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.