Canada’s Great Kitchen Party hits Kelowna November 15 — with all the ingredients for gastronomic dreams of foodies. You can experience the sights, scents, tastes and textures firsthand of an esteemed competition.

This regional qualifying match for the Canadian Culinary Championships to be held February 2020 in Ottawa, brings together some of the Okanagan’s most talented chefs:
• Brock Bowes, CrAsian Food Concepts
• Chris Braun, RauDZ Regional Table
• Andrea Callan, Red Fox Club at Indigenous World Winery
• James Holmes, Salt & Brick
• Kai Koroll, BLOCK ONE at 50th Parallel Estate Winery
• Jeff Van Geest, Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek
• Rob Walker, Big White Ski Resort

I am privileged to know all of these chefs and lucky enough to experience their culinary acumen on several occasions. I am confident that the bar is set so high by each of them individually of what they’ll bring to the table, it’ll be a privilege to see it unfold in person. To me, it beats being a couch potato watching competitions on television or online of chefs I may never get the opportunity to check out in their own restaurant environments.

If still available, an individual ticket ($300.00) is a splurge. Still, it’s less expensive than a Michelin-Star paired experience and showcases broader talent. Where else can you get front row seats to such a high level of competition and entertainment with access to the amazing cuisine and music all in support of great causes. In this event, the city unites “to provide Canadian youth the opportunity to be extraordinary in sport, music and food”.

Plus, it offers students in the Culinary program of Okanagan College an unparalleled opportunity to learn from of the country’s premier chefs.

Okanagan College culinary students assist at Canadian Culinary Championships

The toughest test for ticket holders will be which chef to root for most and how to pace consumption to truly taste the last dish as precisely as the first. Expect exquisitely conceived and executed elevated cuisine.

Another unique benefit of attending is the music with the opportunity to listen to such fabulous performers in an intimate setting. Musicians include the highly gifted roster of Jim Cuddy, Neil Osborne, Anne Lindsay, Devin Cuddy and Sam Polley.

Emcee for Kelowna is the Okanagan’s own outstanding athlete Kelsey Serwa. Co-Chairs are Daniel Bibby, Tracy Clark and Renee Wasylyk. Judy Burns is Honorary Co-Chair with Harry McWatters, who passed away suddenly this year and is sadly missed. No doubt his legacy will be highlighted at the event.

Harry McWatters was always on hand to support the Canadian Culinary Championships. Shown here with his partner Lisa Lalonde

For a tribute by David Lawrason, read https://www.winealign.com/articles/2019/07/25/in-fond-memory-of-harry-mcwatters/.

My own tribute can be found at https://gonzookanagan.com/harry-mcwatters-gonebeforehistime-not-before-his-time-winery/.

Based on the National Judging criteria, Kelowna judges: James Chatto, Chef Bernard Cassavant, Judy Burns, Jennifer Schell, Chef Mark Filatow and Chef Jeremy Lyupen will be rating each dish and beverage pairing. It’s always fun to see how your personal favourites compare to the judges’ decision.

Added to the excitement, are some exceptional auction opportunities such as exclusive trips.

Held in the beautiful conference facilities at Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort. For more information and access to purchase tickets or sponsorship, see https://greatkitchenparty.com/ca/cities/kelowna/

Last year’s Canadian Culinary Championships were held in Kelowna and you can check out my account of it here: https://gonzookanagan.com/best-chef-best-wine/

Presentations at culinary competitions are truly exquisite