Vancouver’s Culinary Showdown: Nine Top Vancouver Chefs Battle for Glory at 2023 Canadian Culinary Championship Qualifier
Vancouver’s Culinary Showdown: Nine Top Vancouver Chefs Battle for Glory at 2023 Canadian Culinary Championship Qualifier
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party returns to the Michelin-recognized city October 18 for a spectacular celebration of Canadian culture
Image @ SMC
The spotlight will be shining brightly on nine of the city’s top chefs this fall as the prestigious Canadian Culinary Championship (CCC) returns for its 2023 Vancouver qualifier event, hosted by Canada's Great Kitchen Party (KP). Taking place on October 18, 2023, this glittering evening will showcase the best of Vancouver's culinary talents while fundraising for local and national charities and celebrating Canadian excellence in food, sport, and music.
With all eyes on Vancouver following the Michelin Guide’s recent arrival, there’s no better time for food fans to gather and celebrate the world-class culinarians that call the city home. As the centrepiece of this year’s KP Vancouver gala, the eagerly anticipated competition will be an unforgettable gourmet experience — a thrilling battle for top spot on the podium and the honour of representing our city at the national championship. Guests will savour dishes at each competing chef’s station, along with beverage pairings showcasing some of the finest Canadian wines, craft beers, and spirits.
What better Vancouver locale for a hotly contested culinary showdown than on the field level of BC Place Stadium? A VIP reception at 5:00 p.m. leads off the thrilling festivities, featuring KP Vancouver’s 2022 Gold medallist Chef Bobby Milheron, and doors open to all guests for the main competition at 6:00 p.m. The evening’s seated programme begins with dessert at 7:40 p.m. and includes live music by Juno Award-winning performers as well as a spirited live fundraising auction. And with perhaps the most important job of the night, the panel of distinguished judges will deliberate over the evening’s best dish and pairing, culminating in the announcement of KP Vancouver’s top three chefs.
An impressive roster of contenders will be squaring off at KP Vancouver 2023, representing a stellar who’s who of culinary aces from across the city. Sharpening their knives in pursuit of victory this year will be:
The competition is sure to be fierce as these talented chefs vie for the coveted spot representing Vancouver at the Canadian Culinary Championship, which will be held in Ottawa on February 2-3, 2024. Vancouver is one of 10 cities across the country hosting a qualifier event.
Tasked with judging this year’s competition is a panel of acclaimed local chefs and food industry insiders, including Vancouver’s 2020 and 2023 CCC competitors. The judges are: National Head Judge Chris Johns (food and travel writer); B.C. Senior Judge Joie Alvaro Kent (cookbook author); 2022 KP Vancouver Gold medallist and 2023 CCC Silver medallist Chef Bobby Milheron (Wentworth Hospitality Group); Chef Andrea Carlson (Burdock & Co); Chef Douglas Chang (Ai & Om Knives); Chef Hamid Salimian (VCC International Culinary Arts instructor); Chef Roger Ma (Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar); and Chef Scott Jaeger (The PearTree Restaurant).
Supporting youth-focussed grassroots initiatives is one of CCC’s most significant cornerstones, both nationally and in each of the communities where its KP regional qualifier events are held. Funds raised through ticket sales and live auctions are directed toward vital charities that ensure Canadian youth have equitable access to healthy food, music education, and sport opportunities. This year's chosen charitable partners are MusiCounts, SpiritNorth, and Vancouver-based Fresh Roots.
The October 18 Vancouver event promises to be a captivating blend of culinary mastery and musical artistry. KP Vancouver’s star-studded cast of musical performers includes the iconic Barney Bentall, multiple Juno Award-winning Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies, and rock legend Geoffrey Kelly of Spirit of the West. Hosting the festivities is popular television personality, comedian, and podcast host Jessi Cruickshank who will guide guests through the evening’s competition and entertainment.
Since its inception in 2004, the Canadian Culinary Championship has established a rich history of elevating Canadian culture. The KP Vancouver regional qualifier continues this legacy, providing emerging culinary talents with a platform to shine on both regional and national stages.
TICKETS
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party’s Vancouver qualifier event offers several tiers for event participation. The Platinum tier ($25,000) provides two tables for eight people each. The Maximum Impact tier ($10,000) allows for a direct donation to a chosen charity without a designated table. The VIP Impact ($10,000) includes a VIP table for eight and a partial charity donation. A VIP tier ($6,500) provides a VIP table for eight, while the Corporate tier ($4,500) offers a standard table for eight. For individual attendees, VIP tickets are priced at $650, and regular individual tickets cost $450. Ticketing information and purchasing is available online: http://greatkitchenparty.com/ca/cities/vancouver/#event_tickets
Image @ SMC
ABOUT CANADIAN CULINARY CHAMPIONSHIP (CCC) | The Canadian Culinary Championship is an annual national event in Ottawa - held next year on February 2 and 3, 2024. The winning chefs from 10 different regional qualifiers (called Canada's Great Kitchen Party) are flown in to compete in three challenging and entertaining competitions: Mystery Wine, Black Box, and the Finale. To be invited to compete locally is a notch in the belt. To win regional gold and be on the podium is a significant achievement. To be eligible to compete against each of the regional gold winners at the national competition the following year is a thrill. To be crowned the top chef in Canada at the Canadian Culinary Championship is a career changer!
ABOUT CANADA’S GREAT KITCHEN PARTY | Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is a social enterprise dedicated to "Building a More Inclusive Canada" by elevating and celebrating Canadian cultural excellence. Staged in 10 cities across the country, each event is a regional culinary competition that qualifies the winning chefs to move on to compete at the Canadian Culinary Championship. Chefs, musicians, business leaders, and philanthropists all come together for a spectacular experience and to ensure Canadian youth have equitable opportunities in music education, sport opportunities, and food security. We proudly contribute to the following beneficiaries: MusiCounts, SpiritNorth and a local food charity. As the most extensive exposition of Canadian wines, over 200 wineries and local breweries and spirit companies are profiled at our events. For more information, visit greatkitchenparty.com.
