Gold Medal Plates 2018: Ottawa, meet your chefs

2017 GMP podium: Lasalle, Kim, Harris

Updated: September 13, 2018

There’s a few things I’m mighty happy about in this year’s Gold Medal Plates competition, held at the Shaw Centre on October 11th. For one, look at that date! It’s a full month ahead of our typical mid-November slot. Ask any Ottawa-Gatineau chef what that means, and she’ll tell you it means greater access to good stuff in farmers’ fields. Particularly if we get what we deserve: a lovely, long summer-ish fall, to make up for this wretched spring. The other thing I’m happy about? The lineup of chefs this year is mighty impressive. And a bit eclectic. One comes from a 25-year old restaurant (Lasalle), and one from a restaurant 6-months old (Stofa).  For four others (Bratsberg, Manrique, Vettorel, Wilson) it will be a second year competing. For four more, a first (Clunie, Godsoe, Hartling, Sawision). And last year’s silver and bronze medallists (Lasalle, Harris) return for another kick at the golden can, as is our usual practice.

It’s been my privilege to have dined out multiple times at all of these places, and tasted the pleasure of these chefs’ plates. I can tell you, this year’s competition will be fierce and delicious. 

And so here we go: Ottawa, meet your 10 competing chefs for 2018.  Which one will follow Briana Kim (last year’s winner) to Kelowna in February, for the Canadian Culinary Championships?

James Bratsberg – MeNa

Kris Kshonze – Soif bar a vin 

David Godsoe – e18hteen

Kristine Hartling – Oz Kafe

Steve Harris – two six {ate} 

Yannick Lasalle – Les Fougères

Daniela Manrique – The Soca Kitchen

Jason Sawision – Stofa

Adam Vettorel – North & Navy

Rich Wilson – Gezellig

Gold Medal Plates is a culinary competition, a musical extravaganza and big time fundraiser in support of Canada’s Olympic Athletes. It takes place in 11 cities across Canada, from Victoria to St John’s, the most exciting of which will take place in the Nation’s Capital in six short months.