The Battle for Canada's Culinary Crown
All-Star Invitational
Ottawa
January 28th-30th, 2027
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 region will be crowned the best in Canada
City vs City
Only one city will rise above the others to be crowned
Canadian Culinary Champions
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
Roger Andrews
Montréal
Mathieu Cloutier
Ottawa
Marc Lepine
Toronto
Lorenzo Loseto
Winnipeg
Emily Butcher
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
Milton Rebello
Vancouver
Alex Chen
Calgary
Duncan Ly
Edmonton
Ryan O'Flynn
Saskatoon
Anthony McCarthy
The National Competitions
Mystery Wine Competition
Friday, January 29 – Rogers Centre – 6:00 pm
Chefs receive a mystery bottle of wine and race to create the perfect pairing using local ingredients with only limited time and a strict budget. Guests enjoy the cocktail reception with tastings of the mystery wine, the chef’s always phenomenal creations, along with still more incredible Canadian wines, craft beer, cocktails, and artisanal bites.
All food and beverages are included.
Black Box Competition
Saturday, January 30 – La Cité College – 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Experience the heart-stopping action from inside a 360° immersive theatre as chefs battle live in the kitchen. Given a black box of surprise ingredients and a pantry from which to indulge their imaginations, they have one hour to create and plate two extraordinary dishes for the judges.
Enjoy food stations by La Cité culinary students and a mini-market featuring the finest local products.
Grand Finale Competition
Saturday, January 30 – Rogers Centre– 6:15 pm
The championship concludes with chefs presenting their ultimate signature dish—perfected over months of preparation—to guests and judges. Guests will enjoy premium wines, cocktails, craft beer, local culinary creations, silent and live auctions, and live entertainment throughout the evening - maybe even some dancing!
As the night reaches its finale, anticipation builds with the announcement of Winery of the Year, followed by the results of the fiercely contested East vs. West showdown, where five cities face off in a battle-royal style competition.
The evening culminates in the crowning of Canada’s 2027 Culinary Champions—an unforgettable moment for the audience and a truly life-changing experience for the chefs.
Partners
Thank you to the partners and supporters who provide vital support to the project!
National Partners
Supporting
Photos from 2026
