Rob Feenie

Vancouver BC, February 5, 2008 - Cactus Restaurants Ltd. today announced the appointment of Chef Rob Feenie to its senior executive team as the new Food Concept Architect. Canada’s first Iron Chef will work with the senior management team to shape the restaurants’ growth and product development, creating innovative new dishes and continuously improving long time favourites.

“We are excited and thrilled to have one of Canada’s top chefs join our team. Chef Feenie shares our vision and passion for excellence in the restaurant industry,” said Richard Jaffray, President and CEO of Cactus Restaurants Ltd. “Our team of chefs and management is looking forward to working closely with Chef Feenie to create an exceptional food and dining experience for all of our customers.”

Chef Feenie will also be closely involved in the training and development of young chefs with Cactus Club Cafe, one of the largest employers of chef apprentices in Western Canada. His appointment is immediate.

“I am excited to be working with a British Columbia-based company that is as visionary as Cactus Restaurants,” said Chef Feenie. “An industry leader, Cactus demonstrates its leadership through its affiliation with both the Green Table Network and Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program. The company’s globally inspired menu and status as one of Canada’s top employers are indicators of its dedication to excellence. I am really looking forward to being a part of the Cactus team.”

About Chef Rob Feenie
Chef Feenie is one of Canada’s most recognized and acclaimed chefs. His interest in cooking began during high school exchange program in Europe. He attended Dubrulle Culinary Institute in Vancouver and then studied with some of the top chefs in B.C., the United States and Europe. Both nationally and internationally Feenie has also developed a reputation as a chef-consultant. He opened Accolade Restaurant in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Toronto and undertook the monumental task of restructuring the dining experience at Le Regence in the Hotel Plaza Athene in Manhattan, pulling the restaurant "right out of the doldrums" according to the New York Times . He is often called upon to represent Canada, traveling as an Ambassador for Canadian and British Columbia food products and wines, and sharing Vancouver 's culinary talents with the rest of the world.

In 1995 Chef Feenie opened his own restaurant in Vancouver and went on to critical and public success including being awarded the prestigious Relais Gourmand designation, four stars from the Mobil Travel Guide and the AAA Diamond Award. In July 2004 Chef Feenie was invited to New York by the Canadian Consulate to create an extravagant lunch and dinner at the famous James Beard House in celebration of Canada Day. Chef Feenie has published three cookbooks, starred in New Classics with Rob Feenie on Food Network Canada, and in 2005 was the first Canadian to win on the popular television show, Iron Chef America, by defeating Chef Masaharu Morimoto.