TORONTO — Sydney Hamelin, from Vancouver’s Cocktail and Canapés, won the gold medal and the Fulgence Charpentier Trophy at the 2023 Canadian Naal La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Jeunes Chefs (Young Chefs) Competition as announced at the Chaîne’s recent National Meeting in Toronto. The silver medal was presented to Winnipeg’s Charles Panggat from the Manitoba Club. The bronze medallist was Calgary’s Adriel Santa Maria from Calgary Winter Club. Hamelin was also recognized for having the highest kitchen score and received the Chef Paul Mastalir Award for Kitchen Excellence along with a Wüsthof Knife attaché set.
Four contestants from across Canada, chosen through selection competitions held in their respective local areas, were given four hours in which to compose a menu and prepare a three-course meal using ingredients presented in a “black box,” which contained quail, foie gras, Dover sole, scallops, Dungeness crab, brioche, Kabocha pumpkin, leeks, fresh cranberries and dark chocolate. Non-compulsory items included various vegetables, fruits, liquors and fresh herbs.
A team of Canadian professional and nonprofessional judges scored contestants on their dish’s taste, originality, creativity, presentation, portion size and nutrition, as well as their own dress, kitchen cleanliness and timing.
Hamelin will now represent Canada at the 2024 Concours International des Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs to be held in Budapest, Hungary.
