National chefs competition returns to Kelowna in 2019

The country’s best chefs will once again gather in Kelowna for the Canadian Culinary Championships.

Regional competitions staged as qualifiers for the national event, to be held Feb. 1 and 2, are now complete.

“We are thrilled to announce this talented lineup of chefs who will be making their way to Kelowna in February,” Lisa Pasin, a cofounder of the Culinary Championships, said in a release.

“Nowhere else in the country will this kind of talent be brought together,” she said.

Three chefs from past championships return next year to be among those vying for the 2019 title. They are Dave Bohati (Calgary), Christopher Hill (Saskatchewan) and Jesse Friesen (Winnipeg).

Other competitors are Katie Hayes (Newfoundland), Thomas Carey (Nova Scotia), Irwin MacKinnon (P.E.I.), Jason Morris (Montreal), Elia Herrera (Toronto), Davina Moraiko (Edmonton), Yannick LaSalle (Ottawa), Jason Morris (Montreal) and Takashi Ito (Victoria).

Tickets for the 2019 Canadian Culinary Championships are now on sale at greatkitchenparty.com. Along with the thrill of watching the chefs work their kitchen magic in a competitive environment, attendees will be serenaded by Canadian classic rockers Chilliwack.

The gala event, always a sellout, will be held in Kelowna until at least 2020.

Partial proceeds from the competition go toward the support and development of Canada’s top athletes.

February contest to include performance by Canadian classic-rock band Chilliwack