Chopped Canada

[Pam R]

Chopped Canada starts in a couple of weeks. From the blurb on the website, I'm assuming it will follow the American version pretty closely. Looks like they have some good hosts lined up.

Will you watch? Will you try to compete?

[Mark Donnelly]

Trailer trash reality TV on a a joke of a channel. No serious foodie would ever watch such cheap, wannbe rubbish.

[ElsieD]

I plan on watching it but I looked to see where the contestants were from and stopped partway through. There is a very, very heavy representation of chefs from Toronto and nary a one to be found from Ottawa, where I live. I stopped counting when I counted 13 from Toronto, three from Montreal, 2 from Calgary and contestants from places as diverse as Kamloops, BC, Stratford, Guelph and Claresholm, AB. Claresholm, AB, really? I mean good for them but again, I repeat, none from Ottawa? So, it is not as interesting to me as it might have been.

[Pam R]

Elsie, I'll check it out too. Of course, Winnipeg (or Manitoba) isn't exactly represented in the contestant pool. But this is just the first batch, right? Assuming it continues, perhaps they'll get more participants from outside TO. Who knows, maybe they had few applicants from other areas? Maybe it's a FTVC thing -- like having all seasons of Top Chef film there. Maybe you should apply.

[demiglace]

I'll watch it and see what it's like. Will check out Masterchef Canada too.

[annabelle]

I'd watch it if we got Canadian television here. I like Chopped since it forces the cooks to think on their feet and who doesn't like to win $10000 for cooking?

Pam, will you try to get a spot?

[Allura]

Is it filmed in Toronto? The US version is filmed in NYC and the majority of chefs are from that area. I wonder if travel costs are paid? If not, that could cause the skewing.

[Pam R]

Pam, will you try to get a spot?

Nope! Too much pressure for me -- I'm a nervous wreck when I'm cooking my own, practiced recipes on TV or in front of an audience. Don't know if I could take the pressure of thinking on my feet.

Allura -- that's what I assume, that it's filmed in TO and it would make sense if most of the contestants are from there.

Edited December 17, 2013 by Pam R (log)

[ElsieD]

Elsie, I'll check it out too. Of course, Winnipeg (or Manitoba) isn't exactly represented in the contestant pool. But this is just the first batch, right? Assuming it continues, perhaps they'll get more participants from outside TO. Who knows, maybe they had few applicants from other areas? Maybe it's a FTVC thing -- like having all seasons of Top Chef film there. Maybe you should apply.

HaHaHaHa

My nephew-by-marriage is one of the cameramen on that show. It is filmed in Toronto. I'll have to ask him how the contestants were chosen as I can see travel $$$ being a factor for a lots of chefs but less so for Ottawa chefs as it's not that far. I wish I had thought of that last Friday as we had lunch at a restaurant owned by a well known Ottawa chef who is fairly plugged in and I could have asked him if he knew anything.

[demiglace]

So any thoughts on the first episode? I like the fact that there was a grill next to each stove. I have never heard of mac and cheese loaf.

[annabelle]

I guess we get to watch this in about a year in America?

[demiglace]

Really no difference to regular Chopped. It was quite predictable.

[annabelle]

Fewer tatttos? Less attitude? That would be good.

[demiglace]

The one with attitude lost out to a cooking instructor. I need to see more episodes. They have really good judges which is nice.