Congratulations to Fraser Crawford! The bar manager at Kissa Tanto has just been named the winner of the 2024 Michelin Guide Vancouver Exceptional Cocktails Award, adding even more lustre to the Chinatown restaurant’s glittering star.

The awards, announced on October 3 at The Commodore Ballroom, also added one new star (to Sushi Masuda), bringing Vancouver’s constellation to 10, one Bib Gourmand (Gary’s) and two recommended restaurants (Bar Brave and Zab Bit). Also announced were three other special awards: the Michelin Sommelier Award for Reverie Beall of AnnaLena; the Outstanding Service Award for Bailey Hayward of Gary’s; and the Young Chef / Culinary Professional Award for Yoji Masuda of Sushi Masuda.

But for cocktail lovers, this was the big one. Previously, it was won by Max Curzon-Price of Suyo in 2023 and, in 2022, Michelin’s inaugural year in Vancouver, by Jeff Savage and Grant Sceney of Botanist/Fairmont Pacific Rim.

Of Crawford, the judges wrote: “He delivers a breathtaking experience with unique, compelling cocktails rooted in the classics, but embodying the restaurant’s blending of Japanese and Italian esthetics, all in a way that feels familiar and friendly.”

For his part, Crawford offers this advice to anyone considering a career in bartending: “People are the most important thing. Treat them right, be easy to work with, be easy to work for. Let your work ethic do the talking.”

For more info, visit guide.michelin.com/ca/en/british-columbia/ca-vancouver/restaurants.