COMPETING CHEFS FOR 2008 | ATHLETES | WINERIES |
AUCTION | 2007 EVENT SUMMARYOTTAWA
Co-chairs: Paul De Villiers, Lawrence Greenspon, & Dean Trudeau
Gold Medal Plates is a celebration of Canadian excellence in cuisine, wine and athletic achievements.
Gold Medal Plates Ottawa
Wednesday October 15, 2008
Hilton Lac Leamy
To order tickets please download the following 3-page sales package:
Download Sales Package (PDF Reader Required - Download Adobe Acrobat)
or contact:
Sue Holloway
818 Nesbitt Place
Ottawa, ON
K2C 0K1
613-274-3107 phone
613-274-0851 fax
E: hollowayjoy@rogers.com
Yannick Anton - Signatures
Ben Baird - The Urban Pear
Derek Benitz - Benitz Bistro
Michael Blackie - Perspectives
Matthew Carmichael - Restaurant E18hteen
Patrick Garland - Absinthe
Stev George - Olivea
Arup Jana - Allium
Charles Part - Les Fougeres
Steve Wall - The Whalesbone Oyster House
Judges:
Anne DesBrisay, Ottawa Citizen restaurant critic
Cindy Deachman, Burnt Toast newsletter
Margaret Dickenson, author (on leave of absence for 2008)
Pierre Jury, Le Droit
Michael Moffatt, Beckta Dinning & Wine, 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.
The final stop on our national tour of Gold Medal Plates. The Hilton Lac-Leamy was the venue and, just as last year, the crowd was fully engaged, thoroughly enjoying the chefs' creations and showing their pleasure with generous bidding. The standard of cooking was remarkably high with many dishes of an ambitious complexity: the good news was how often those lofty goals were reached. The judges were not unanimous in their favourites but when all was said, done and tabulated, our three medallists met with everyone's approval.Taking the bronze medal was Ben Baird of The Urban Pear with one of the simplest but most effective dishes of the evening. He rubbed a dry marinade of toasted rosemary and garlic salt onto a quail breast then seared it, skin side down, on a high heat. The result was exceptionally tender meat with a crisp skin that Baird set upon a little pillow of a raviolo stuffed with a chunky mix of apple, cheddar cheese and duck confit. Winter kale wilted in butter brought a rich and bittersweet balance to the dish and a vanilla-scented duck reduction was the finishing sauce. It all played very prettily with Black Prince Winery's Cabernet Franc Reserve 2006 from Prince Edward County.
The silver medal was awarded to Matthew Carmichael of Restaurant 18 who offered a ginger-lacquered fillet of B.C. black cod. The creature is always a crowd-pleaser with its sweet, butter-soft flesh but tonight it was particularly delectable, falling into glossy petals at the touch of a fork. The fish was laid onto carrot-coconut purée, the colour of saffron, sweetened with a trace of vanilla honey. Postage stamp-sized morsels of sugar snap peas provided unexpected crunch and freshness and Closson Chase Vineyards 2005 Chardonnay, also from Prince Edward County, was a most delicious and sophisticated accompaniment.
Our Ottawa gold medal was won fair and square by Michael Moffat of Beckta Dining and Wine. And in dramatic fashion. Guests approaching the station were greeted with what looked like a small, soft, greenish-brown candy apple on a stick. It turned out to be foie gras suspended in apple cider through the molecular manipulation of red algae, its soft, luxe texture matching the rich flavour of the foie and the sweetness of the apple. The second element of the presentation was a tea-smoked oyster fritter served on the half shell and topped with mango "caviar" (puréed mango enchanted by another molecular technique into tiny spheres with a runny mango heart). The final treat was a slender cornet of crisp pastry. "Eat it from the top down," suggested restaurateur Stephen Beckta. And we did, enjoying the shameless richness of Berkshire pork rillettes at the crown of the cornet, the tender chunk of belly pork that lay below it and the final, pungent envoi of very ripe epoisses cheese hidden in the point of the cone. The epoisses totally hijacked our palates, alongside a wine that managed to stand up to it well - Sumac Ridge Estate Winery Black Sage Vineyard 2004 White Meritage.
And now we know all the stars who will meet in Toronto from February 7 to 10 at the Canadian Culinary Championship: 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), Paul Rogalski of Rouge (Calgary), Judy Wu of Wild Tangerine (Edmonton) and Michael Moffat of Beckta Dining and Wine (Ottawa-Gatineau). A fascinating cast of characters! Needless to say, anyone who wishes to witness this titanic struggle will be more than welcome. It promises to be an extraordinary weekend of food and wine. I very much hope to see you there.James Chatto
National Culinary Advisor
Gold Medal Plates
COMPETING CHEFS FOR 2007
The following chefs have been selected by Ottawa's top food and wine critics and will compete for a gold, silver and bronze medal. The host chef is Hector Diaz.
Ben Baird - The Urban Pear
Matthew Carmichael - Restaurant 18
Chris Deraiche - The Wellington Gastropub
Steve Mitton - Social
Michael Moffatt - Beckta Dining and Wine
Richard Nigro - Juniper
Charles Part - Les Fougères
Rene Rodriguez - Luxe Bistro
Serge Rourre - Le Baccara (Lac-Leamy)
John Taylor - Domus Café
Hector Diaz - Hilton Lac Leamy
Judges:
Anne DesBrisay - Ottawa Citizen restaurant critic
Chris Knight - Ottawa Magazine, Saveur TV host
Cindy Deachman - Burnt Toast newsletter
Margaret Dickenson - Author
Michael Blackie - Brookstreet (Gold Medal Plates '06 Winner)
2006 Winner - Michael Blackie will be a guest judge and will be inducted into the GMP Hall of Fame.
Alex Baumann - Swimming/Natation
Moscow 1980 Olympic Games
Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games - Double Gold medallist
Jeff Bean - Freestyle Skiing/Ski acrobatique
Nagano 1998 Olympic Winter Games
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games
Ivanie Blondin - Speed Skating/Patinage de vitesse
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games - Hopeful
Mary Jane Bowie - Luge/Luge
Innsbruck 1976 Olympic Winter Games
Kate Brambley - Swimming/Natation
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
James Cartwright - Canoe-Kayak/Canoe-kayak
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Athens 2004 Olympic Games
Paul Conlin - Ice Hockey/Hockey sur glace Innsbruck 1964 Olympic Winter Games
Grenoble 1968 Olympic Winter Games - Bronze medallist
Jennifer Heil - Freestyle Skiing/Ski acrobatique
Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games
Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Sue Holloway - Cross Country Skiing & Canoe-Kayak/
Ski de fond & Canoe-kayak
Innsbruck 1976 Olympic Winter Games
Montréal 1976 Olympic Games
Moscow 1980 Olympic Games
Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games - Silver and Bronze medallist
Greg Joy - Athletics/Athlétisme
Montréal 1976 Olympic Games - Silver medallist
Alison Korn - Rowing/Aviron
Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games - Silver medallist
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games - Bronze medallist
Chelsea Lariviere - Athletics/Athlétisme
Athens 2004 Paralympic Games - Silver medallist
Todd Nicholson - Sledge Hockey/Hockey sur luge
Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Game - Bronze medallist
Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games - Silver medallist
Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games - Gold medallist
Kyle Shewfelt - Gymnastics/Gymnastique
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
Athens 2004 Olympic Games - Gold medallist
Andrea Smith (Schwartz) - Swimming/Natation
Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
Carolyn Waldo - Synchronized Swimming/Nage synchronisée
Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games - Silver medallist
Seoul 1988 Olympic Games - Double Gold medallist
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 |
| Henry of Pelham | 2005 Chardonnay Reserve |
| Cave Springs Cellars | 2004 Cab-Merlot |
| Sumac Ridge Estate Winery | 2004 White Meritage |
| Jackson-Triggs | 2004 Grand Reserve Gewurztraminer |
| Lailey Vineyards | 2005 Pinot Noir |
| Closson Chase Vineyards | 2005 Chardonnay |
| Jackson-Triggs | Proprietors' Grand Reserve Methode Classique |
| La Face Cachée de la Pomme | 2005 Neige Ice Cider |
| Henry of Pelham | 2005 Baco Noir Reserve |
| Black Prince Winery | 2006 Cabernet Franc Reserve |
Gold Medal Plates would like to thank the following groups and individuals for their philanthropy. Their generous purchase of a VIP table and/or donation of items to our auction will contribute tremendously to this evening's success.
Adam van Koeverden
Air Canada
Alex Tagliani
Annapolis Capital Limited
Beverley Armitage and Ian Rhodes
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Body Shop
Brian and Cathy Peters
Canril Corporation
Cave des Vergers, Chateauneuf du Pape
Chef Makoto Ono
Chef Shaun Desaulniers
Chef Yousef Djelab
Cirque du Soliel
Cognos Incorporated
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Don Finless and Sandra Zed-Finless
Dow Honda
Dr. George Tawagi and Francine Belleau
El Dorado Kitchen
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada
E-merging Solutions
EPCOR
Eugene Melnick and the Ottawa Senators
Fairmont Hotel
Fairmont Hotel MacDonald
Firestone Restaurant Group
Gary and Lisa Zed
GE Canada
Groovy Grapes
GWL Realty Advisors
Harrison's Cove Lodge, Tara McCarty and Paul Vickars
Holt Renfrew
James Chatto
Jean Lançon and Domaine de la Solitude, Chateauneuf du Pape
Kenneth and Christina Loeb
Koyman Galleries
Kyle Shewfelt
Lori-Ann Muenzer
Macallan Distillery
Maxxium
Michael Blackie
Michael Potter and Veronique Dhieux
Mike Van Dyke
Mme Francine Martin
Montgomery Asset Management
Napili Point Resorts
Onix
Ottawa Marriott Hotel
Paul Rosen
Primecorp Commercial Realty Inc.
Quintessance Hotel
RBC Asset Management
RBC Capital Markets
RBC Dominion Securities
Robert Head
Rogers
Rogers Communications
Rogers Television
Sandra and Stephen Assaly
Simon Whitfield
Sixthman
Stikeman Elliott LLP
Team Tagliani and Professional Sports Management
The Barenaked Ladies
The Bowmore Cottages
The French Laundry
Tim Parker
Tommy & Lefebvre
Trinity Development Group Inc.
VINCOR
Wealth Creation and Preservation
William Siekierski
We would like to thank the following wineries
Closson Chase Vineyards
Henry of Pelham
Cave Springs
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery
Jackson Triggs
La Face Cachée de la Pomme
Lailey Vineyards
Black Prince Winery
VINCOR Canada