Food fight: Calgary chefs compete in Gold Medal Plates
The country’s top culinary contest, Gold Medal Plates pits the top chefs against each other in cooking combat. An event that takes place in 11 Canadian cities, local winners go on to compete in the Canadian Culinary Championships, raising millions in support of the country’s Olympic athletes along the way. The Calgary event takes place November 3 at the Telus Convention Centre, and features the following Calgary chefs.
Annabelle's Kitchen
111 8 Ave Sw, Calgary, AB T2P 1B4An elegant spot serving fine Canadian cuisine with an emphasis on local meat and produce as well as Canadian seafood, the restaurant is located in a fine old historic building that makes good use of exposed brick and sandstone. A strong believer in sustainable agriculture and local ingredients, Newfoundland-born Christopher Dewling has been Blink executive chef since 2011.
Rouge
1240 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0M7With a French-inspired fine-dining menu that’s militantly local, Rouge has earned international acclaim. And far from being a starchy dining spot, Rouge is located in the very homey Deane House, a converted antique mansion that backs onto the Bow River corridor. The restaurant sends executive chef Jamie Harling into Gold Medal competition.
Raw Bar
119 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0G8Hotel Arts Raw Bar serves a Viet-influenced food menu and a delectable, Asian-inflected cocktail list in a relaxed blue-hued room. The bar and restaurant’s Jinhee Lee of is one of city’s hottest up-and-coming chefs. She is frequently a part of local food events and collaborative cooking events and is a fierce and refined competitor in culinary competitions.
Fairmont Banff Springs
405 Spray Avenue, BANFF, AB T1L 1J4Executive chef of the Fairmont Banff Springs, JW Foster has cooked in some of the luxury hotel chain’s top kitchens. He has worked as an executive chef in Fairmont dining rooms in San Francisco, Shanghai and Dallas and as a sous chef in Toronto’s Royal York. At the beautiful Banff Springs, he oversees 14 restaurants and food outlets from Rundle Lounge to 1888 Chop House.
Workshop Kitchen + Culture
608 1 Street SW, Calgary, AB T2P 1M6Theatrically located in the Lougheed Building in a shared space with Theatre Junction Grand, Workshop Kitchen + Culture serves inspired Canadian cuisine. Chef and owner Kenny Kaechele is a veteran of some of the city’s top kitchens, including Rouge. His food is fun, elegant and accessible.
The Nash Restaurant & Off Cut Bar
925 11 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0R4The Nash serves meaty Canadian cuisine in the chicly refurbished National Hotel building. Local ingredients are the order of every day. Sharable small plates include Quebec foie gras press and lobster mushroom velouté. Mains include lamb shoulder and roast duck breast as well as highly recommended wood-and-charcoal grilled salmon, chicken and beef, including a daily rotisserie selection. Executive chef Matthew Batey has previously worked at Catch.
Alloy
220 42 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1Y4Just east of Macleod Trail on 42 Avenue Southeast, Alloy serves refined European dishes featuring international influences and Canadian ingredients. The attractively designed room is an intimate culinary hideaway. Chef and co-owner Rogelio Herrera is also a partner in Candela Lounge on the Fourth Street Southwest restaurant row.
Briggs Kitchen & Bar
100-317 10 Ave Sw, Calgary, AB T2R 0A5A feature on the clubby 10th Avenue Southwest strip, the menu at this stylishly converted warehouse restaurant is suitably bistro-inspired and features some of Calgary’s best Canadian-contemporary food. No stranger to competitive cooking, BRIGGS’ chef Xavier Lacaze was Calgary’s pick on Top Chef Canada, season two.
