Shira Blustein
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Shira Blustein | |
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| Born | Calgary, Alberta |
| Nationality | Canadian |
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Shira Blustein is a Canadian restaurateur, entrepreneur, musician, and filmmaker known for her significant contributions to Vancouver's culinary and music scenes. She is the founder of the award-winning vegetarian restaurant, The Acorn, which has gained international acclaim, including a Michelin Recommendation in 2022, 2023, 2024. Blustein is also a co-founder of Lila, a modern Indian restaurant in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood, and was the proprietor of The Arbor, a vegetarian eatery that operated from 2016 to 2024. She is also the co-author of the cookbook Vegetables Re-imagined - shortlisted for a Taste Canada Award.[1]
Early Life and Education
Shira Blustein was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. In 2002, she left Calgary to attend the Vancouver Film School, where she honed her skills in filmmaking, which she later applied to directing music videos and other creative projects.
Career
The Acorn
In 2012, Blustein opened The Acorn, a vegetarian restaurant in Vancouver. The Acorn quickly became a popular staple in the city's dining scene, known for its innovative plant-based dishes that appeal to vegetarians and omnivores alike. The restaurant’s commitment to sustainability and creativity earned it numerous accolades, including earning a spot as one of the top 10 best new restaurants in Canada in 2013[2], One of the top Vegetarian Restaurants in the World,[3] a Michelin Recommendation[4]
Blustein’s approach to hospitality at The Acorn emphasizes inclusivity, community, creating positive growth in the industry, and the exclusive use of locally sourced ingredients in the Acorn's zero-waste kitchen.
The Arbor
In 2016, Blustein expanded her culinary ventures by opening The Arbor, a more casual, plant-based eatery located next to The Acorn. The Arbor offered a relaxed dining experience with a focus on sustainability and accessibility. After eight successful years, The Arbor closed its doors in 2024.
Lila
In 2024, Blustein co-founded Lila, a modern Indian restaurant located in Vancouver's Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Partnering with Chef Meeru Dhalwala, known for her work at Vij's and Rangoli, Lila offers playful and dramatic plates in a dark, intimate setting with elements from a secret garden patio. The restaurant has quickly become a favourite for its innovative take on Indian cuisine and was long-listed by Air Canada En Route as one of the Best New Restaurants in 2024[5].
Acorn Market
Blustein also launched the Acorn Market, a packaged food line that offers plant-based products inspired by the dishes served at The Acorn. This venture extends her culinary philosophy beyond the restaurant setting, allowing customers to enjoy locally crafted creations at home.
Music and Film
Classically trained as a child on piano, Shira Blustein has been an active member of the punk and indie music scene since 1996, performing, recording, and writing songs for several bands:
- Mediaucracy - Calgary (1996)
- Chupacabra - Calgary (1997-2001)
- Blood Meridian - Vancouver
- The Choir Practice - Vancouver
- A Pale Blue - Vancouver
- Hard Drugs - Vancouver
- At Astra - Vancouver
- Ashley Shadow - Vancouver (2018 to present)
- Strawberries and Cream - Vancouver (2023 to present)
In addition to her musical pursuits, Blustein has a background in filmmaking. Her filmography includes directing several music videos for bands such as Black Mountain, Blood Meridian, and Pink Mountaintops. Upon graduating film school, Shira joined a horror film collective called "Cinema Fabulon", and produced and starred in a mother-daughter cooking show pilot "Tradition with a Twist".
Personal Life
Shira Blustein lives between Vancouver and Mayne Island with her partner, two young daughters and their 2 cats. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is an avid musician and a ceramics enthusiast, creating many of the dishes served at The Acorn. She is an active Board Member of the Mount Pleasant BIA.
Awards and Recognition
- Michelin Recommended - The Acorn (2022-Present)
- Michelin - Vancouver's Best Brunch - The Acorn 2024
- Vancouver Magazine Best Plant-Based Restaurant - The Acorn 2023
- Vancouver Magazine Best New Restaurant - Honourable Mention - Lila 2025
- Canada's Best New Restaurants - The Acorn (2013)
- Canada's Best New Restaurants - Lila (2024)
- Taste Canada Awards - Vegetables Re-Imagined (2022)
References
- ↑ "Taste Canada Awards". 13 June 2022.
- ↑ "Air Canada En Route - Canada's Best New Restaurants 2013". 31 October 2013.
- ↑ "Top 25 Vegetarian Restaurants In The World". 15 January 2015.
- ↑ "Michelin Guide - Vancouver".
- ↑ "Canada's Best New Restaurants 2024".
External links
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