a complete set of china, valued at $1,700, for her win.

OTTAWA — A Bedford, N.S.-based husband-and-wife food duo has been honoured for their culinary leadership by Canada’s Governor General, Michaelle Jean.

James and Linda Gourlay, founders of the culinary magazine, Saltscapes, in addition to the thriving Saltscapes East Coast Expo — were joined by much of Canada’s leading food professionals at a black-tie gala at Rideau Hall. All were on hand for the inaugural Governor General's Awards in Celebration of the Nation's Table.