VICTORIA — Joseph Tran, from Victoria’s Inn at Laurel Point, has won the gold medal and Fulgence Charpentier Trophy at the 2017 La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Jeunes Chefs (Young Chefs) Rôtisseurs Competition.
This national competition, open to young cooks under the age of 27, featured eight competitors from across Canada — chosen through selection competitions held in their respective local areas. Competitors were given four hours in which to compose a menu and prepare a three-course meal (an appetizer, a main course and a dessert) for four persons using ingredients presented in a “black box.”
The silver medal was to Vancouver’s Nathan Sundeen from Boulevards Kitchen & Oyster Bar. The bronze medallist was Calgary’s David Ryc from The Fairmont Banff Springs. Winnipeg’s Darnell Banman from the St. Charles Golf Country Club was recognized for having the highest kitchen score and received the Chef Paul Mastalir Award for Kitchen Excellence along with a Wüsthof Knife attaché set.
As the winner of La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs’ 2017 Regional Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs competition, Tran will now go on to represent Canada at the 42nd-Annual Concours International des Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs, to be held in Taiwan in September 2018.
At 25 years of age, Tran has already been cooking for a decade, having started in his father’s restaurant in London, Ont. as a dishwasher. After realizing his passion for cooking, Tran took culinary skills and culinary management at Fanshawe College in London, in 2013. After graduating, Joseph began working in a local hotel restaurant. Tran’s talent was quickly recognized by his chef in London, who suggested that Tran be mentored by chef Takashi Ito of Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria.
