Announcing the winners of the 2026

Canadian Culinary Championship

EN | FR

A Celebration of Canadian Culinary Excellence!

On January 30th and 31st, 2026, ten of Canada's finest chefs - winners of competitions held nationwide in the fall of 2025, gathered in the nation's capital to test themselves against their peers and push their limits. Three gruelling competitions, each requiring the highest level of skill, creativity and technique, and judged by a panel of chefs, authors and culinary experts, put these competitors 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.

The three competitions: Mystery Wine, the Black Box and the Grand Finale were a whirlwind and an intense experience for the chefs. For the guests: one of the finest culinary and wine experiences of the year! Link here for the 2026 Canadian Culinary Championship report written by our head judge.

Support was given: for music education (MusiCounts), for sport and play (SpiritNorth) and food security for youth (Nutrition Blocs and ONFE)

BRONZE

Chef Jason Sawision from Stofa Restaurant, Ottawa
Sous: Mason MacDonald
Finale dish paired with De Simone Motivation Fume Blanc 2021, Four Mile Creek, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

CANADIAN CULINARY CHAMPION

Chef Jaeyoung (Jay) Park from Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Vancouver
Sous: Ms Jungun Yang
Finale dish paired with Tantalus Chardonnay 2023, Okanagan Valley, BC

SILVER

Chef Jonathan Williams from Park Hyatt Toronto
Sous: Shaya Ilgacs
Finale dish paired with Leaning Post Syrah 2021, Niagara Peninsula, ON

Wines of the Year

Silver Medal: Mason Vineyard Cabernet Franc The Landed 2022, Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario

Gold Medal: Closson Chase Vineyard Pinot Noir Churchside 2023, Prince Edward County, Ontario

Bronze Medal: The Long Way Home Chardonnay 2023, Beamsville Bench, Ontario

The Culinary Contenders

St. John's

Lacey Coffin
Vu Resto Bar

Montréal

Isaël Gadoua
Restaurant Chez Jean-Paul

Ottawa

Jason Sawision
Stofa Restaurant

Toronto

Jonathan Williams
Park Hyatt Toronto

Winnipeg

Emily Butcher
Nola

Saskatoon

Kevin Monych
Hearth Restaurant

Edmonton

Tyson Wright
The Old Red Barn

Calgary

Dean Fast
Rouge Restaurant

Vancouver

Jaeyoung (Jay) Park
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar

Moncton

Niguel De Leon
Atelier Tony

About CCC

Staged in many cities across Canada in the fall, the regional events are a celebration of Canadian Excellence and include a regional culinary competition. The mission: ensure Canadian youth have equitable opportunities in music education, sport opportunities and food security.

In each of the cities, 5 – 10 chefs compete with a dish of their choice paired with a Canadian wine, beer or spirit. To be invited to compete locally is a notch in the belt. To win regional gold and be on the podium is a major achievement. To be eligible to compete against each of the regional gold winners in Ottawa the following year is a thrill. To be crowned the top chef in Canada at the Canadian Culinary Championship is a career changer!

Click here to see our past winners

The 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

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

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.