Destination Vancouver brings World Chef Exchange to Sydney

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Destination Vancouver and Air Canada teamed up with top chefs from Vancouver, Canada, and Sydney, Australia, to host a special dining event at AALIA restaurant in Martin Place last night.This event was part of Destination Vancouver’s travel trade sales mission, which includes visits to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.The Sydney event brought together media guests and travel trade partners, including Helloworld, Adventure World, APT, Scenic, Flight Centre, Virtuoso, Entire Travel, Ski Max, and Sno N Ski. Attendees had the opportunity to sample the flavors of Vancouver through the World Chef Exchange program, a component of the Dine Out Vancouver festival, held each January and February.Chef and Culinary Advisor Mark Best was joined by Vancouver’s Charlie Kunsang, chef of the MICHELIN-recommended L’Abattoir Restaurant, and Australian Chef Paul Farag of AALIA Restaurant. The chefs collaborated on creating a unique menu for the evening.

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Vancouver suppliers, including Vancouver Foodie Tours, Grouse Mountain Resort, Discover Canada Tours, and several hotels, were also present to meet guests.“Australia is one of the most important international leisure markets for overnight visitation in Vancouver,” Director of Market Development at Destination Vancouver Krista Alcazar said. “We wanted to put on this special event for our key clients in Sydney to celebrate our strong travel trade partnerships and meetings and conventions business.”Chef Charlie Kunsang expressed excitement about the opportunity to participate in the event. “Having the opportunity to travel to Australia and represent not only L’Abattoir Restaurant but Vancouver’s culinary scene is an incredible experience that I’m really looking forward to,” he said.Meanwhile, Chef Mark Best commented on the role food plays in society. “The Vancouver/Sydney World Chef culinary exchange beautifully captures the spirit of collaboration and cultural connection through food… It’s not just about showcasing dishes – it’s about celebrating the shared creativity, identity, and respect that brings people together,” he said.Destination Vancouver will continue its Australian mission with further events in the coming weeks.

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