St. Catharines restaurant makes the cut
Named one of top 10 new eateries across the country
Hard work is paying off for Dispatch.
The new St. Catharines eatery was one of 35 named on Air Canada’s long list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants this week.
“We’re over the moon, thrilled and very humbled to be on that list,” said Tamara Jensen, who handles the restaurant’s marketing.
Being named among the country’s best new restaurants was a goal they set when they opened, she said. It’s even written into the service manual and employee documents.
“It’s something we’ve been striving towards, not for the recognition but because that’s the type of restaurant we want to have,” she said. “Being recognized is just a bonus.”
Jensen said she and her husband, chef Adam Hynam-Smith, heard the good news when a friend from the food industry forwarded them the news release early Thursday.
“It was a very exciting way to wake up this morning.”
For Hynam-Smith, the news caused a mix of emotions.
He said he felt excited and grateful, but humbled to be named among restaurants of such high calibre.
“It’s very rewarding to the whole team and everyone involved in this establishment — that everything they’re doing is being noticed … it’s pretty awesome.”
Waiting until October for the final decision, he said, will feel like torture.
No application form was required to be considered, he said. It was a panel of food experts who made their recommendations, then one writer was sent to anonymously critique each restaurant.
“You never pull up short of a finish line,” said Hynam-Smith, adding staff has worked hard. “You always sprint through the finish line.”
Air Canada’s top 10 Best New Restaurants will be revealed in Toronto Oct. 24.
The final 10 will be showcased on CanadasBestNewRestaurants.com in October and in the November issue of Air Canada’s “enRoute” magazine.