The Dreamer: Jenny Kang

Chef, Orchard, Calgary

The South Korean native grew up on a farm outside Seoul and has worked at some of Calgary's top rooms (Bow Valley Ranche and, most recently, Darren MacLean's acclaimed Shokunin), but at the stunning new Sturgess Architecture-designed Orchard, she's finally the star of the show (and part owner). Kang has been wowing crowds with her modern-Mediterranean-as-seen-through-a-pan- Asian-lens take on cooking. It was a year when everyone got used to restaurants closing, not opening, so Orchard€” with its fresh approach and upbeat, playful vibe€”was a tonic for a tired city heading into a dark winter.

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan

Neal McLennan is the wine and spirits editor for Vancouver and Western Living magazines, where he susses out the wonderful (and occasionally weird) options for imbibing across Western Canada.