Local cook joins Top Chef Canada
In what’s become a bit of a trend, a Calgary chef is joining the menu of the next season of Top Chef Canada.
Jinhee Lee, 38, from Foreign Concept in Calgary will put her skillet to the test against 10 other chefs from across the country. Competitors in Season 6 of the popular Food Network show hail from Vancouver to St. John’s Nfld.
The contestants take part in weekly Quickfire and Elimination challenges and their dishes must impress the judges: Mark McEwan, Janet Zuccarini, Mijune Pak and Chris Nuttall- Smith.
The winner of Top Chef Canada wins the coveted title but also a grand prize of $100,000, a $25,000 Monogram kitchen and $5,000 worth of Cuisinart appliances.
A year ago, Lee, executive chef at pan-Asian restaurant Foreign Concept, won gold at the Canadian Culinary Championships.
Herald food writer John Gilchrist, who was a judge at the national competition, said Lee gave an outstanding performance, winning all three challenges and rightfully named People’s Choice winner.
“What stands out with her cooking is the way she can balance flavours and textures, and bring so much out of a plate of food,” he said.
Season 6 of Top Chef Canada will see some well-known guest judges including Lynn Crawford, Susur Lee and Rob Gentile. Some Top Chef Canada alumni will also return as guest judges including Top Chef Canada: All-Stars’ winner Nicole Gomes of Calgary’s Cluck ‘N’ Cleaver.