Menu

The Battle for Canada's Culinary Crown

EN | FR

20th Anniversary All-Star Invitational

Ottawa
January 28th-30th, 2027

The knives are sharper
The stakes are higher
The pride of ten cities is on the line

In late January 2027, 20 of Canada's finest chefs will be flown to the nation's capital to test themselves as both a two-person city team and a 10-person "East" vs. "West" Canadian All-Star team.

Each city team at the national competition will have two contenders working together:

  1. A Chef of Distinction, chosen by our national judges, with a bye to the national competition and
  2. A winner of each of the regional All-Star competitions held in the fall of 2026. The All-Star competitors have been on the podium in the past, either regionally or nationally.

Three gruelling competitions, each requiring the highest level of skill, creativity and technique, and judged blind by a panel of chefs, authors and culinary experts, put these All-Stars through their paces in every conceivable way. Their efforts inspire the next generation of culinary talent and shape the direction of the nation's cuisine for years to come.


East or West?

Only one will be crowned the best region in Canada

One city will rise above the others to be crowned

Canadian Culinary Champions

Tickets on sale April 30th

The Chefs of Distinction

TEAM EAST

Tradition with an Edge

Representing:

St. John’s • Montreal • Ottawa • Toronto • Winnipeg

What They Bring to the Table:

• Atlantic seafood mastery
• Honed precision and technical brilliance
• Big-city polish and innovation
• Cutting edge style and inventive storytelling


St. John's

To be announced

Montréal

To be announced

Ottawa

To be announced

Toronto

To be announced

Winnipeg

To be announced

TEAM WEST

Bold. Fearless. Ingredient-driven.

Representing:

Victoria • Vancouver • Calgary • Edmonton • Saskatoon

What They Bring to the Table:

• Pacific seafood brilliance
• Prairie big sky inspiration
• Hyper-seasonal farm-to-table creativity
• Daring, confident flavours


Victoria

To be announced

Vancouver

To be announced

Calgary

To be announced

Edmonton

To be announced

Saskatoon

To be announced

The National Competitions

Mystery Wine
Canada in a glass and on a plate

Black Box Challenge
No prep. No mercy

Grand Finale
Where legends are made

Precision vs. creativity
Discipline vs daring
Legacy vs evolution

Are you riding with the East?

Or backing the West to bring the heat?

The Three National Competitions

Mystery Wine

Mystery Wine Pairing

Chefs are given a mystery bottle of wine and are challenged to create a dish with local ingredients that best complement the mysterious vintage. They have a limited time window and are given a minimal set budget. Guests will have the pleasure of tasting the mystery wine and sampling these creations on the opening night of the competition, in a stand-up cocktail reception format. The event will also feature a selection of wines, local craft beer, cocktails and artisanal food products. Food and beverages included.

Black Box

Black Box

One of the most exciting parts of the competition! Chefs will be given a black box containing a small array of diverse foods, and must produce and plate two spectacular dishes for the national judges – all in one short hour! Guests won’t get much closer to watching an Iron Chef-type competition than this! La Cité culinary students will create a fantastic spread of food during the competition for you to enjoy, and there is a mini-market featuring local products!

Grand Finale

Grand Finale

On the final night of the competition, anything goes and chefs plate a dish for guests and judges alike – one they have been working on for months! In addition, guests enjoy a selection of fantastic wines, cocktails, craft beer and some tasty local delights while bidding on some amazing silent auction items. By evening’s end, the 2026 Canada’s Culinary Champion is crowned, the Winery of the Year is announced and a victory celebration will be staged including performances by some of Canada’s great musicians. In addition, a live auction of unique experiences will be available for purchase. Food and beverages included.

The Regional Competitions

Staged in ten cities across Canada in the fall of 2026, the regional events celebrate 20 years of elevating Canadian Excellence and include a regional culinary competition of All-Star contenders – only those who have podiumed in the past.

VIP table and ticket buyers will enjoy an innovative dish of the city’s Chef of Distinction. Then the competition begins! Four to seven All-Stars will present a dish of their choice paired with a Canadian wine, beer or spirit. The competition is judged blind, with chefs going head-to-head for the honour of earning the second spot on their city’s team and advancing to the Canadian Culinary Championship.

Food

Partners

Photos from 2026