IRON CHEF CANADA... We have the Best Chefs.

I don't post a lot of Media Releases but this one is worth sharing if you have been following some of Canada's Top Chefs.  I am really excited to see this since I have met a few of the participating chefs.

Can't wait to see who Reigns Supreme!

THE SECRET IS OUT:
FOOD NETWORK CANADA REVEALS THE CHALLENGERS PREPARING TO BATTLE ON IRON CHEF CANADA

Ten Accomplished Chefs from Across the Country Face Off Against Canada’s Iron Chefs

Find Out Whose Cuisine Reigns Supreme

October 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Food Network Canada is on a National Free Preview for the Month of October

For additional media material please visit the Corus Media Centre

To share this release socially use: bit.ly/2Ogsrea

For Immediate Release 

TORONTO, September 26, 2018 – The stadium is stocked, the secret ingredients are selected and the battles are set - but whose cuisine will reign supreme? Each week, Iron Chef Canada sees one notable chef, spanning from Vancouver, B.C. to Montreal, Que., competing in a head-to-head competition for culinary supremacy. The worthy challengers battle against the renowned Canadian Iron Chefs, Hugh Acheson, Amanda Cohen, Lynn Crawford, Rob Feenie, and Susur Lee in ambitious culinary show-downs featuring a secret ingredient that must be incorporated in each of their five dishes. Canadian television personality and recognized culinary expert Gail Simmons hosts alongside respected food critic Chris Nuttall-Smith as floor reporter. The highly-anticipated inaugural season of Iron Chef Canada premieres October 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada.

The ten Iron Chef Canada competitors entering the Monogram Kitchen Stadium are:

·         Jason Bangerter, Cambridge, Ont.- Executive Chef, Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa

·         Ned Bell, Vancouver, B.C. - Executive Chef, Ocean Wise program at the Vancouver Aquarium

·         Alex Chen, Vancouver, B.C. - Executive Chef, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar

·         John Horne, Toronto, Ont. - Executive Chef, Canoe

·         Marc Lepine, Ottawa, Ont. - Chef and Owner, Atelier

·         Nick Liu, Toronto, Ont. - Chef and Owner, DaiLo and LoPan

·         Brandon Olsen, Toronto, Ont. - Chef and Owner, La Banane and CXBO Chocolates

·         René Rodriguez, Ottawa, Ont. - Chef, COMMON Eatery

·         Danny “Smiles” Francis, Montreal, Que. - Chef de Cuisine, Le Bremner

·         Laura White, Toronto, Ont. - Pastry Chef, Forno Cultura

Throughout the season, a rotating panel of acclaimed culinary guest judges exercise their palates and serve up critiques based on taste, plating and presentation, and originality to determine who takes home bragging rights. Guest judges include television host and food writer, Ricardo Larrivée; Canadian chef and author, Jennifer McLagan; restaurant critics Alexandra Gill (The Globe and Mail) and Lesley Chesterman (Montreal Gazette), as well as Food Network Canada personalities Mijune Pak (Top Chef Canada) and host of the upcoming new series Big Bucket Food List, John Catucci.

In the series premiere, Iron Chef Canada launches with an intense secret ingredient battle between Iron Chef Lynn Crawford and challenger Chef Marc Lepine. The panel of judges declaring a winner for the very first Iron Chef Canada face-off include La Presse columnist Marie-Claude Lortie, writer and owner of Toronto’s Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns, Amy Rosen, and Host of Food Network Canada’s Carnival Eats, Noah Cappe. 

To learn more about the series, catch behind the scenes content and watch episodes online after they premiere, visit www.foodnetwork.ca.

Food Network Canada is available on a National Free Preview for the month of October. Please check local listings for additional details.

Iron Chef Canada is produced by Proper Television in association with Corus Entertainment’s Food Network Canada and based on the original ‘Iron Chef’ Series Produced by Fuji Television Network, Inc.

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#IronChefCanada

About Corus Entertainment Inc.

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that creates and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. The company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses 44 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a global content business, digital assets, live events, children’s book publishing, animation software, technology and media services. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, National Geographic Channel, Q107, CKNW, Fresh Radio, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

About Proper Television
Since opening its doors in 2004, Proper Television has become one of Canada’s premier production companies, creating more than 600 hours of smart, fresh and compelling factual programming for audiences around the world. Proper’s award-winning slate includes original productions like Last Stop Garage, Vegas Rat Rods, Tougher Than It Looks, Under New Management and Don’t Drive Here, as well as home grown versions of big international formats such as MasterChef Canada, The Great Canadian Baking Show, Canada’s Worst Driver, Storage Wars Canada, Four Weddings Canada and Come Dine with Me Canada. Proper Television is a Boat Rocker Media Company.

KitchenAid's Culinary Showdown Event

KitchenAid is gearing up for another year of it's Culinary Showdown event on November 29th at the All Stream Centre to benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  

Last year I registered to fundraise to be able to participate in the Culinary Showdown but fell short on my fundraising and only raised $200 which earned me a White KitchenAid apron but I was shooting for enough to participate in the Event and join one of a bunch of great Food Network Celebrity Chefs teams that competed with the top fundraisers.  You need to raise $2500 to be able to participate in the Showdown but if you raise $1000 you are able to attend.  I would really like to fundraise again but I need everyone's financial support to reach the $2500 goal.  But imagine how much money they can raise in one night if every participant raises $2500.

Where else but on a Food Network television show can you have 5 Amazing Chefs help you cook an amazing meal to serve to fundraisers who raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Some of the confirmed chefs this year are the great Mark McEwan, Susur Lee, Vikram Vij, Lynn Crawford and Corbin Tomaczeski.  

I was invited to one of the pre events where they introduce the event and register people to participate.   With me not working right now I wasn't able to register at the event as there is a $75 registration fee which covers the cost of participation.

A breast Cancer survivor named Molly made a very touching and heart felt speech about her experience through her Cancer treatments to her joining the Run for the Cure.

The cocktail event was a lot of fun with Chef Mark McEwan and Chef Corbin in attendance.  Chef Lynn Crawford was scheduled to attend but had some car trouble and didn't make it.   There were many food bloggers and Gastroposter's in attendance.  I met a lot of Gastroposters that I hadn't met before and there were a lot of blogger friends there as well so it was a nice party atmosphere.  It was held on the 7th floor of the Bay surrounded by all the KitchenAid products including the limited edition Raspberry colored Kitchen Aid stand mixer where some of the proceeds goes to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

When we arrived we mixed and mingled and munched on some really great appetizers provided by Longo's I believe.

Then a bunch of us joined each Chefs team to see which team could produce the longest pasta noodle.  I joined Chef Mark McEwan's team.   They both struggled to get the pasta started but it seems like Chef Mark had a bit more trouble.  Corbin managed to get his pasta going smoothly and had a really long and smooth pasta line and he won the challenge.   Last year Chef McEwan won so I guess it's only fair for Chef Corbin to win this time.  It was all in good fun anyway.

If you want to sponsor me or someone else or if you want to fundraise and participate yourself you can get more information here: Culinary Showdown

Buster's Sea Cove shows the love of fish on Eat St.

For the Love of Fish Tacos

Today 2 things I really like came together to show the world how good they go together.   What's that? Well one of my favourite Food Network shows is Eat St.  It shows great food trucks that make unusual but great things all over the world.   And today Eat St. filmed Buster's Sea Cove truck in downtown Toronto.

Both Buster's Sea Cove and Caplansky's Food Trucks were parked at Front and Bay St. in front of the Royal Bank Building.   When I got there at about 12:30 there was a lineup for both of them but I was on a mission to get some fish tacos from Buster's Sea Cove.   Buster's sea cove has a very popular spot in St. Lawrence Market where people line up at lunch for very fresh seafood delights.

Today's menu for Buster's Sea Cove was the Lobster Roll, the fish taco, the shrimp taco and Key Lime Pie.   The truck was opened for business at 11am and by the time I got to the front of the line just after 12:30pm the key lime pie was already sold out.  Darn... I really wanted to try that.   I have had a couple of things at the St. Lawrence Market location but on Canada Day I got to try the Lobster Roll and Fish Taco when the truck was parked at Mel Lastman Square for the Canada Day festivities.   It was a hot day and the Fish Taco was light but had a nice kick of flavour.  Really great on a hot day with a squeeze of lime on top.   I went back later and had the Lobster Roll.  It was also delicious.    But today I wanted to try the Shrimp Tacos.

I added a bit or maybe a bit too much of the hot sauce they had on the side of the truck. I would say a bit much because my lips went numb after eating these tacos.   But they were delicious.  There were 3 crispy medium sized shrimp.. not sure what kind of shrimp but they were nice and tender and not rubbery at all and coated in a great batter and deep fried to perfection.   My only complaint was that the tasty but juicy salsa soaked through the soft taco shells and made it difficult to keep them together  so they were on the messy side.  I was glad that I didn't have to go back to work in an office after lunch just in case.   There were a lot of people in line that were obviously on their lunch from working in the Royal Bank as they were dressed in dress shirts and pants and the women in dresses and skirts.  It does seem a little odd to see so many well dressed people chowing down on sloppy tacos and deli foods.   But it seemed like everyone loved it.

The Eat St. Crew were there to film Buster's Sea Cove's truck and I am not sure when it will air but I am guessing sometime next season.  You probably won't see me as I basically wolfed down my tacos and left not long after that.   But I am curious to see what people say about it.

If you see the Buster's Sea Cove truck and have a chance to stop by and pick up some food I would highly recommend it....but make sure you aren't wearing a white or bring a bib just in case.