Canada91裸聊视频檚 top chefs will don the classic white uniforms born from the kitchens of 19th Century France and turn up the heat in the Okanagan this weekend, showcasing their technical skills and artistry for the Gold Plates championship.
But to many who keep a close watch on the local culinary scene, it91裸聊视频檚 how those 11 competing chefs connect the haute cuisine those uniforms call to mind with this community91裸聊视频檚 natural bounty that91裸聊视频檚 most interesting.
The Canadian Culinary Championships have become a yearly tradition in Kelowna, and they carved out a niche at the perfect time.
Thanks to the likes of the Food Network the democratization of food culture has washed across the western world, alongside a widespread focus on the details of food production, creating a demand for a new breed of artisinal food producer.
The agricultural conditions in the Okanagan were always ripe for exploration, but the birth of a thriving wine industry is what gave way to an impressive culinary scene, and a new lease on old agricultural wealth, explained James Chatto, an internationally renowned food writer based out of Toronto and head judge of the weekend91裸聊视频檚 competition.
91裸聊视频淲ineries come first then they look for a away to bring tourists to the actual winery,91裸聊视频� Chatto said. 91裸聊视频淭hat starts with a barbecue in the vineyard, then a restaurant, then another restaurant down the street.91裸聊视频�
And, as those restaurants grow a client base, chefs strike up relationships with local food providers91裸聊视频攃heese, veg and meat91裸聊视频� and innovation in the kitchen grows.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a pattern I have seen across Canada. Once chefs realize that their customers appreciate that they found something local and seasonal, it creates a wonderful self-perpetuating energy,91裸聊视频� said Chatto.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e seen it in Toronto, Newfoundland and now here91裸聊视频攖he scale is different, but the impetus is the same.91裸聊视频�
Jennifer Schell has written three cookbooks, two of which have won international gourmand awards, that focus on local cuisine. Her first edition of The Butcher, the Baker, the wine and cheese maker came out in 2012, and a new edition with of the same title, with the addition of 91裸聊视频渋n the Okanagan91裸聊视频� has recently been released.
The difference between the two books, Schell said, is the most recent edition delves into new relationships that local chefs have built with small scale artisanal food providers.
91裸聊视频淪ince the first book, the food, wine and farm scene has really evolved 91裸聊视频攅specially the farm scene,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淭here are lots of young farmers working with chefs and experimenting with crops91裸聊视频hese new farmers are young guys who can91裸聊视频檛 afford land. They91裸聊视频檙e not the kids of farmers who inherited land, they want to farm, work the land and homestead91裸聊视频攁nd do it on a small scale.91裸聊视频�
There91裸聊视频檚 a Summerland farmer who area chefs work with. Of note last year, he experimented with growing peanuts from a small plot of land he leases.
In Kelowna there91裸聊视频檚 Curtis Stone, who91裸聊视频檚 small scale farming endeavour on borrowed land keeps local greens in some of best restaurants in the city.
91裸聊视频淔or chefs it91裸聊视频檚 almost like they have to start cooking and using local ingredients,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淭he customers are expecting it.91裸聊视频�
And customers are starting to arrive in the Okanagan from far and wide.
91裸聊视频淲henever I say I am going to Kelowna in February, people understand the appeal of it91裸聊视频攖here91裸聊视频檚 the food, the wine and the spirits,91裸聊视频� Chatto said.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 really a growing awareness about Kelowna.91裸聊视频�
Having some of the country91裸聊视频檚 best food writers in town for the championships is a boon to the economic powerhouse of Kelowna tourism, too.
91裸聊视频淲hen we arrive, we have a nice number of days, and the Tourism Kelowna people arrange whole day tours, they take us to five or six farms, a little distillery and some wineries,91裸聊视频� said Chatto.
91裸聊视频淲e are aware of the wineries, but not of the small artisnal farmers and producers who are sometimes right in town, and it91裸聊视频檚 quite enchanting for us.91裸聊视频�
Chris Shauf, Tourism Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 director of marketing and communications, explained that his organization is aggressive in getting international attention focused on the natural wealth of Kelowna, and this weekend91裸聊视频檚 championship goes a long way in doing that, by bringing chefs, foodies and food writers to the area.
91裸聊视频淓vents like the Canadian Culinary Championships align with our mandate,91裸聊视频� Shauf said.
91裸聊视频淭here was a time that people would travel in hopes of finding good food along the way, and now they are travelling because they know good food is there when they get there.91裸聊视频�
To really cultivate the message that the Okanagan is a foodie paradise among a wider audience, Tourism Kelowna last year hosted dozens of media from across the province and the country, to showcase restaurants, breweries and cideries, in hopes that they would showcase their discoveries to their readers.
91裸聊视频淔ood is something that everyone is interested in,91裸聊视频� said Chatto.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a great leveller in terms of culture. Not a lot of knowledge is needed to start and it grows as you go.91裸聊视频�
The 2016 Canadian Culinary Championships are presented by Deloitte.
Tickets for events can be purchased online at www.goldmedalplates.com or by calling 647-328-0149.
Who's competing and who's helping
Representing Kelowna will be Okanagan College culinary and pastry arts students who will lend their help to the 11 competing chefs.
91裸聊视频淓xperiencing Kelowna as a culinary epicentre with Canada91裸聊视频檚 best chefs descending on the city to battle it out is unique,91裸聊视频� said Chef Bernard Casavant, culinary manager at Okanagan College and president of the Okanagan Chefs Association.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a prime opportunity for the students to showcase the skills learned in class in a competition environment and allows them to network with some of Canada91裸聊视频檚 best chefs at a time when they are looking to launch their careers.91裸聊视频�
For two days, starting Feb. 5, the college91裸聊视频檚 kitchens at the Kelowna campus will become a culinary battlefield with peeling, slicing, dicing, and searing taking place in preparation of the weekend91裸聊视频檚 events.
The chefs prep their dishes at the college for Friday91裸聊视频檚 mystery wine pairing event at the Delta Grand Hotel and spend all of Saturday morning competing in the Black Box event at the College.
The finale event is held Saturday evening at the Delta Grand Hotel.
With tickets sold out, those hungry to view the dynamic Black Box Challenge can catch the live feed online.
A link will be released prior to the start of the competition at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning on Twitter: @GoldMedalPlates.
For more information on Gold Medal Plates events, visit goldmedalplates.com.
The competing chefs
Representing British Columbia:
Alex Chen, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Calgary: Matthew Batey, The Nash Restaurant & Off Cut Bar
Edmonton: Jan Trittenbach, Solstice Seasonal Cuisine
Regina:
Jonathan Thauberger, Crave Kitchen + Wine Bar
Saskatoon: Darren Craddock, Riverside Country Club
Winnipeg: Norm Pastorin, The Cornerstone Bar & Restaurant
Toronto: Stuart Cameron, Byblos
Ottawa: Marc Lepine, Atelier
Montreal: Guillaume Cantin, Les 400 Coups
St. John91裸聊视频檚:
Roger Andrews, Relish Gourmet Burgers
Halifax: Martin Ruiz Salvador, Fleur de Sel, Lunenburg
