Originating in 2010, Chef’s Challenge: The Ultimate Battle for a Cure takes place once again in Toronto’s west-end next month. Coming to do good in support of Mount Sinai Hospital are a Who’s-Who of Culinary Greats, headlined by the bubbly Giada De Laurentiis! The Event thus far has raised over $3 million towards the care and research of Women’s Cancers. The Top 50 Fundraisers will have a chance to compete alongside De Laurentiis even.
This year’s Roster of personalities include:
− Giada de Laurentiis (Giada at Home)
− Scott McGillivray (Income Property)
− David Rocco (David Rocco’s Dolce Vita)
− Mark McEwan (Top Chef Canada)
− Vikram Vij (Vij’s Restaurant/Vij’s Railway Express)
− Bal Arneson (Spice Goddess)
− John Catucci (You Gotta Eat Here)
− Grant van Gameren (Bar Isabel)
− Maggie McKeown (Donut Showdown)
The Challenge takes place Saturday, February 8, 2014 at the Toronto Congress Centre.
Learn more on its Official Website here.
“Like” the Chef’s Challenge on Facebook here.
(Photo credit: Food Network)
Chop or be chopped! Food Network Canada is ready to unveil what could well be its tastiest new secret in the Canadian edition of American Hit Reality TV Series, CHOPPED. The Series sees four Chefs tasked with creating three-course Meals with four – yes FOUR – Mystery Ingredients to be unveiled each episode. A $10k Cash Prize is on-the-line for the hopeful Winner.
Toronto-born Actor/Television Personality Dean McDermott has the distinction of hosting the exciting new branch of the Series, and he is in-town promoting the launch of CHOPPED CANADA, which is certain to gain a following quickly with some highly-recognizable faces set to appear among the rotating Panel of Celebrity Chef Judges. Susur Lee, Lynn Crawford, Vikram Vij, John Higgins, Anne Yarymowich, Michael Smith, Roger Mooking and hunky, hunky Chuck Hughes are among the names to grace the screens of Canadian Televisions.
With an array of exciting Mystery Ingredients slated to shock us, the personable and charming McDermott explains to me this morning, “It’s not the actual ingredients which are odd – I can handle intestines and things like that”. “What makes this Show so interesting though is the combination of Ingredients these Chefs are given – like for example, Strawberry JELL-O Powder and Marrow”, throwing us a little tease of what to expect. A busy day of promoting deliciousness certainly wouldn’t be possible without fuelling-up with some food first and he was headed to a popular Breakfast Spot on Bloor Street.
See a Promo Video below:
To learn more about CHOPPED CANADA, visit its official Website here.
Also, follow on Twitter here!
We had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Dean McDermott, Tori Spelling this past June. More on that here.
See our awesome Snap with Billy by the gorgeous Shaw Media Holiday Tree:
CHOPPED CANADA premieres on Food Network Canada on Thursday, January 2, 2014 at 10:00 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
We could all use some inspiration this Holiday Season, right Canada? FOOD Network Canada has announced over 360 hours of Holiday Programming kicking-off Monday, November 25, 2013!
Among the star-studded Lineup include Holiday Editions of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Rachel Ray’s Week in a Day, Trisha’s Southern Kitchen, Iron Chef America, The Pioneer Woman, plus Specials from Gordon Ramsay, Giada De Laurentiis, Lynn Crawford and John Catucci!
Food Factory: The House That Santa Built
Monday, November 25 at 11pm ET/8pm PT
Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 4 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Food Factory rings in the holiday season with the story behind some of our favourite Christmas treats. Viewers will discover how Santa’s little helpers assemble four million gingerbread houses every year, how Christmas elves use 11,000 litres of spirits in their boozy nutty fruitcake, how 2,000 Belgian chocolate Santas are handmade in the lead up to Christmas, and how 125,000 litres of eggnog are pumped out in time for the holidays.
Food Factory: Yule Love This
Monday, November 25 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT
Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 4 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT
Food Factory unwraps the story behind some of our favourite seasonal sweets. Find out how 20,000 yule logs are hand rolled and decorated every season, how wildberry candy canes get their signature shape thanks to robotic elves, how a Scottish cookie factory bakes 20,000,000 shortbread cookies every week, and how 20,000 slabs of minty holiday bark are produced every day.
You Gotta Eat Here! – Happy Hollandaise
Friday, November 29 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Encore Presentation Friday, December 13 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
’Tis the season to be jolly and You Gotta Eat Here! host John Catucci is trying hard not to let his hunger get the best of his Christmas spirit. So, if the perfect way to spread holiday cheer is by singing loud for all to hear, John’s doing his part and revisiting some of his favourite chefs and restaurants from the show. He’s spreading joy and even more hollandaise at Shine in Victoria, BC, telling everyone to forget the sugar plums and imagine a double decker sandwich dancing in their heads at The Early Bird in London, ON, and there’s nowhere else you should go for a warm, Caribbean style Christmas pudding than way up north at Antoinette’s in Whitehorse, YK.
You Gotta Eat Here! – Season’s Eatings
Friday, November 29 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT
Encore Presentation Friday, December 13 at 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT
It’s Christmas time and in the spirit of the season, You Gotta Eat Here! host John Catucci is giving a lot more than he is receiving. From Santa’s lap, to a visit with the elves in the ‘North Pole’, John travels the country and revisits old friends from the show in their restaurants so he can share in how they cook up the most special of Christmas meals. John serves a heaping of festive treats at Jelly Modern Doughnuts in Calgary, AB, learns that where there’s fresh seafood, there’s more than one way to stuff a turkey at Saint John Alehouse, NB, and enjoys a real Italian Christmas with a traditional Tiramisu and Chocolate Salami for dessert at That Little Place By The Lights in Huntsville, ON.
A Pitchin’ In Christmas
Monday, December 2 at 11pm ET/8pm PT
Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 11 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Chef Lynn is nuts about Christmas and this holiday season she’s decking the halls to the nines and whipping up an unforgettable Christmas feast! On the guest list is none other than her extended family made up of a few of her Pitchin’ In friends. They’ll all be bringing some of her favourite ingredients to cook with from heritage turkey, leg of Canadian lamb, to Vidalia onion cornbread all the way from Georgia. Be prepared to raise a glass of good cheer, laugh out loud at Chef Lynn’s zany shenanigans and enjoy all the warmth and magic the season has to offer.
Chopped: Celebrity Holiday Bash
Tuesday, December 3 at 10pm ET/7pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 7 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Actress Terry Hatcher, Anthony Anderson, Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Gilligan Island’s Dawn Wells compete in the Chopped kitchen for their favourite charity. The party begins with sparkling cider and doughnuts in the first mystery basket. Wagyu steaks are served up for the entree round and the final moments of the competition are filled with drama and suspense as the competitors rush to get their plum pudding desserts plated.
Gordon Ramsay’s Christmas Cookalong Special
Thursday, December 5 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Encore Presentation Sunday, December 8 at 6pm ET/3pm PT
Gordon invites families to cook together in a Christmas cookalong special featuring a three-course festive feast of turkey with pork, porcini and sage stuffing; Madeira gravy; clementine carrots with freshly grated nutmeg; Brussels sprouts with chilli, lemon, garlic and toasted hazelnuts; and the perfect goose fat roast potatoes with garlic and rosemary. Plus, Gordon serves up a delicious starter of parsnip and pea soup with a walnut pesto, and a show-stopping ice cream snowball for pudding.
Rachael Ray’s Week in a Day: Season’s Serving
Wednesday, December 11 at 6pm ET/3pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 11am ET/8am PT
Rachael shows viewers how to feed hungry friends and family with five holiday worthy meals that can be made in just one day: Ruby Port Braised Short Ribs and Mashed Potatoes, Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Roast With Fennel and Golden Raisin Stuffing, Pastitsio With Lamb and Sausage, Winter White Coq Au Vin, and Risotto Timbale.
Iron Chef America: Ghosts of Holiday Ingredients Past
Thursday, December 12 at 10pm ET/PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 14 at 9pm ET/9:30pm PT
The Chairman unwraps his traditional holiday feast with a new first for Kitchen Stadium. Three teams featuring one Iron Chef and one celebrity Cooking Channel chef must cook with the most feared ingredients from previous holiday battles, in a battle of “Ghosts of Holiday Ingredients Past.” Competing chefs include: Iron Chef Michael Symon & Ching-He Huang; Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto & Gerry “G.” Garvin; and Iron Chef Jose Garces & Bobby Deen.
The Pioneer Woman: Christmas Special
Friday, December 13 at 6pm ET/3pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 14 at 9am ET/6pm PT
Christmas is coming and it’s a big day on the Pioneer Woman ranch. It’s all about festive food, fun and family traditions. Host Ree Drummond celebrates the holidays by cooking up divine Cinnamon Rolls for Christmas gifts, and her little elves, the kids, are on delivery duty. Then the Drummonds hit the town for the annual Christmas parade of lights before heading back to the ranch for a fabulous feast of Prime Rib with Rosemary Salt Crust, elegant Duchess Potatoes, nine-hour Burgundy Mushrooms and scrumptious Whiskey Cream Sauce.
Rachael Ray’s Easy Holiday Feast
Sunday, December 15 at 11am ET/8am PT
Encore Presentation Wednesday, December 18 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Rachael Ray has come up with a holiday meal that’s guaranteed to impress all of your guests…and you’ll be impressed that with just a little planning, you can make the entire thing in under 60 minutes! At the centre of the table: Soy and Cider Brined Turkey on Toast Points with Maple-Soy Gravy paired with three delicious sides: Orange and Paprika-Scented Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Barbequed Corn Succotash and Roasted Sugar Snap Peas with Black Pepper.
The Pioneer Woman: Christmas is Coming
Monday, December 16 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Encore Presentation Sunday, December 22 at 10am ET/7am PT
Everyone’s invited to the Pioneer Woman ranch as the Drummonds count down to Christmas. Host Ree whips up a cozy and casual Rigatoni and Meatballs to eat while the family trims the tree, then she makes her mom’s Holiday Bacon Appetizers — so she’s stocked up for whoever drops by the ranch over the festive season. Santa’s asked for chocolate this year when he comes down the chimney, so Ree shows viewers how to make incredible Chocolate Mint Brownie Bites.
Trisha’s Southern Kitchen: Holiday Cookie Party
Monday, December 16 at 7:30pm ET/4:30 PT
Encore Presentation Sunday, December 22 at 10:30am ET/7:30am PT
Host Trisha Yearwood is joined in the kitchen by her dear friend Lisa and her daughters, “T-Bone” and Haley, for a Yearwood tradition, her annual holiday cookie swap. Together they make Sweet Tea for the bakers, then it’s on to the cookies. There’s bound to be a cookie to please everyone, when Trisha makes Snickerdoodles, Bess London’s Pecan Tassies and lovely Iced Sugar Cookies.
Iron Chef America: Winter Ice Battle
Monday, December 16 at 11pm ET/8pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 9pm ET/6pm PT
Iron Chefs Bobby Flay and Jose Garces team up to battle Iron Chefs Masaharu Moriomoto and Geoffrey Zakarian in a frozen wonderland, where food must be served on elaborate plates carved from huge blocks of ice. Judges are actor Anthony Anderson, chef Alfred Portale and restaurant consultant Karine Bakhoum.
Giada’s Christmas Dinner
Thursday, December 19 at 7pm ET/4pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 10am ET/7am PT
Giada and her family celebrate the holidays at Aunt Raffy’s house in Aspen. Fun filled days in the snowy mountains begin and end with family meals, good cheer, and amazing food. The menu for the weekend includes traditional Italian struffoli, delicious straccoto (Italian pot roast), a special holiday French toast, and more!
Barefoot Holiday: Back to Brooklyn
Thursday, December 19 at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 10:30am ET/7:30am PT
It’s a trip down memory lane for Ina and Jeffrey with a day trip to Brooklyn visiting places old and new. The day kicks off with a fabulous breakfast, followed by a culinary tour of the city including a visit to the best pizza place in town, Franny’s Pizzeria. Finally, it’s back to East Hampton for a retro nightcap.
Restaurant: Impossible – Holiday: Impossible 2
Tuesday, December 17 at 11pm ET/8pm PT
Encore Presentation Saturday, December 21 at 10pm ET/7pm PT
This is Chef Robert Irvine’s biggest mission yet as he and his team are heading to the Jersey Shore to transform not one, but two, locations that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. With three days and $50,000 for the makeovers, Robert and his team will work to restore the LBI Pancake House to its former glory, and give the dedicated first responders of the Ship Bottom Fire Company a much deserved “thank you.”
Sandwich King: Holiday Sandwiches
Friday, December 20 at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT
Encore Presentation Monday, December 23 at 12:30pm ET/9:30am PT
Most people associate the holidays with big roasts, but Sandwich King host Jeff Mauro isn’t most people. He’s got sandwiches on the brain when everyone else is in feast mode, and he’s always thinking about ways to work with that holiday cheer. So he heads to his grandmother’s house to learn the secret to her special holiday sausage bread and — of course — turn it into a sandwich. Say hello to the Sausage Bread Brunch Sandwich.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Tennessee Holiday Traditions
Friday, December 20 at 10pm ET/PT
Encore Presentation Sunday, December 22 at 5pm ET/ 2pm PT
Guy’s digging into the unique holiday traditions in Hendersonville, Tennessee at a barbecue joint that serves up a traditional shoulder pull and a holiday ham with a fiery finish. And over in Nashville, Guy visits a tiny taco joint wraps up traditional Mexican tamales and unique quinoa sweet potato tacos.
Complete Schedule and Lineup here. Happy Cookin’!
(Photo credit: FOOD Network)
From the same Creators as the ever-popular One of a Kind Show, comes the Delicious Food Show, now in its second year. Taking place over three days this weekend at the Better Living Centre on Canadian National Exhibition grounds, the Event features 300+ Exhibitors, Workshops and appearances from a Who’s-Who of Canadian Celebrity Chefs including Mark McEwan, Chuck Hughes, Lynn Crawford, David Rocco and Nadia G.
In Toronto today to kick-off the Show was Multimedia Mogul Martha Stewart, who in addition to demonstrating a Cake-Baking in support of her latest Cookbook, Martha Stewart’s Cakes, also met with 100 Fans who purchased the Book on-location. Gracefully, she zipped her way through the line, armed with a Sharpie and an enamouring smile, occasionally looking-up to pose for a quick Snap.
Earlier in the day, Stewart fielded questions from a mixture of Digital, Online, Print and Television Media as she reflected on her own Success Story, giving-out tips for on how to be a craftier Entertainer at home to Guests. On the influence of Online Media in this day and age, she says “There are many Bloggers imparting knowledge to a lot of people and I think that certainly is the way of now and the future.”.
I asked Stewart from her Collection of Cake Recipes, which she’d recommend for those like me who are constantly on-the-go with little time to bake. “I’d start with one of the Skillet Cakes or a simple Bundt Cake which has a total of five ingredients. It’s pretty foolproof”, she states. “As long as you have an oven and a mixer, you’re set”.
She also touches upon her influences and in addition to ensuring that her Driver always takes a different route when driving through New York City each day so that she can soak-up new inspirations, she reveals, “Great Chefs inspire me. I eat out a lot and I’m constantly visiting with great Chefs and Bakers. I appreciate the knowledge they impart.”.
On entertaining with little notice, Stewart swears by some good, strong Cocktails served to Guests on a tray. “The Caipirinha is a great Icebreaker, as is the Bourbon Sour, or even an icy Martini”, proclaims the Domestic Goddess.
Opening its doors at 11:00 AM, Patrons enjoyed some fabulous offerings at super-reasonable price points from popular Local Businesses. Delectable Oysters from Oyster Boy; scrumptious Meat Pies from Kanga, buttery Lobster Rolls from Buster’s Sea Cove Food Truck; always amazing Tacos from Gourmet Gringos’ Food Truck; Lobster Guacamole from Canyon Creek Chophouse and positively delectable Macarons, Cookies, Lemon Meringue Tarts and Cakes from Petite & Sweet, which had even Stewart raving as she cut into a Celebration Cake designed by them to ring-in the occasion.
I found myself obsessed particularly with Soda Stream, a do-it-yourself-at-home Soda Machine with an array of available Syrups ranging from Kool-Aid to Crystal Light. I even enjoyed a Killer Mojito made from the Machine and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. I will not deny that I also was a little excited to see an array of British imports available via Mrs. Bridges’ British Bakery and I do admit to stocking-up on some Marks & Spencer Cookies, while noticing a super-cool variety of Goodies including a never-seen-before Maltesers Chocolate Bar.
I had the pleasure of getting a quick Snap with Stewart who for a long time now has been an Idol to me, having religiously watched her The Martha Stewart Show when it was easily available in Canada, and also owning a few of her Books including The Martha Rules, for aspiring Entrepreneurs. Her Drivers were seen throughout the day ushering-in gifts and purchases from Vendors at the Delicious Food Show, while her Security Guards ushered her speedily into her Vehicle after another walk through the Show as the rain began to come down and the number of Onlookers grew. “Okay, we’ve gotta be quick! I don’t want to stand in the rain!”, she said after telling me earlier in the day we’d snap a Photo at some point and although in a hurry, she was amazing still to make an exception for one Photo. She is just stunning.
For more on the Delicious Food Show, click here for a list of Vendors, Tickets and the official Schedule.
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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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