COMPETING CHEFS FOR 2008 | ATHLETES | WINERIES |
AUCTION| 2007 EVENT SUMMARYCALGARY
Co-chairs: Jim Oosterban & Mark Tonner
Gold Medal Plates is a celebration of Canadian excellence in cuisine, wine and athletic achievements.
Gold Medal Plates Calgary
Thursday November 20, 2008
The Round Up Centre
To order tickets please download the following 3-page sales package:
Download Sales Package (PDF Reader Required - Download Adobe Acrobat)
Or contact:
Tracy Taubert
#2 Royal Oak Park NW,
Calgary, AB T3G 0A4
403-984-9048 - office phone
403-265-1915 - fax
E: shindigz@shaw.ca
Alain Chabot - IL Sogno
Derek Dale - Calgary Stampede
Shaun Desaulniers - Belgo
Cam Dobranski - Muse
Chris Grafton - Murrieta's
Jan Hrabec - Crazyweed Canmore
Andrew Keen - Tribune
Duncan Ly - Raw Bar, Hotel Arts
Hayato Okamitsu - Catch
Theo Yeaman - Chef's Table
Judges:
John Gilchrist, Author, CBC radio
dee Hobsbawn-Smith, Calgary Herald
Jamie Herbison, CHFM morning host
Susan Hopkins, caterer
Paul Rogalski, Rouge, Gold Medal Winner '07
To be determined.
2008 WINERIESTo be determined.
"Gold Medal Plates was founded to promote awareness in the excellence of Canadian cuisine and wine, while raising funds for Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes. My job is to put Canadian chefs and Canadian wineries in touch with each other and to ensure the Gold Medal Plates food and wine pairings truly reflect excellence. This program carries forward my personal goals expressed through the founding of Canadian Wine Awards in 2001 - to let Canadians know that a great industry is growing and flourishing under their feet. I first began to sense the potential and need for national wine pride based on quality as a wine columnist for the Globe and Mail in the mid-nineties, prompting me to make Wine Access a national publication in 1997. Gold Medal Plates is, for me, the logical next step in putting the idea directly on to Canada's tables."
David Lawrason
National Wine Advisor
To be determined.
November 15th 2007 will be forever remembered as the night of the Calgary Gold Medal Plates competition - a glittering affair at the Hyatt Regency hotel, with the chefs occupying a number of salons around the central ballroom. Michael Lyon, who won the Calgary events in 2004 and in 2006 (and thereby hangs a tale), was inducted into the Hall of Fame and created a fabulous dessert centred around a white chocolate panna cotta. We have come to expect amazing performances from Jim Cuddy on this tour, his talent re-energizing the room whenever he stands up to sing, and he did not disappoint. This time his vocal partner was none other than Simon Whitfield - something to do with an old bet and bravado after Simon won his Olympic gold in the triathlon at Sydney. Cuddy surely won on this night but the double act delighted the crowd. Not that they needed any extra coaxing. The auction alone raised a staggering $164,950.00.
The chefs also played a major part in inspiring this enthusiasm, performing brilliantly during the first part of the evening. As each judge reported back to their secret lair and the marks were tallied, it became aparent that the final result was far from clear: the top five chefs were all within eight percentage points of each other. As happens so often at the Olympics, a tiny decimal point separated the fourth-place competitor (Chris Grafton of Murietta's made a delectable dish pairing bigeye tuna tataki with slow-roasted beet, blueberry relish and a grilled oyster mushroom bread pudding) from a podium finish.
Scott Pohorelic of River Café pipped him at the post, taking bronze with a broad but thinly cut triangle of maple-braised wild boar jowl. It was an ostentatiously fatty piece of meat (and all the more delicious because of that, of course) and Pohorelic paired it with a serenely simple celery root mash and a lively slaw of Asian pear and baby cress to keep the palate alert. Crisp potato threads scattered over the top added a delicious crunch that underlined the luxe texture of the jowl. Black Hills Estate Nota Bene Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 proved a succesful match, its tannins tamed by the meat's fat, its acidity a valuable counterpoint.
The silver medal was awarded to Duncan Ly of Hotel Arts Raw Bar. He chose to gild the textural lily by cooking B.C. sablefish sous vide until its already buttery texture was tremblingly soft. This is a naturally sweet fish and Ly amplified this with a miso and grapefruit sauce and bold golden stripes of coconut and sweet potato purée. Crunchy, tangy, lightly pickled onion and soft spinach also provided telling contributions. The accompanying wine, Nk' Mip Cellars Riesling 2006, made a beeline for the grapefruit on the plate and waltzed away with it into a citrus sunset.
For the second time in two days, the gold medal was won by a soup, in this case an awesome puréed mulligatawny made by Paul Rogalski of Rouge. He served it piping hot in a Martini glass, its extravagantly silky texture further enhanced by the addition of a puddle of liquified foie gras. A scribble of tart, concentrated crabapple gastrique from a squeeze bottle lent necessary acidity and the coup de grace was a scattering of hyssop blossoms from Rogalski's garden. The first taste of the soup was all about texture - the gastronomic equivalent of stroking a fur coat's satin lining. But then the flavours started to kick in - the blend of curry spices in the mulligatawny gathering a sly and complex heat, the sharpness of crabapple, the floral, licorice-like perfume of the hyssop. Rogalski chose a wine that echoed those exotic floral impressions - Mont Boucherie Estate Selection Gewurztraminer 2006.
Three GMP events in three days... The team felt like a rock band on a gruelling tour, but what a delicious high! Paul Rogalski will represent Calgary at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Toronto next February, joining the roster of winners: Anthony Walsh of Canoe (Toronto), Martin Ruiz Salvador of Fleur de Sel (Halifax), Roland Ménard of Manoir Hovey (Montréal), Pino Posteraro of Cioppino's (Vancouver). We have two events remaining - Edmonton on November 20 and Ottawa-Gatineau on November 22.
James Chatto
National Culinary Advisor
Gold Medal Plates
The following chefs have been selected by Calgary's top food and wine critics and will compete for a gold, silver and bronze medal.
Alain Chabot - IL Sogno
Shaun Desaulniers - Belgo
John Donovan - Divino
Chris Grafton - Murrieta's
Brad Horen - Catch
Andrew Keen - Tribune
Duncan Ly - Hotel Arts
Scot Pohorelic - River Café
Paul Rogalski - Rouge
Andrew Richardson - Blink Supper Club
Judges:
John Gilchrist - Author, CBC radio
Dee Hobsbawn-Smith - Calgary Herald
Jamie Herbison - CHFM morning host
Susan Hopkins - Caterer
Michael Lyon - Gold Medal Plates '06 Winner
2006 Winner - Michael Lyon will be a guest judge and will be inducted into the GMP Hall of Fame
Lyndsay Alcock - Speed Skating
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games
Susan Auch - Speed Skating
Albertville 1992 Olympic Winter Games
Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games - Silver medallist
Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games - Silver medallist
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Kelly Béchard - Ice Hockey
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Mike Brown - Swimming
Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Allan Coulter - Volleyball
Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games
Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Earle Connor - Athletics
Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games - Gold and Silver medallist
Chandra Crawford - Cross Country Skiing
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Gillian Ferrari - Ice Hockey
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Danielle Goyette - Ice Hockey
Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games - Silver medallist
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Mellisa Hollingsworth - Skeleton
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Bronze medallist
Roger Jackson - Rowing
Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games - Gold medallist
Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games Munich 1972 Olympic Games
Diane Jones Konihowski - Athletics
Munich 1972 Olympic Games Montréal 1976 Olympic Games
Moscow 1980 Olympic Games
Carla MacLeod - Ice Hockey
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Curtis Myden - Swimming
Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games- Double Bronze medallist
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - Bronze medallist
Christine Nordhagen - Wrestling
Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Kirstin Normand - Synchronized Swimming
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - Bronze medallist
Jeff Pain - Skeleton
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games -Silver medallist
Tom Ponting - Swimming
Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games - Silver medallist
Seoul 1988 Olympic Games - Silver medallist
Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games - Bronze Medallist
Shannon Rempel - Speed Skating
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Silver medallist
Kyle Shewfelt - Gymnastics
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
Athens 2004 Olympic Games - Gold medallist
Colleen Sostorics - Ice Hockey
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Helen Upperton - Bobsleigh
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games
Adam van Koeverden - Rowing
Athens 2004 Olympic Games - Gold and Bronze medallist
Simon Whitfield - Triathlon
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - Gold medllist
Athens 2004 Olympic Games
2007 WINERIES"Gold Medal Plates was founded to promote awareness in the excellence of Canadian cuisine and wine, while raising funds for Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes. My job is to put Canadian chefs and Canadian wineries in touch with each other and to ensure the Gold Medal Plates food and wine pairings truly reflect excellence. This program carries forward my personal goals expressed through the founding of Canadian Wine Awards in 2001 - to let Canadians know that a great industry is growing and flourishing under their feet. I first began to sense the potential and need for national wine pride based on quality as a wine columnist for the Globe and Mail in the mid-nineties, prompting me to make Wine Access a national publication in 1997. Gold Medal Plates is, for me, the logical next step in putting the idea directly on to Canada's tables."
David Lawrason
National Wine Advisor
Gold Medal Plates would like to thank the following wineries for their generous donations to the 2007 campaign:
| WINERY | WINE |
| Kettle Valley Winery | 2005 Shiraz |
| Mission Hill Winery | S.L.C. Merlot |
| Tinhorn Creek Vineyard | 2006 Gewurztraminer |
| NK'MIP Cellars | 2006 Riesling |
| Quails Gate Estate Winery | 2005 Pinot Noir |
| Lake Breeze Vineyards | 2006 Pinot Gris |
| Black Hills Estate Winery | |
| Summerhill Pyramid Wineries | 2006 Ehrenfelser |
| Black Hills Estate Note | 2005 Bena Cabernet Sauvignon |
The Calgary Gold Medal Plates team would like to thank the following donors for their generous donations to our Live Auction, Silent Auction and our Rare Wine Auction.
Auction Donors
Adam van Koeverden
Air Canada
Alex Tagliani
Calgary Flames Alumni
Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA)
Chef Makoto Ono
Chef Shaun Desaulniers
Chef Yousef Djelab
Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre
Chinese Cultural Centre Learning Academy Dance Group
Chris Grafton, Murrieta's Restaurant
Don Cherry
El Dorado Kitchen
EPCOR
GE: General Electric Canada
Tara McCarty and Paul Vickars
Hockey Night in Canada
James Chatto
Jean Lançon and Domaine de la Solitude, Chateauneuf du Pape
Kelly Hrudey
Kyle Shewfelt
Lori-Ann Muenzer
Maxxium
Michael Lyon
The Wood Restaurant (Canmore)
Mike Van Dyke
Mme Francine Martin
Tim Parker
Paul Rosen
Rick Grafton
Robert Head
Ron MacLean
Simon Whitfield
Sixthman
Team Tagliani and Professional Sports Management
The Barenaked Ladies
VINCOR
Winery Donors
Black Hills Estate Winery
Kettle Valley Winery
Lake Breeze Vineyards
Mission Hill Winery
NK'MIP Cellars
Quails Gate Estate Winery
Summerhill Pyramid Winery
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
VINCOR CANADA