Canada’s Kitchen Party..the new Culinary competition

[Okanagancook]

Khttp://greatkitchenparty.com/ca/

 

The Gold Metal Plates culinary championships have changed formats.  Looks great.  Our local chef Paul is competing tomorrow in Victoria.  He is a gem so I really hope he wins.

The finale is just up the road in Kelowna in the early new year. Not cheap.  We have been twice.  Amazing support for the auctions of trips...thousands of dollars...usually all sold for more than original offer at auction...more millionaires per capital in Kelowna than anywhere in Canada.

 

if it is in your city...well worth a go....very busy though.

Edited October 25, 2018 by Okanagancook (log)

[Okanagancook]

So just a fill in on Paul Cecconi who is competing in Victoria.

I first met him when he worked for a waterfront restaurant owned by a big wine producing family.  He made amazing food.  He was at a couple of the Finale Competitions in Kelowna and I was standing beside him at the black box competition portion of the event.  Each Canadian judge brought an ingredient from their region that went into the black box that each chef had to use to make 15 or so plates for various judges.  He was watching intently and I asked him if he would consider competing and he said ‘oh, no. ...hum but maybe later’. That was probably six years ago, so he is feeling his oats.

 

And here is what a classy guy he is:  he was catering a friend’s winery event and we got talking about spot prawns...magnificent wild prawns available for a few weeks from waters off the B.C. west coast.  Succulent, sweet, delicate, delicious but very fragile...gotta eat very soon after being caught.  Anyway, he said he would order some for me from his fish monger who operates out of Kelowna...the owner drives to Vancouver (4.5 hr each way) and picks up his fish.  He said he could get live prawns.  Deal.  So after Paul having to make four or five phone calls, the prawns arrived.  I fully expected to pay a handling fee for Paul’s efforts, but no.  He only wanted what he had to pay.  They were for my 65 th bday celebrations which were documented on the dinner thread...a few years ago now.  But, wow, who does that for free nowadays.

 

His restaurant in Penticton, Brodo,  does just a few lunch items each day but with high quality ingredients and he does catering.  They started doing an early dinner...done at 8 pm which has been successfull too.  His wife works with him and he gets amazing reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

Just a nice story of a family man and chef in a small town doing what he loves, loves to do and getting recognition for it.