Canadian Chefs' Congress

Once again, we will preside the eight professional culinary kitchens of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA). Embark on a food and wine laden tour, mingle with mystery chefs, and support a national meeting of culinary minds for the 2010 Canadian Chefs’ Congress. Don’t miss this opportunity to graze amongst the best chefs our province (and country) has to offer.

Date: Sunday, August 22, 2010, 6:30pm – 9pm
Location: Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts -map-
Tickets: $75 per person

Our past two Mystery Kitchen Tours have showcased the talents of:

• Angus An – Maenam
• Jeremie Bastien – Boneta
• Robert Belcham – Refuel, Campagnolo
• Ned Bell – Cabana Bar and Grille
• Julian Bond – Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
• Andrea Carlson – Bishop’s
• Sean Cousins – The Vancouver Club
• Quang Dang – Diva at the Met, Metropolitan Hotel
• Scott Jaeger – The Pear Tree
• Lisa Perkins – The Vancouver Club
• Neil Taylor – Cibo
• Marc Thuet – Thuet, Conviction Kitchen
• James Walt – Araxi
• Chris Whittaker  - O’Doul’s, Listel Hotel
• Josh Wolfe – Coast Restaurant
• Neil Wyles – Hamilton Street Grill

Will you be able to guess our next slate of participating culinary icons?

The Canadian Chefs’ Congress is a biennial gathering of chefs from across Canada that reinforces the passion and integrity of Canadian Food Culture. Themed in 2010 as Oceans for Tomorrow, happens September 11 & 12, 2010. Chefs, cooks, apprentices and culinary students from across Canada will converge on Providence Farm in the heart of the beautiful Cowichan Valley for two days of conversation and deliberation on the state of our water ways, our effect on marine life and what constructive steps can be taken to improve the health of our oceans. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample Canadian inspired dishes from leading provincial and territorial chefs from across the country. As host, BC chefs will present the very best that our province has to offer. The weekend will be a series of unique tastes and experiences as you camp with fellow chefs, dining on BC food and drink.

6pm. Less than an hour before our next fundraiser begins. The mystery chefs gather for a group photo before the guests arrive at 6:30. Can you tell who’s cooking tonight?

6:30pm. As guests arrive, they are greeted with a glass of 2008 Pink Elephant bubble from Naramata’s Elephant Island Orchard Wines.

6:45pm. Julian Bond jumps on a chair to announce the location of the 8 kitchens and the 8 mystery chefs. The crowd is revved up and released into the culinary school to start exploring!

7:30pm. Let’s slowly reveal the chefs and what they’re serving up tonight:

Chef Neil Taylor – Cibo

Chef Taylor is serving panelle: chickpea fritters with buffalo mozzarella and smashed peas and fava beans.

Chef Ned Bell – Cabana Bar and Grille

Chef Bell offers a summer salad with roasted tomatoes and peppers, belgian endive, local goat cheese, toasted walnuts, dehydrated pepper powder, and cucumber, with all ingredients hailing from Windset Farms.

Chef Robert Belcham – Refuel & Campagnolo

Chef Belcham has made a fennel stuffed Sloping Hills porchetta with a summer vegetable salad and a charred wild ramp vinaigrette.

Chef James Walt – Araxi

Chef Walt has prepared a crab and avocado egg crepe with chilled tomato soup and tomato pearls.

Chef Angus An – maenam

Chef An’s dish is a banana blossom salad, which he serves you along with a long pull of R&B Sun God wheat ale from his keg under the table.

Chef Scott Jaeger – The Pear Tree Restaurant

Chef Jaegar presents seared albacore tuna with compressed cucumber and watermelon salad, yuzu gel, coriander sheets, and puff rice.

Chef Neil Wyles – Hamilton Street Grill

Chef Wyles posts a double feature: root beer braised shortribs and Summer Breeze oysters.

Chef Julian Bond – Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Last but not least, venue host Chef Bond has cooked up a venision with porcini mushoom and mixed potato puree.

9pm. While guests indulged in dessert, Chefs Julian Bond and Neil Wyles announced the two more Mystery Kitchen fundraisers: the next at the Vancouver Club on Friday, July 30th, and a late August encore at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. The chef lineup will be unique for each Mystery Kitchen event, so if you liked this one, please stay tuned for the next ones and bring your friends next time around!

Full photo gallery:

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A Star-Studded Mystery Kitchen Tour

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

June 2, 2010, Vancouver, BC — On Sunday, June 27th, 6:30pm to 9pm, the Canadian Chefs’ Congress take over the professional kitchens of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) to host a Mystery Kitchen Tour. All proceeds go towards this year’s Chefs’ Congress held on Vancouver Island September 11th to 12th; 2010’s focus is Oceans for Tomorrow.

Tickets for the Mystery Kitchen Tour are $75 and can be purchased online via PICA’s website. With a scant 100 tickets available, you’ll have to act fast. Eight of Vancouver’s top-notch culinary purveyors, sworn to secrecy, are equipped with wine and play host to their very own kitchen parties. Make your way through PICA’s corridors to all eight food and wine stations, ending your mystery kitchen tour with a dessert finale. This exclusive and mysterious evening of superb food and wine pairings won’t disappoint.

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is situated at the gateway to Granville Island at 1505 West Second Avenue, Vancouver, BC. To contact please call (604) 734-4488 or visit www.picachef.com.

The 2010 Canadian Chef’s Congress, themed as Oceans for Tomorrow, is slated for September 11 & 12, 2010, when chefs, cooks, apprentices and culinary students from across Canada will converge on Providence Farm in the heart of the beautiful Cowichan Valley for two days of conversation and deliberation on the state of our water ways, our effect on marine life and what constructive steps can be taken to improve the health of our oceans. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample Canadian inspired dishes from leading provincial and territorial chefs from across the country. As host, BC chefs will present the very best that our province has to offer. The weekend will be a series of unique tastes and experiences as you munch and mingle with fellow chefs, sipping BC wines, ales, beers, ciders, and mead. For full schedule details visit www.canadianchefscongress.com/british-columbia.

The Canadian Chefs’ Congress connects chefs to our land in solidarity with farmers, fishers, gardeners, foragers and all artisanal food producers. The Canadian Chefs’ Congress is a biennial gathering of chefs from across Canada that reinforces the passion and integrity of Canadian Food Culture. www.canadianchefscongress.com

Date: June 27, 2010
Time: 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
Tickets: $75 (buy online)