Edmonton’s Food Truck Extravaganza: What the Truck?!

It’s not often that an event you plan actually comes together in the way that you imagined. What the Truck?!, for that reason, was magical.

Mack and I first started talking about the idea of a food truck festival in March. Inspired by San Francisco’s Off the Grid, we knew our version wouldn’t be nearly as big, but we also had different goals we would want to accomplish with such an event. While raising awareness of Edmonton’s burgeoning food truck culture was a big part of that, we also knew that such a gathering could also be a way to bring vibrancy to a corner downtown that would otherwise be deserted on a Friday night.

When we look back, I think 2011 will be Edmonton’s year of food trucks, given the number that have or are set to hit the streets this year. But in the planning of What the Truck?!, we started with those that we knew of, and approached seven vendors in total to participate: Carnival Cravings, Eva Sweet, Fat Franks, Filistix, The Fork and Spoon Brigade, Funky Pickle and The Lingnan. We were very fortunate that all of them said yes!

I will be writing more about how Beaver Hills House Park at Jasper Avenue and 105 Street came to be chosen as the location, but suffice to say, it fit the bill of a central, accessible space. We knew there would be some challenges in ensuring the trucks would be able to safely manoeuvre onto the concrete surface, but we had faith that it would work out in the end.

Loading up the trucks themselves was definitely the most harrowing part of the day. Made more difficult because of a few things beyond our control, the vendors, some who had to make multiple attempts to ease into place, were patient, steady and calm. It was the perfect storm of qualities to get us through the set-up, and by 3:45, all of the vehicles were appropriately parked.

The Fork and Spoon Brigade entrance, take one

Though it wasn’t a mirror image of the site plan, it was pretty darn close! I had envisioned a ring of food trucks, with the crowds converging somewhat in the centre, allowing for mixing and mingling. I read later that some people didn’t appreciate this, but I have to say, I loved it. Standing in the midst of the trucks and people chatting away, the park felt more alive than I had ever seen it.

Chatting away

Overhead shot by Devin Serink (it’s great to have friends in high places! Or at least, friends that live in the Icon)

It was also great to see people utilizing the green space on the north end of the park. Families, pairs and groups spread out on the park benches, along the water feature and on the grass.

Hurrah for green space!

People had started trickling in at 4pm, but it really didn’t get going until close to 5. Filistix easily had the longest line throughout the night (I have no idea how Ariel and Roel didn’t collapse with exhaustion later on), but the great thing was, most people didn’t mind the wait! After all, good food is worth the wait, isn’t it?

The Filistix line

It also helped that we had DJs Thomas Scott and Marc Carnes on hand to provide some beats to accompany the eats. The party atmosphere was on!

DJs Thomas Scott and Marc Carnes

Unlike the vendors, Mack and I were able to enjoy the event, taking photos, catching up with friends, and of course, eating!

After devouring Filistix’s southern biscuits with gravy and bacon, I forgot to eat anything else

Brittney with her order of biscuits

Thom with his first taste of The Lingnan’s dry spicy chicken!

Bruce and Sarah, with their adorable puppy

The Critical Mass riders rang their bells when going by on Jasper

With some of my friends from work – Jill, Leigh and Ellen

Even my parents came out!

At about 6, the sky started to threaten rain. We were a little worried that the crowd would disperse, but we really should have given people more credit – they were fully prepared to stay, rain and all!

One of Mack’s favourite shots – umbrellas ready!

By 8pm, it was clear the event was winding down. But given five out of the seven vendors had sold out, it was the right time to close up shop! The vendors all reported having a great time, and deemed What the Truck?! a success – Mack and I were thrilled.

Of course, the success of this event is attributed to many people who helped out behind the scenes. First off, hat’s off to designer Gabe Wong who immediately understood the whimsical nature of a food truck event, funnelling that into the logo that ultimately set the tone for the website. It’s easier to sell something that looks professional and polished, and without Gabe, that would not have been possible.

Similarly, thanks to Thomas and Marc for coming on board quite early on. They too knew what we were trying to achieve right on the outset.

Third, the budget for our event was quite small, but we did have a few expenses. As we didn’t have any sponsors step up initially, we accepted the fact that we may have had to finance the event ourselves. However, due to the generosity of three sponsors, we didn’t have to do so. A big thanks to the Unknown Studio, Citizen Experience, and Responsible Hospitality Edmonton for supporting What the Truck?!.

Next, we were grateful to have four fantastic volunteers on hand that Friday. Whatever we threw their way – whether it was playing traffic cop, relocating picnic tables or take down – they were game. Thanks to Kara and Nevin Fenske, Thom Male and Su Dennis for being our go-to people!

Our volunteer crew (Kara and Nevin will have their own food truck up and running soon!)

To the vendors, who jumped in with both feet when I’m certain even they didn’t quite know what to expect – thank you! Your unwavering enthusiasm and dedication to mobile cuisine in Edmonton is an inspiration.

Lastly, thanks to everyone who came out to What the Truck?! The vendors were blown away by the energy and excitement of the crowd, and it seemed that even weather wouldn’t be a deterrent!

In a few weeks, will be updating the What the Truck?! website so that all of the information you need to satisfy your street food fix will be in one place. We’ve also been asked whether or not this will be a repeat event. We hope so, and are planning for a September edition, so stay tuned!

Read Mack’s recap of What the Truck?! here. Chris, Karlynn and Cathy also wrote about the event.

White Night and The Works

Last Thursday, Mack and I spent the evening at two different events downtown – it’s great to be able to just wander out our door to the next summer festival!

I love events that repurpose spaces – there’s something about embracing the uncommon that adds that bit of je ne sais quoi to an otherwise ordinary activity.

That’s one of the reasons why I was so drawn to White Night, a fashion showcase that took place last Thursday at the Edmonton City Centre Mall. The location? The pedway above 101 Street. I couldn’t wait to see how they would transform the space into a runway.

I secretly hoped that the conversion would also involve opening up the bridge’s second floor as a viewing platform (how cool would that have been?!) but no dice. Still, it was neat to see how the pedway could be used for something other than retail and café seating.

More than just a pedway

White Night was a part of White Out, a week of events to bring awareness to domestic violence, and the work done by the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS). White Night commissioned ten local fashion designers to create garments inspired by a white ribbon, a symbol of domestic violence. The dresses would be available for bidding through a silent auction, with all proceeds to benefit the ACWS.

At White Night

Local dignitaries, including Mayor Mandel, were on hand to mark the occasion. Although many in the audience had incorporated white into their outfits, I think someone forgot to send that memo to Minister Thomas Lukaszuk.

Minister Lukaszuk (I think I just liked how loud his shirt was)

When the show began, it wasn’t immediately clear that the fashions weren’t those created by the local designers. It turned out that the first part of the show was meant to highlight clothes available from merchants at City Centre Mall – for their own marketing purposes, though it may have been a little cheesy, it would have been better if an announcer was stating where each outfit could be purchased.

Retail showcase

Thankfully, the event MC did announce when the special dresses started rolling down the runway.

Dress by Trish Pasnak

Dress by Genette Salgado

Dress by Kelsey McIntyre

Dress by Cherie Howard

Our favourite, without a doubt, was the gown designed by Nomin Gantumur. Fitted and petite, the detail in the dress was exquisite.

Dress by Nomin Gantumur

Those interested can continue bidding for the dresses (and other goods and services donated by City Centre merchants) until June 30 (you can see the rest of our photo set here). Congratulations to the ACWS and City Centre Mall for organizing a great night for fashion and a good cause!

After the event, we walked over to Churchill Square to check out the opening night party of The Works.

The Works

Ian Johnston

OKA (the didgeridoo was great for the dancing crowd)

The Works is on until July 5. I know we’ll be back at least once more – I want to check out the coffee cup by Ben Sures.

Hope you’re able to enjoy this long weekend too!

City Market Report: Week 6

It was another overcast day at the City Market on Saturday. Thankfully, the rain wasn’t coming down in sheets quite like last week, so for the most part, it was still a pleasant visit.

Almost dry again

We were tuckered out from What the Truck?! the night prior, so gave ourselves the morning to sleep in. By the time we made it to the market that afternoon, most of the prime produce had already been snapped up!

Beets from Riverbend Gardens

Cherries from Steve & Dan’s

We came across a new vendor, though perhaps not a new company to those who have investigated home grocery delivery services. The Organic Box, a business similar to Eat Local First, but with a focus on organic produce, was at the market selling fruit. Most of what they had wouldn’t be considered local (strawberries, cantaloupe and watermelon from California, though they also had BC apples), but they were all clearly marked. We picked up some strawberries – The Organic Box will tide us over until the BC and Alberta strawberries start coming in!

The Organic Box

We also noticed for the first time (although they’ve been at the market for a few weeks) a vendor selling cake pops! Though I think these bite-sized treats became mainstream when Starbucks started selling them, it’s nice to see some local entrepreneurs trying to capitalize on the trend as well!

Adorable cake pops

To help promote the Feats Festival of Dance, which had started two days prior and runs until July 1, 2011, the main market square hosted different dance demonstrations throughout the day. From above, we caught a sampling, including salsa and belly dancing!

Salsa

Belly dancing (with audience participation!)

It’s also great to catch those seemingly spontaneous moments at the market – like a wedding party using the market as a photographic backdrop. It turned out the bride was a cousin of Bamir’s – hence the Eva Sweet love!

Who doesn’t love waffle trucks?

I really hope the rain lets up next Saturday – it’s the long weekend, after all. See you at the market!

Night and Day: Five Guys

Looking back, one of my most vivid food memories from our visit to Washington two years ago was a late night dinner at Five Guys. On the plane ride to DC, we had overhead pilots discussing what they would be eating after they landed – Five Guys was their food of choice.

That first night, we wandered over to Georgetown, a bit disoriented, but eager to explore the neighbourhood, and finally came upon Five Guys. It was dimly lit, and truth be told, a bit of a dive, with peanut shells littering the floor in a restaurant showing signs of wear and tear – but the welcome we received was second to none. If the staff didn’t enjoy their jobs, they did an excellent job of hiding it, with orders being taken and hollered out, reminiscent of Fatburger, doling out efficient yet friendly service. Signs proudly labelled the origin of the day’s potatoes (Idaho), while open boxes of peanuts were strewn throughout the dining area, a thumb against the movement of nut-free zones. While the burgers were good (not great), our meal was forever coloured by the reception we received – and the environment it was consumed in. So when we visited the first Five Guys location in the Edmonton area at the end of May, it’s no surprise that Mack and I would be drawing comparisons to our DC experience.

Unlike the Georgetown location, tucked in a thoroughly walkable neighbourhood resplendent with historic walk-ups and charming boutiques, the Sherwood Park Five Guys was almost the opposite, situated in a sea of box stores and strip malls along Fir Street.

Interior

The contrast didn’t end there. Where the DC Five Guys was comfortably worn around the edges, this Five Guys was understandably new and squeaky clean (I did appreciate the open kitchen though – there’s nothing more reassuring than having the option of seeing your food prepared in front of you). Sacks of potato bags and boxes of peanut oil were used as a divider of sorts at the order counter, adding a bit of fun to the otherwise standard quick-serve décor. I also liked the bulletin boards where customers were invited to draw a message about their love of Five Guys.

Open kitchen

Bulletin love

Mack doesn’t appreciate peanut oil

The boxes of peanuts that Five Guys is so known for was relegated to the tops of the trash bins. We made sure to have a nutty appetizer.

Bulk peanuts served in open containers

Mack + peanuts?

My parents appreciated the extensive toppings menu offered by Five Guys, all at no extra cost. It’s a value add that aligns Five Guys with places like Rodeo Burger and Fulton Market).

I don’t know what happened though, as neither Mack, my parents, or myself read the fine print on the menu, and all ended up ordering regular burgers. A regular at Five Guys includes not one, but two beef patties (note to self: order the “little” next time). Needless to say, there was no need for the two large fries we also ordered.

My burger

The burgers were pretty good – thin patties, soft bread, and packed with our chosen fixings, they were satisfying, if not overkill because of our blind ordering. As a whole, compared with Rodeo Burger and Fulton Market, I have to say I enjoyed the Five Guys burger more.

Mack’s burger

The fries, however, were far from crispy. Fried in peanut oil, Mack wasn’t certain he should be indulging in the fries, but the rest of us were a) too overwhelmed by our double burgers and b) not enjoying the limp fries. The Cajun seasoning may have helped with the flavour, but not with the texture (we couldn’t recall whether or not the fries in DC had been made using peanut oil).

Fries

This location of Five Guys is too far out of the way for us to visit on a regular basis, but if we were looking for a quick bite to eat, we’d consider coming back.

Five Guys
993 Fir Road, Sherwood Park
(780) 416-7710

City Market: Week 5 (plus Africa Connect!)

Oh, it was a miserable day at the City Market on Saturday. The rain was spiteful, coming down hard that morning.

Rain, rain go away

Jill had joined me, and probably regretted doing so when it became clear a poncho, wellies and waterproof shopping bags would be necessary. Still, she kept me in good spirits – the market is always better with friends!

Jill tries a dolmade at Theo’s Greek Kouzina

We came across a new vendor on Saturday – Jen’s Organic Garden is a family-run booth, selling produce grown in the garden of a regular city lot. Between this vendor and Little Shoots Neighbourhood Farm, I have to wonder if the trend of basing a viable business in one’s home has finally hit Edmonton?

Jen’s Organic Garden

We heard that the final numbers of the day were around 4,500 (compared with the usual 12,000 that visit the market). There’s no question those that made it down had their pick of a great selection of products though!

Spring onions from Kuhlmann’s

Parsnips from Kuhlmann’s

Radishes from Greens, Eggs and Ham

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the rain lets up next week!

After dropping off our groceries, Jill and I headed to Africa Connect, a one-time event the City of Edmonton organized to celebrate African cultures, and to encourage learning exchanges.

Art

There were over 100 exhibitors, including non-profit organizations, City departments, and market vendors (some were more decidedly out of place than others – like Tupperware). Jill and I wished African cuisine could have been on the menu, but the EXPO Centre doesn’t allow external food to be served on the premises.

Marketplace

These gorillas made me laugh

The Hall was definitely spirited, and those who were in the crowds seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Romeo & Group Hip Hop performs

An article in today’s Journal pegged the overall attendance to be 3,000 – double what the City expected. Given the resources dedicated to the event, it’s a shame that more people didn’t attend!

Next weekend will be an equally busy one in the city – make sure to check out ShareEdmonton for a list of events if you’re interested!

Birthday Brunch: Bistro La Persaud

May had told me that she had a good brunch experience at Bistro La Persaud, so I thought it might be a nice place to take Grandma Male for her birthday. The restaurant has garnered quite the reputation in the blogosphere for dinner, but I hadn’t read much about its brunch offerings. Still, based on its standing alone, I was quite certain we’d be in for a quality meal.

Bistro La Persaud patio

I had made a reservation for our party of three, but it wasn’t necessary. Though it took us a few wrong turns to finally make it to the restaurant (the signage wasn’t clear that the eatery was, in fact, at the bottom of the stairs), we found ourselves in a dining room with two other parties.

The space, modern in shades of steel and red, looked great at first glance. The artwork (including a stunning painting of the Edmonton skyline alight with colour by Con Boland) were also great choices. But after a while, both Mack and I felt that there was something faintly institutional about the room. We were only able to articulate it later that day – it was the fluorescent lights, likely a carry over from the campus design. Though it didn’t impact our experience (because of the flood of natural light from the open patio), it did make us wonder about the setting for evening meals.

The menu items have a familiar brunch air to them, but with a refinement that we weren’t used to. For example, instead of a diner-style French toast, meant to be slathered in butter and drenched in syrup, the La Persaud version is served with foie gras morsels and cherry verjus compote. Grandma Male and Mack both opted for the eggs benedict ($15), while I was swayed by the eggs ravioli ($16), something I’d never seen on any menu before.

Included in our meal were warm(!) croissants and corn muffins served with red pepper jelly and a lovely jam, along with an adorable pot of fruits in a light syrup. It felt like a little gift!

Warm croissants and cornbread

Fruit

Our food arrived in good time, but we wished our server had been a little more consistent with the coffee refills. Mack wasn’t sure how he would eat his towering stack of egg and bread, but after cutting into it, he realized the bread was softer than it first appeared. The eggs were soft poached, as promised, and he loved the lavender hollandaise as well. He didn’t care for the salmon mousse, though.

Eggs benedict

My eggs ravioli were as elegant as I expected, garnished with microgreens (is it just me, or have microgreens come back in a fierce way?). The truffle & brown butter sauce was delicious, soaked into the morels underneath the ravioli. I was hoping the ravioli yolk would be a little less cooked (they were medium and not soft poached), but as a whole, I enjoyed the dish.

Eggs ravioli

At the end of our meal, we were given another small treat – chocolate truffles!

A sweet ending

In all, our meal at Bistro La Persaud was pleasant. Based on this experience, I’d definitely be back for dinner.

Bistro La Persaud
11821 145 Street
(780) 455-1888
Lunch: Monday-Friday 11:30am-3pm; Dinner: Tuesday-Sunday 5pm-close; Brunch: Sunday 11am-3pm

The 2011 4th Street Promenade Al Fresco Block Party

We’ve been looking forward to Al Fresco for a while now – I love a good block party, and all the better when it’s in our neighbourhood! It was great to see the street closed down to allow only pedestrian traffic, too – between the extended restaurant patios, the fashion runway, and the stage, it definitely put the street to good use!

An overhead shot of Blue Plate Diner’s patio

Crowds galore

Of course, I was particularly excited for the event’s new food program. Discussed as “what the Taste of Edmonton should be”, the block party would be highlighting “high end street food” from downtown and neighbouring restaurants, including MRKT, Elm Cafe, Pampa, Sabor Divino.and newcomer Tres Carnales Taqueria. Corso 32 dropped out last minute, and had been replaced by the always eager Eva Sweet. Pinocchio was also on hand, adding ice cream to the roster of items available.

Nate pretends to be fazed by the hungry hoards

Mack and I met up with Jane and Yi-Li at around 6:30, and at that time, the lines were already rampant! It was clear that food was the main attraction for many, with certain stalls barely able to keep up.

Line-ups

The organizers had opted for the Taste of Edmonton-esque ticket format instead of cash (which was likely good on the two fronts of fundraising and ease of use). At $1 per ticket, food items ranged from three to ten tickets each.

Ninja meat cleavers!

Our waffle appetizer kept us afloat while we waited in line for Tres Carnales, which had a crowd second only to Pampa. We ordered both the tacos and the corn on the cob, while Jane and Yi-Li opted only for the carnitas.

Jane and Yi-Li are Tres Carnales poster children!

The pork was well seasoned, and packed a worthy punch of heat. We all agreed that the flour tortillas underneath weren’t our favourite though – Yi-Li commented that between the two tortillas, the flavour of the meat was lost.

Tacos

The corn, though, was the surprise for me. I’m not usually a fan of mayo, and am definitely not on the fries and mayo boat, but for whatever reason, I loved the combination of corn, mayo and spices. Maybe it was the music, or the atmosphere, but I’d definitely order it again.

Grilled corn

Much can be forgiven because this was the first execution of Al Fresco’s street food program, but some improvements for next year would include a small handbill of menu options available, and larger menu displays at each of the food stands. A better layout, keeping in mind the possibility of long lines, should also be looked at (though I know a lack of power on certain sections of the street hampered the organizers this year).

Music played well into the night

It should also be noted that Al Fresco was again a successful fundraiser for the E4C School Lunch Program, though final numbers haven’t yet been announced. Congrats to the organizers for another great event – I’m already looking forward to next year!

Want more on Al Fresco? Courtenay, Chris, Liv, Sarah and Raffaella all wrote about it too!

City Market Report: Week 4

It was another busy Saturday in Edmonton! It’s great when there are so many options that you’re forced to choose – it just felt so alive in the city yesterday.

104 Street before the storm

Though I know the City Market isn’t the only ongoing event in the core, it often feels to me like the farmers’ market is the constant, the backbone of downtown. It definitely bolsters the success of other complementary events, like the Downtown Edmonton Community League pancake breakfast, and the Al Fresco Block Party.

Speaking of the pancake breakfast, one of my first orders of business with DECL was to help out with the fundraiser on Saturday morning. All of the food had been donated by Sobeys, so all proceeds collected would be going towards the E4C School Lunch Program.

Real “street” food

6:30 was an early wake up call, I’m not going to lie. But I’ve never been up early enough to see the street before the vendors started setting up, so it was neat to be there before the crescendo of energy. It also meant we were able to get things set up before the rush hit, with shoppers fuelling up before perusing the market.

Patrick makes the first pancakes of the 2011 breakfast!

I wasn’t able to finish up my shift because I had to pop into work for a few hours, but I had great fun while I was there! Most patrons donated more than the requested $2 when they found out proceeds would be supporting children’s nutrition. I would imagine the same generosity would be present at the Al Fresco events.

Our line cooks Alison, Patrick and Scott hard at work

After work, I was able to do my shopping. It was absolutely hopping at the market!

Busy market

Similar to last week, there were lots of green to be seen in market stalls!

Salad onions from Sundog Organics

Spinach from Riverbend Gardens

Mixed Heritage Greens from Greens, Eggs and Ham

As the Pride Parade would be travelling down 102 Avenue, some of the vendors had to be relocated. Because the Melcor parking lot between the Great West Saddlery and Armstrong Block had to be vacated for the Al Fresco festivities anyway, some vendors were able to set up shop in the lot.

An almost craft fair

Although there were a few food-related vendors in this space, most of the merchants were selling arts, craft and clothing. It’s unfortunate the Melcor parking lot couldn’t be vacant on other Saturdays; while there are more crafters than the space could hold, it lent an alternative feel to the shopping experience a (and reminded me of how the largest market in San Francisco operates, with crafters grouped together across the street from the Ferry Building).

In the shadow of two buildings

The Al Fresco wine and spirits tasting tent had also just opened up for the day.

Outdoor tasting

At noon though, all eyes were on 102 Avenue, the route of the Pride Parade.

It was fantastic to be a part of, even just from the sidelines. The colours, the sounds, the dancing…the sheer joy of parade participants was infectious.

A wedding float

Balloons!

Dancing!

Councillor Ben Henderson

Cowboys representing the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association

Even puppies got into the spirit!

I ended my afternoon with a pulled pork Filibun from Filistix. It hit the spot – the tender, braised meat, with a hit of freshness from the cucumber and pineapple salsa.

Pulled pork Filibun

We were planning on checking out the Al Fresco street food later in the day, but I needed a bit of a breather first. More to come!

Introducing…What the Truck?!

I love travelling for many reasons – the escape, the exposure, the experiences. But sometimes, what we encounter can become the inspiration for events back home.

While we were in San Francisco in the fall, Mack and I stumbled upon Off the Grid, a happening gathering of food trucks at Fort Mason. It really felt like fate had brought us to that festival – not only was it the very first incarnation of that event, but the sole reason we were even in the neighbourhood was because our bus had unexpectedly terminated at that particular pier.

Food truck haven

The energy at Off the Grid was fantastic – people were so excited about the food! It was such a great alternative to a sit-down meal, being able to sample different cuisines from two dozen trucks while basking in the late evening sun.

The draw of food trucks

Although the food truck culture is inherent in San Francisco, Mack and I started to think – why couldn’t such an event happen in Edmonton? Our city has a burgeoning food truck scene, so a version of Off the Grid wasn’t out of the question.

After several weeks of planning, we’re happy to finally announce the details of What the Truck?! Edmonton’s food truck extravaganza!

What: What the Truck?!
When: Friday, June 24, 2011, 4-8pm
Where: Beaver Hills House Park, 105 Street & Jasper Avenue

We are thrilled that 7 vendors have agreed to support our event, offering a wide range of savoury and sweet options. Carnival Cravings, Eva Sweet, Fat Franks, Filistix, the Fork and Spoon Brigade, Funky Pickle and The Lingnan will be on hand that night.

I should also mention that Urban Monks DJ’s Marc Carnes and Thomas Scott will be spinning for us, helping us set the tone for the evening.

If you’re planning on attending, please RSVP on our Facebook page – it’ll give us an idea of how many people to expect. Our hope is that this can be an ongoing event, but of course, it will depend on how this first occasion goes.

We hope to see you out at What the Truck?!

Gabe Wong deserves special mention for the logo he designed. We think he captured our whimsical sentiment perfectly!

Century Hospitality Group’s Top Chef: Finale

Last Saturday saw the culmination of the gruelling, month-long competition that was the Century Hospitality Group’s Top Chef Tournament.

The dining room at Lux, filled with guests, the judging panel, former judges, and event sponsors, was abuzz. Not only were they hungry for the six course meal to come, but also to see who would come out on top. Would it be the creative and resilient Ben Weir, who had pulled off the most unique entrée the week prior? Or would it be the bold and consistent Shirley Fortez, whose plating skills were unrivalled in the semi-final round?

Ben plates while Valerie assists

Each cheftestant had to incorporate a secret ingredient into their dishes: steelhead salmon in the appetizer course; Kobe beef short rib and spot prawns in the main; and eggs in the dessert. The cheftestants had also stopped by the City Market that morning to accent their dishes with local products.

Though it wasn’t quite set up like Kitchen Stadium, guests were encouraged to visit the plating area, where Ben, Shirley and their sous chefs were busy with final meal preparations.

Plating is intense

Both young chefs looked a touch nervous, but more than anything, with blank canvas plates gleaming in front of them, they both looked like they wanted to be let out of the gates.

To help whet the appetite of the crowd (and to help get the spirit of the competition rolling), two of Century Hosplitality’s seasoned chefs, Tony Le of Lux and Andrew Cowan of Hundred, served up a plate of their amuse bouches, side by side. It was also to serve as a taste of what Indulgence patrons could expect from the CHG booth in a few weeks. The audience was to vote for their favourite with a show of applause.

A pair of amuse bouches

I thought I’d instantly grapple towards Chef Cowan’s scrapple, topped with a perfectly fried quail’s egg. And though it was a bite of velvety richness, given my absolute dislike of watermelon, the fact that Chef Tony was able to make a cube of the fruit tolerable for me (with the addition of a piece of boar bacon and balsamic vinaigrette) won my vote. The crowd, however, was partial to Chef Cowan’s amuse.

First course: steelhead salmon

Ben’s salmon tartare was up first. Visually beautiful, with colour contrast provided by an Edgar Farms asparagus puree, it was a great way to commence the competition. I loved the texture of the tartare, kicked up with the addition of red onions, and how fresh the dish as a whole presented, bright with lemon.

Salmon tartare

Shirley’s cured salmon that followed showed us just how different their cooking styles were. She chose a flavour base of aromatic soy sauce and wasabi, complemented with a daikon salad. On first bite, I preferred Shirley’s salmon – it was brash and memorable. But towards the end of the plate, I had to agree with most around our table – the dish was too salty and overpowered the fish.

Cured salmon with soy and wasabi

Second course: short rib and spot prawns

There was no doubt that Ben’s short rib had been expertly prepared. Braised in veal stock and coffee, a collective sign of contentment could be felt around the room when diners tasted the fork-tender meat. His accompanying spot prawn ravioli was less successful, more dumpling than pasta, and a rather unfortunate deconstruction and cloaking of an ingredient that should have been better showcased.

Short rib with spot prawn ravioli

As an overall dish, Shirley’s main fared better. The prawn was front and centre (literally), with a whimsical presentation that ensured diners knew every part of the shrimp had been used. The prawns lent their essence to the coconut red curry sauce, a rich concoction that again highlighted Shirley’s love of bold flavours, and helped tie the two proteins together. Her short rib, however, was tough to get through. Some of the cuts around our table were extremely fatty, and as a result, was rather chewy and unpleasant to eat.

Short rib with coconut red curry sauce

Third course: eggs

To be fair, Ben did have a slight advantage in this course. One of his sous chefs, Valerie, was in charge of dessert, and with her “team” of Thermomixes, had decided to make a zabaglione, which would emphatically highlight the eggs. Served with Canadian winter berries and a raspberry cream, it ended his meal in a similar way to how it started – light and refreshing.

Zabaglione with winter berries and raspberry cream

Shirley’s dessert of carrot cake wasn’t the best use of eggs, but was transformational for many people, including myself. I’m not typically a fan of carrot cake, but Shirley’s version, moist and studded with pineapples and almonds, was one of the best versions I’ve ever had.

A sea of carrot cakes

The judging panel, which included Chef Blair Lebsack, the Journal’s Liane Faulder, Up! 99 and Telus TV’s Kari Skelton, and CHG’s Corporate Chef Paul Schufelt, had a tough decision to make. But given they would only be awarding up to 100 points each, diners, who each received a CHG poker chip, would also have a say. With 67 diner chips up for grabs, the crowd would definitely be able to influence the results.

Judging is serious business

In the end, the diners did sway the decision, given there was only 1 point separating Ben and Shirley as far as the judges were concerned.

Hearing the final verdict

So, after four weeks of intense competition, with fifteen other chefs in his wake, Ben Weir was crowned the CHG Top Chef!

Congrats, Ben!

Both Ben and Shirley deserve accolades for the meals they put together under such high pressure – both of them undoubtedly have bright futures ahead of them. Congratulations are also due to Paul, Tony and the rest of the CHG crew for putting together such an exciting event. It sounds like something that will happen on an annual basis – I’m sure it will soon become the hottest ticket in town.

Thanks again to CHG for the invitation!

Liv’s write-up of the finale is here, and you can see Mack’s Flickr set here.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: