Chef Connie DeSousa Knows Chokes!

Connie DeSousa and Pierre A Lamielle

I had the pleasure of hosting Chef Connie DeSousa from Top Chef Canada and her friend and food writer Pierre A Lamielle as they shared their artichoke skills with the crowd of the Canadian National Exhibition.  They also made their own goat cheese and used the two ingredients in a lovely salad.  (More on that HERE)  Connie is the co-owner and co-executive chef of acclaimed Calgary restaurant CHARCUT Roast House where they specialize in nose to tail meats.  They made quite the entertaining pair on stage and if Connie can perform her magic on Artichokes and Goat Cheese, I'm eager to see how she transforms meats into delicious dishes at her resto!  If I'm ever in Calgary, save me a spot at CHARCUT!

*NOTE: Coverage of today's show will air at 9:30pm EST tonight on OMNI 1, Portuguese News Edition.

Hockey Player Turned Celebrity Chef?

 I might be in love... Jokes aside, this is one hot new talent that is sure to make waves in the next few years.  Chef Darryl Crumb; a self-described, "Prairie boy" and ex-ECHL-er, turned Cordon Blue trained chef worked under Grande Chef Alain Ducasse in Paris before being courted back to Canada and now holds the position of Executive Chef at Winnipeg's new Brooklyn's Bistro.  Driven, young, energetic, determined, sure to wind up on a list of "Canada's Hottest Chefs" (if he isn't already!), and this boy can COOK!  Lookout Canada!  Chef Darryl Crumb's coming; and there will be butter!

Take 1...

I'm a pro, I swear!

Well, at least Chef Crumb looks good!

Spice Goddess and Chef Todd Perrin

Today's Food Network Celebrity Stage featured two special guests: Bal aka "Spice Goddess" Arneson and Top Chef Canada's Todd Perrin.  Bal is really as sweet and kind and gentle (and pretty!) as she is on TV!  I learned that she does a lot of work promoting woman's causes, and public speaking on women's issues and will be giving a talk at University of Waterloo in the fall.  She was an absolute joy to work with, and that's not even mentioning her food.  (More on that HERE)

Chef Todd Perrin is based in St. John's, Newfoundland where he owns and operates hugely popular Bed & Breakfast The Chef's Inn with his family.  Now that he's been on Top Chef, one audience member was discouraged to learn that if he wanted a booking for next summer, he would have had to call "last week".  After listing to Chef Perrin talk about his home, I've decided: I'm going to Newfoundland!

Chef Michael Smith: Culinary Rock Star!

Hosting the show for Chef Michael Smith was a bit like introducing Bono; passionate, generous, engaging, humble and a true rock star!  The crowd was massive, they waited for hours and they were not disappointed.  Chef Smith finished his 2pm show and did not leave the stage for the next two full hours as he signed autographs, posed for pictures and shook hands, before taking a sip of water and heading back onstage for his 5pm show.  Truly generous, truly a class act.

Speaking of generous, myself and the CNE staff were treated to some complimentary fudge on behalf of Maple Leaf Fudge, located next to the stage in Hall A, Direct Energy Centre.  We sampled Maple Nut and Butter Pecan, and there was a resounding "Ummmmmmm" from all involved...

One week left! More great chefs, more great dishes, lots more fun!  Hope to see you at The Ex!

Chef David Adjey Entertains!

For those of you who watch The Opener on Food Network, you probably won't be surprised to find out that Chef David Adjey is, as he describes himself "exactly the same on camera as [he is] off".  Energetic, playful, witty, and at times even goofy, this man makes entertaining an audience seem effortless.  He presented an array of Spanish flavours inspired by the white anchovies that he picked up in St. Lawrence market less then an hour before his show! After his show, he forgo the orderly "meet & greet" line for (his words) a "culinary mosh pit".  In a word: fun! 

Top Chef Derek Bocking Presents...

www.derekskitchen.com

Chef Derek Bocking of Top Chef Canada was my guest today on the Food Network Celebrity Stage and this man can make food!  Good food! And lots of it!  Pan seared duck breast with a potato/beat puree, arugula salad, sauteed grape and beat reduction and that's not even mentioning dessert.  Cheesecake, cheese-tray style with crumbled walnut crust, blueberries and a beat coulis.  Hungry yet?  I'm may or may not be gnawing on my mouse pad as we speak...

Etobicoke Girls Stick Together!

Here's a clip of one of my introductions from last weekend's shows.  Yesterday's Food Network Celebrity guest was Chef Andrea Nicholson of Top Chef Canada, (who also own her own product line called Killer Condiments) and when we got to chatting we discovered we're from the same neighbourhood in South Etobicoke!  Small world!  Chef Nicholson delighted the crowd with her version of corn dogs: shrimp and crab pan-fried corn dogs with peach ketchup!  They were a hit, and so was she!

Chef Kanka Delivers the Goods!

Chef Christopher Kanka of Top Chef Canada was The CNE's celebrity guest today on the Food Network Stage and he certainly delivered!  Rib Eye with sauteed baby arugula, and being a big proponent of supporting local farmers and treading lightly on our earth; fresh, sustainably fished Sea Scallops.  I even had the honour of tasting (gobbling, licking the plate, etc) some of his pan seared Rib Eye Steak.  And now, as your dinner break awaits, I leave you with images that will certainly inspire a healthy appetite.  Bon Appetit!

Chef Rossi Makes a Mean Po'Boy!

Today's celebrity chef at the CNE's Food Network Celebrity stage was Chef Rob Rossi of Top Chef Canada.  So far, I've had the pleasure to meet and host shows for Rob Blumer, Dale MacKay, Chef Corbin and Rob Rossi.  I must have won the karma award lately because working with these super-talented, easy-going, (and not to mention easy-on-the-eyes!) men has been bliss.  I'm running out the door for to get to a birthday dinner for my mom at The Drake, (home of Executive Chef and last year's guest, Chef Anthony Rose) but I just wanted to post this pic of today's creation by Chef Rossi.  For anyone who hasn't had dinner yet, feast your eyes on this puppy, and tell me you ain't drooling!  Ciao!

Hosting Food Network Celebrity Stage!

 I am so delighted to be hosting the Food Network Celebrity Stage again this year as part of the CNE.  The lineup is packed with exciting guests! For a full list, feel free to check out the calendar section of my site HERE.  Things got off to a great start with Bob Blumer yesterday who wowed the audience with his fish-cake cupcakes, and his ability to make a meal from scratch in less time then it takes to heat up a can of "spagettios".  Today, Top Chef Canada winner, Chef Dale MacKay delighted us with a succulent presentation of pan seared scallops...wow did they look good!  Here's a few pics from the show so far, and more to come!  If you're at The Ex, come down to Hall A of the Direct Energy Centre.  We have a show at 2pm and 5pm every day until Sep 4th.  Tomorrow's guest is Chef Corbin.  Can't wait!

Pan Seared Scallops with Corn Succotash, bacon and Sea Asparagus.  WOW!

Top Chef Canada winner, (and the guy who made those scallops!!!) Chef Dale MacKay

 

 

Condoms in Bunny Rabbits? True Story!

I met some truly fantastic and fantastically talented people as a company member of the hilarious dinner theatre comedy, Bollywood Bonanza, Paul & Priya's Wedding.  One of those people is Amish Patel (Actor/Writer/Producer, Fade To Brown) who just launched a legitimately funny, legitimate business: Condoms in Bunny Rabbits.  Sounds like a joke?  Fodder for some YouTube videos perhaps?  Yes, and yes.  But its also a community outreach sexual health project.  The newly launched website for Condoms in Bunny Rabbits currently features one product: the "Condom Bunny".  And for $16.50 CAD, you too can "hide your condoms in an inconspicuous, cute, little bunny rabbit!"  One dollar from every purchase will go towards a sexual health awareness charity or organization and will make the world a better place.  So why am I writing about this on my blog you may ask?  Other then the obvious hilarity factor, this project will help Amish and Fade To Brown produce more funny stuff.  And trust me my friends; that too will make the world a better place.