CHEF TAKASHI ITO RECEIVES PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD WITH HIS PAIRING WITH MYSTERY WINE VISTA’S EDGE CABERNET FRANC FROM MISSION HILL FAMILY ESTATE
Canadian Culinary Championships Competition #1 closes,
chefs prepare for final day of events.
Kelowna, BC February 1, 2019 – The 2019 Canadian Culinary Championships closes off competition #1 with Chef Takashi Ito, from AURA waterfront restaurant + patio in Victoria, and representing British Columbia chosen by the 400 guests to receive the People’s Choice award. Chef Ito created a dish Seared pork belly & gnocchi, Winter Squash Puree, Black Sesame Tenkasu to pair with this years’ Mystery Wine 2016 Vista’s Edge Cabernet Franc from Mission Hill Family Estate in West Kelowna, British Columbia. The award does not affect the official judging scores to determine the 2019 Canadian Culinary Champion but it is a valuable win for Chef Ito.
“Wow, I’m so happy what a great way to end the day,” says Chef Ito.
The Mystery Wine Competition is the first competition in the two-day, three competition culinary triathlon. The eleven competitors each won the Gold in Canada’s Great Kitchen Party qualifying competition in their respective cities; and, Thursday evening received a bottle of the unlabelled Mystery Wine. Chefs were then tasked with trying to identify what varietal the wine was and to create a dish that would pair well with the wine. This morning Chefs went shopping in Kelowna. The challenge was not only to present a dish that paired with the Cabernet Franc wine but to also feed the 400 guests attending the event with a budget of $500. Some of the chefs are familiar with local suppliers and shops having visited the area in the past while others had not been to Kelowna before and arrived a few days early to explore the city and meet with suppliers.
David Lawrason, national wine advisor for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party was key in choosing the Mystery Wine for this year’s competition. “When selecting a wine, we look for a wine that will challenge our competitors and bring out their creativity. The Cabernet Franc from Mission Hill Family Estate was selected and tonight we saw the diversity in the room show; chefs were creative, innovative and did a great job in pairing their dishes.”
The competition continues February 2nd when the chefs take part in the challenging Black Box competition at Okanagan College starting at 8am and then they close off the two-day competition with the Grand Finale at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort. On Saturday night, three chefs will be standing on the podium.
Chefs Competing at the 2019 Canadian Culinary Championships:
British Columbia
Takashi Ito – AURA waterfront restaurant + patio, Victoria
Edmonton
Davina Moraiko – RGE RD
Calgary
Dave Bohati – Murrieta’s
Saskatchewan
Christopher Hill – Taste Restaurant Group
Winnipeg
Jesse S. Friesen – The Merchant Kitchen
Toronto
Elia Herrera – Colibri
Ottawa/Gatineau
Yannick LaSalle – Restaurant Les Fougères, Chelsea, QC
Montreal
Jason Morris – Pastel
New Brunswick and PEI
Irwin MacKinnon – Papa Joe’s, Charlottetown, PEI
Nova Scotia
Thomas Carey – Fresh Twenty One, Dartmouth
Newfoundland and Labrador
Katie Hayes – Bonavista Social Club, Bonavista Peninsula
The Canadian Culinary Championships wishes to thank our presenting sponsor Deloitte, national partners The Globe and Mail, Big White Ski Resort, Borgo San Felice, Cacao Barry; Gold partner Valley First and regional supporters Okanagan College, Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna International Airport, Castanet and 101.5 EZ Rock Kelowna.
#ccc2019
