VANCOUVER — West Restaurant’s Sous Chef Alex Hon was recently awarded The Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship — the most demanding culinary competition for emerging chefs in Canada. On Sept. 17, Hon won the top prize in front of a nationally comprised panel of judges including Normand Laprise (Toqué! and Brasserie T!), Anthony Walsh (Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants), Jacob Richler and David Hawksworth.
Earlier this year, the competition pitted 40 of the country’s emerging culinary talents against each other in regional run-offs in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The top eight advanced to the black box finals where Hon brought home the coveted 2016 title for his carrot butter-poached veal tenderloin, potato and celery root with Dungeness crab entree and almond cake with fresh mango and lemongrass crème légère dessert.
Hon has worked in the kitchen of Vancouver’s West restaurant for seven years, honing his skills under executive chef Quang Dang. A graduate of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, he has placed highly in several other culinary competitions, including a silver medal in the BCCA Junior Chef Competition.
“Of course I’m absolutely thrilled to win this competition,” says Hon. “It was a very spirited contest and I would like to thank my fellow competitors, the judges and of course, my long-time mentor, executive chef Quang Dang.”
The Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship Foundation is a culinary arts non-profit created to recognize and inspire young Canadian chefs, while promoting professionalism and culinary excellence within the hospitality industry. Through its national annual competition, the program provides a platform for talented young chefs to get a head start with an unparalleled opportunity to work in the country’s leading restaurants. The winner of the competition receives $10,000 and a stage at a selected top international restaurant.
