The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo and NOW Magazine are proud to present this year's recipients of the Nine of Dine - Chefs of Distinction Award. The program recognizes nine of the hottest chefs in the city. Vote for your favourite nominee!

Esteemed Panel of Judges

FoodService & Hospitality: Rosanna Caira, Editor
NOW Magazine: Steven Davey, Food Editor
Spotlight Toronto: Suresh Doss, Publisher
Toronto Life: Chris Nuttall-Smith, Food Writer & Restaurant Columnist
Globe & Mail: Lucy Waverman, Writer

Chef Matt Blondin
Acadia
50C Clinton St. Toronto
acadiarestaurant.com

Matt embraces the flavours and techniques of Acadian and Low Country cuisine to create his take on regional southern cooking. His Acadia Restaurant & Bar invites you to indulge in a culture of creaky porches, lazy ceiling fans, southern food, inspired brews and craft cocktails.

Chef Francisco Alejandri
Agave y Aguacate
214 Augusta Ave. Toronto
agaveyaguacate.blogspot.com

Mexican cooking is in Francisco's heart, soul and blood. As such, this passionate chef wants to change your opinion of Mexican cooking. More than tacos, enchiladas or nachos, his take on Mexican cuisine strives to be earthy, nourishing and comforting — a fiesta in itself.

Chef Craig Harding
Campognolo
832 Dundas Street West, Toronto
campagnolotoronto.com

Craig is chef and owner of Campagnolo restaurant where he puts a modern spin on rustic Venetian cuisine. A graduate of George Brown College who apprenticed at JK ROM under Jamie Kennedy, he prides himself in serving up good honest, home cooked food with flair.

Chef John Horne
Canoe Restaurant
54th Fl. -Dominion Bank Tower, 66 Wellington St. W, Toronto
oliverbonacini.com

Prior to leading the celebrated kitchen at Canoe, John spent seven years at Auberge du Pommier after having travelling extensively to learn the ropes at fine dining establishments in France and England, including Michelin-star restaurants in London including The Square and L'Escargot.

Chef Anthony Rose
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St. W, Toronto
paramourdining.com

A Toronto native, Anthony discovered his passion for food while working with mentor David Lee at Centro. He and his culinary team aspire to create nostalgic and eclectic menus while emphasizing homespun, farm-to-table eating at the Drake and its free-wheeling offshoot, the Dining Roadshow.

Chef Rocco Agostino
Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas St. W, Toronto
sociale.ca

Prior to the opening of Enoteca Sociale, Rocco amassed more than 20 years of experience studying Rome and at the Stratford Chef School and running the critically acclaimed Silver Spoon. His seasonally-inspired menu features include a daily house made pasta with inspiration from classic Roman cuisine and local ingredients.

Chef Carl Heinrich
Marben Restaurant
488 Wellington St. W. Toronto
marbenrestaurant.com

Carl honed his culinary skills with postings at Gramercy Tavern and Daniel in New York, Georges Blanc, La Regalade, and Le Comptoir in France and Alain Ducasse's Le Louis XV in Monaco. His cuisine is inspired by quality ingredients and driven by classic and modern techniques, while keeping flavours pure, without getting too complicated.

Pastry Chef Colen Quinn
Pangaea Restaurant
1221 Bay St. Toronto
pangaearestaurant.com

A childhood love of baking became a passion for Colen and led her to the top of her class when she was a baking and patisserie apprentice at Toronto's George Brown College. Now, as pastry chef at Pangaea, her goal is to use seasonal and regional ingredients to keep the Pangaea dessert menu fresh and satisfying all year long.

Chefs Damon Clements and Daniel Usher
Ortolan
1211 Bloor W, Toronto
littledrunkbird.com

Co-owners/chefs Damon and Daniel chalk up the inspiration behind Ortolan's chalkboard menu - which changes daily - to cultural exposure, global travel and international work experiences. Their one tenet for their intimate, bustling Bloor-and-Lansdowne eatery: the food should taste good.

Vote for your favourite today! Balloting closes at 11pm, November 3, 2011. One vote per household.