Culinary competition to highlight female, BIPOC talent at RC Show 2022

Toronto – A blended virtual and in-person competition at RC Show 2022 will showcase Canada’s top emerging culinary talent, with a special focus on female and BIPOC chefs.

The Garland Canada Culinary Competition will take place at the RC Show, which is set for Feb. 27 to March 1.

“Each year we see ground-breaking innovation and exciting new trends develop from our emerging chefs, and we couldn’t be more excited to give this year’s contestants the opportunity to showcase their talents in person once more,” said Todd Barclay, president and CEO, Restaurants Canada. “We look forward to welcoming chefs and industry professionals of all kinds back in-person at RC Show 2022, especially as we work towards the revival of the foodservice and hospitality industry, and look forward to what these chefs will bring to the table.”

Committed to reviving the industry and continuing its dedication to providing equal opportunities for all chefs, 50 per cent of the top spots will be held for female chefs, while also prioritizing the showcase of BIPOC culinary talent. Chefs from coast to coast are invited to apply before Nov. 28, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. EST for the chance to earn a spot in the competition. The Top 12 finalists will be selected by a panel of the top culinary schools across Canada, to compete in a virtual competition from their kitchens for a 45-minute culinary demonstration. Three judges will then select the Top 4 finalists to compete live at the RC Show 2022, on the Culinary Stage on Feb. 28.

Competing against each other in a timed cooking demo, each of the Top 4 contestants will be required to create a dish using black-box ingredients and a set pantry list of items with the RC Show 2022 theme of “Revival” in mind. Each competitor is challenged to look at the bottom-line impact of their dish—finding the sweet spot between profit, quality and sustainability, three major issues for restaurants working to recover after two years in a pandemic—all while demonstrating their own interpretations of sustainability through their creativity in the kitchen.

More than $10,000 in cash and other exciting prizes are available to win, including $5,000 for first place.

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to apply:

Have a minimum of three to four years of experience working in a professional kitchen

• Be living and working in Canada
• Be 19 years of age or older
• Complete an application in full, by the deadline, to be considered valid
• Be available to compete virtually one day between Jan. 17-28, 2022
• Be available to travel to Toronto to compete in the live competition finale, should they be selected, which will take place on Feb. 28, 2022
• Be fully vaccinated by Feb. 25, 2022, as per the latest Ontario and federal guidelines (this means you have received your second dose 14 days prior to Feb. 25, 2022)
• Not be a decorated, recognized, multiple culinary competition winner or TV personality chef
• Not be a previous winner or judge, or associated with a current judge of The Garland Canada Culinary Competition

In addition to competing for the chance to advance to the Top 4, the Top 12 finalists will have a chance to win the “Fan Favourite” prize of $500. The winner of this category will be determined through voting on Restaurants Canada’s Instagram page (@restaurantscanada). Short videos of each of the competitors’ virtual demonstrations will be uploaded to Instagram and the competitor with the most likes at the end of the voting period will be named Fan Favourite! Restaurants Canada and Welbilt-Garland Canada will not be involved in any of the judging for this category.

Restaurants Canada and Garland Canada encourage new talent from all corners of the Great White North to apply. Past finalists include Niagara’s Chef Nick Chindamo and MasterChef Canada runner-up Chef Andy Hay.

This year’s competition is presented by Restaurants Canada and Garland Canada with support from Victorinox Swiss Army, Gordon Food Services, Canada Beef, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, Kitchen Aid, High Liner and Chicken Farmers of Canada. For more information or to apply, visit rcshow.com.