TORONTO — Chef Alex Kim of Vancouver’s Five Sails Restaurant has won the 2025 Canadian Culinary Championship (CCC), held February 1 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Kim impressed the judges with his dish at the finale, “Taste of Pacific Northwest,” and his creativity and execution at the other two competitions.
Regional competitions were held in 10 cities from Vancouver to St. John’s, Nfld. in the fall of 2024, giving each regional chef the opportunity to compete in the National Championship. After three competitions, Mystery Wine Pairing, Black Box and the Grand Finale, Kim was crowned. He delivered wild Sablefish and Cortes Island scallop terrine, Sidestripe shrimp Mandu with Dungeness crab and Okanagan apple and Kusshi oyster on sea lettuce tartlet, Pemberton salsify, six-month fermented DoenJang, Shiso. Kim paired this dish with Tinhorn Creek 2019 Blanc de Blanc, Golden Mile Bench, B.C.
The silver medalist, chef Jordan Holden of Atelier Tony & Tony’s Bistro in Moncton, N.B., created Rabbit Ballotine, stone fruit and rabbit-liver tartlet, hazelnut and parsnip puree, smoked rabbit kidney tuile, spiced jus. Holden paired his dish with Noaska Baker Buck, Clair, N.B.
The bronze medal went to chef Francs-Emmanuel Nicol of Tanière, Quebec City. His dish featured beef of the fall with preserved memories of Canadian summer. He paired his selection with Acérum Cocktail, Distillerie Mitis, Mont-Joli, Que.
“This has been an incredible CCC,” says Chris Johns, national culinary advisor and head judge of the CCC. “Like myself, all judges were very impressed with the overall quality of the dishes. We’re happy with the way things have turned out, but what I find a little heart-breaking is that so many of the chefs produced such worthy dishes; I hope they all go home with a strong sense of accomplishment. The dishes this year have been as good as ever served at CC, which bodes well for the future of Canadian culinary excellence.”
Over the last 19 years, the event has raised $19 million for Canadian charities. During the event, the Winery of the Year was announced as Mason Vineyard 2022, L’Avenir Chardonnay, Beamsvile Bench, Niagara Peninsula.
Next year’s CCC is already scheduled for January 29 to 31, 2026 in Ottawa.
