Segovia chef/owner Adam Donnelly at Gold Medal Plates 2012 (photo by Dan Harper)
Gold Medal Plates Winnipeg 2013
Winnipeg Convention Centre
October 25, 2013
Come October 25, the oven gloves come off.
That's the day eight of Winnipeg's top chefs compete in this year's edition of Gold Medal Plates, a local and national competition to ultimately crown the country's top chef of 2013.
For locals, it's a chance to sample some of the best eats made by their favourite chefs in the city, all in one place, on one night.
For visitors to Winnipeg, it's a delicious glimpse of the city's vibrant cuisine scene, all in one place, all on one night.
This year's roster of competing Winnipeg chefs include many familiar faces and some up-and-comers too.
Local chefs include: Timothy Palmer (The Velvet Glove); Eric Lee (Pizzeria Gusto); Kelly Cattani (Elements the Restaurant, by Diversity); Tristan Foucault (Peasant Cookery); Terry Gereta (Mise); Simon Resch (Terrace in the Park); Michael Schafer (Sydney’s at the Forks); and Jason Sopel (Chaise Restaurant & Lounge).
The inclusion of Chef Sopel from Chaise is quite a coup for the St. Boniface restaurant, which is less than a year old. Chaise owner Shea Ritchie says Gold Medal Plates tasters came in on days when Sopel's daily specials were particularly delicious and inventive. Ritchie is thrilled Sopel will represent the new Provencher Avenue eatery, which opened in Spring 2012.
For the uninitiated, Gold Medal Plates parties are an all-out celebration of Canadian food, wine, music and culture that raises money to support Olympic athletes reach their dreams and the podium. Guests sample food, wine, spirits and beer from cooking stations set up around the venue. A panel of judges, including renowned food writer James Chatto, circulate, sample and also rank their favourite bites. The top-three chefs are awarded bronze, silver and gold medals.
The same scenario plays out in competitions held in 10 other Canadian cities starting October 17. The top chefs from the 11 cities, including Winnipeg, will go whisk to whisk at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, later this fall.
The first competition of 2013 kicks off in Halifax on October 17 and wraps up in Ottawa November 18. (Montreal's competition date has yet to be announced.) Since launching in 2003, Gold Medal Plates has raised more than $7.4 million for Canadian Olympic athletes.
For ticket information visit goldmedalplates.com.
Gold Medal Plates Winnipeg 2012 (photos by Dan Harper)
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