This marks the 25th year that the Georgia Straight has been publishing its annual Golden Plates issue celebrating the Vancouver food and beverage scene.

Every year, the Straight asks readers to vote for their favourites in a wide range of categories. The results are compiled and presented in different boxes sprinkled throughout this week's issue.

Over the past quarter century, there’s been a stunning transformation in the region with the rise of an unprecedented array of cuisines from around the world.

This year, the readers’ choice for chef of the year, Nutcha Phanthoupheng, hails from the countryside of Isan in northeastern Thailand. Her food carvings, which are served at Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine in Steveston, were unheard of in this region when the first Golden Plates awards were announced. This marks the second consecutive year that she has been voted the top chef.

In recent years, we’ve also been able to experience an astonishing variety of cuisines from South Asia, China, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East, and other parts of the world. Tatta Chulha, the first Rajasthani restaurant in Vancouver, opened last year. It’s possible to find authentic Uyghur cuisine in Vancouver and Burnaby. We’re incredibly blessed.

To us, all of this is evidence of cluster theory in action. The Okanagan may have a cluster of wineries. Toronto has its cluster of banks. And we, in Vancouver, have a cluster of internationally oriented restaurants, all trying to outdo one another. In the process, they’ve created a world-class culinary industry.