High school students from across the province will be competing for the title of Canadore College’s Next Top Chef this Thursday. 11 student teams from Almaguin Highlands, Kemptville, North Bay, Parry Sound, Pembroke and Petawawa will compete for the title. Each team is tasked with creating the best culinary presentation of a pasta dish that includes goat cheese, Paillard of chicken with a compound butter and an individual tart Tatin with Crème Anglaise.
School of culinary arts professor Derek Lawday says they’ve put together a pretty challenging menu for this year’s contest. Lawday says being a good chef obviously demands a passion for food, but you also have to be a creative thinker and a team player with a good deal of stamina to work in a high-stress environment. He says he loves seeing the students rise to occasion every year.
A panel of culinary experts will judge menus based on taste, presentation, preparation, safety and sanitation and professionalism. First prize winners will receive first semester tuition to a culinary program of their choice at Canadore College. The event gets underway at 9:30am in the 100 Elements Canadore Dining Room and runs until 3:00pm.
