One of Canada’s best
Charlottetown chef Lucy Morrow proud to have finished in the top three in reality show
She isn’t the top chef in Canada’s kitchen, but Charlottetown’s Lucy Morrow couldn’t be more proud of herself.
Chef Francis Blais of Montreal, Que., captured the crown on the season finale Monday of Food Network Canada’s Top Chef Canada, leaving Morrow and Halifax’s Stephanie Ogilvie as the two runners-up.
The finale saw the three chefs cooking up a fourcourse meal at the Elora Mill Hotel & Spa in Elora, Ont.
“I try not to think about (losing in the finale) too much because not winning $100,000, not winning the title – that sucks but, you know, I showed up and I didn’t screw up and I did cook a really good meal (in the finale). Francis was just better that day,’’ Morrow said in an interview on Monday, before the episode aired.
More than 8,000 chefs applied to be on the reality TV show, which was filmed last year in Ontario. Producers selected 12 chefs from across the country. Morrow secured a berth in the finale on the May 25 show and was ultimately pitted against Blais and Ogilvie in the final challenge on Monday.
She said finishing in the top three was huge.
“My mother instilled this in me. She always told me I could do whatever I wanted. I can be whoever I want to be and I did it. I’ve proved myself over and over and over again. I’m really proud of myself for going out there and being myself on TV and just giving it everything I had.’’
The Nova Scotia-born chef, who has lived on P.E.I. for the past eight years, said she’s not done with Top Chef Canada – or at least she doesn’t want to be done.
Every few years, the network brings some of the former competitors together for an all-stars competition. Morrow said she has already been quite vocal with producers that she wants to be a part of that. And, she’d love to come back as a guest judge.
But, for now, Morrow is trying to adapt to all the attention the program has brought her.
“I feel really good about representing Prince Edward Island. I feel really good about representing the East Coast with Steph. Her and I are great friends now.’’
She’s also close to the other 11 competitors. They often take part in group chats online and, when travel restrictions allow it, Morrow plans on visiting whoever she can.
“All of us are planning on doing collaboration dinners when we’re allowed.’’
Morrow said behind the scenes, when the cameras aren’t rolling, the judges on the program are wonderful to be around and very encouraging.
“They break that wall. They actually speak to you and they’re really nice and supportive. They also gush about you as a chef, which is kind of surreal because they’re all so well-known and they eat food for a living.’’
As for her immediate future, the ongoing pandemic made making plans tricky, but she has found work.
Morrow will be working this summer in the Terry’s Berries food truck in BordenCarleton, owned by Terry Nabuurs. It operates out of the Lone Oak parking lot. And that’s just fine with her.
“It’s cool because people can come see me there. It’s a sweet little spot. I might as well make the best of it and have a really fun time.’’