TORONTO — The 2017 Gold Medal Plates (GMP) competition continued its cross-country trek with competitions in Victoria and Saskatoon last week.
The Victoria competition, which took place on Oct. 26, was won by chef Alex Chen from Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar — marking the second time he has received the gold award at GMP Victoria. Chen bested nine B.C. chefs with his modern take on local seafood chowder. The dish was served chilled and garnished with bulls kelp “brioche.”
Chef James McFarland of the University of Saskatchewan took home the gold medal at the Saskatoon competition, held Oct. 28. McFarland’s winning dish featured espresso-cured bison tenderloin; birch-infused, shredded bison flank; pickled pearl onion; smoked corn purée and a black currant gastrique.
Both gold-medal-winning chefs will move on to the GMP Finale — the Canadian Culinary Championships — in Kelowna, B.C. in February.
Further information on the regional competitions is available at goldmedalplates.com.
