Best Whistler

1 The Grill Room 4599 Chateau Blvd., fairmont.com/whistler/dining/grillroom 2 Araxi 110-4222 Village Sq., araxi.com 3 Alta Bistro 104-4319 Main St., altabistro.com

honourable mentions Bearfoot Bistro, Bar Oso

Another upset category this year. It’s happened only once before that Araxi didn’t win Gold (in 2009, when Bearfoot Bistro took the honours). This time, it’s thanks to chef Isabel Chung of Fairmont Chateau Whistler’s the Grill Room. Chung wowed the judges with her brilliant forest-, farm-, field- and fish-to-fork menu that includes the likes of cedar-cured ivory salmon with apple cream. Araxi and its new chef Quang Dang is still getting a lot of love with Silver, while Alta Bistro, the perennial hipster of the group, shows it can still medal with the best of them.