Chef Giuseppe “Pino” Posteraro, founder and proprietor of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca, has been honoured with the Guardian of Tradition Award by Gambero Rosso—the Vancouver chef being the only Canadian culinary artist to be recognized by the esteemed Italian food and wine magazine and publisher.
The award is one of just seven international honours Gambero Rosso bestowed around the globe for 2023.
Cioppino’s was also awarded Gambero Rosso’s coveted 3 Forchette (3 Forks), the organization’s highest honour for Best Fine-Dining Restaurants abroad.
Cioppino’s is the only Vancouver restaurant on the list and just one of two Canadian dining establishments included in the total of 30.
Gambero Rosso is considered the trusted global certifier of what is considered the Best of Italy; it is essentially Italy’s equivalent of the Michelin Guide.
Since 2016, Gambero Rosso has produced Top Italian Restaurants, a guide to the leading Italian dining destinations around the world.
A Culinary Legacy
For more than three decades, Chef Pino has been driven to promote Italian gastronomy and culture to the local community and Canadians.
In 2018, Pino was named a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, the first chef in Canada to be bestowed the award designated by Italy’s president.
The knighthood recognizes individuals who promote Italian prestige and relations internationally.
Known for its exceptional Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and highly professional service, Cioppino’s features strictly premium ingredients on its menu, from Prosciutto di Parma aged 24 months and Puglia burrata to Haida Gwaii halibut and Pacific octopus.
Other examples of Chef Pino’s meticulous sourcing of the finest foods include cured ham from free range, acorn-fed black Iberian pig; AAA Canadian beef; dry-aged Fraser Valley duck; Salt Spring Island mussels; and Nova Scotia lobster.
Produce is sourced locally and seasonally, and the in-house salumi program is unparalleled.
Artisanal pastas are made fresh daily by hand.
Pappardelle with four-hour braised veal cheeks and porcinis will never come off the menu, while dishes such as chef Pino’s mother’s Sunday lasagne with duck ragout, mozzarella and Parmigiano, come from the heart.
Chef Pino personally oversees Cioppino’s award-winning wine list, with its collection of nearly 45,000 bottles, including rare and hard-to-find vintages. Cioppino’s recently underwent an extensive, elegant renovation, complete with a beautiful outdoor dining area and a 50-bottle, temperature-controlled, by-the-glass wine dispenser and preservation system.
The full-service dining room has views of the open kitchen, while several intimate spaces are available for corporate and private special functions.
For more information, please contact Chef Pino at: [email protected]