(SASKATOON, SK) Chef Sydney Hamelin, Line Cook at Picaro Restaurant and Cohen’s Beer Republic, took home the title of Top Chef Saskatchewan after the final Chef’s Series competition at A Taste of Saskatchewan on Sunday.
The final culinary showdown took place on July 21 after a week of tough competitions on the Safeway Sobeys Chef’s Series Stage, now in its fifth year at the food and music festival in Saskatoon. Twelve local chefs competed in daily Chopped!-style match-ups throughout the week leading up to the Top Chef final, in which Hamelin faced off against Todd Clark, Evening Chef at Boffins Public House.
A panel of judges adjudicated the final dishes based on taste, use of ingredients, plating design and originality. Sydney’s winning menu included mushroom-stuffed chicken breast, vegetable couscous, spicy tomato coulis and green beans and swiss chard.
The Chef’s Series is presented by SaskTel Centre and Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan.
“The Chef’s Series is such a fun event at Taste of Saskatchewan,” said John Howden, Director of Business Development for SaskTel Centre, which promotes and organizes A Taste of Saskatchewan each year. “Even with the crazy weather we had this year, there are still diehard fans who won’t miss cheering on their favourite chef.”
“We had a fantastic time this week,” said Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director of Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, a group that represents thousands of farm families and food businesses in the province. “Our objective is help people make a stronger connection between food and farming. “
Organizers would like to thank all the sponsors of the Chef’s Series, including: Safeway Sobeys, Cargill, Saskatchewan Oat Growers, Turkey Farmers of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Egg Producers, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, Prairie Pride Natural Foods, Great Western Brewing Company and the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan. All of these products—including many other Saskatchewan-grown foods—were featured during the competition.
More information is available on tasteofsaskatchewan.ca or farmfoodcaresk.org/events-calendar
For more information, contact:
Clinton Monchuk, Executive Director
Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan
clinton@farmfoodcaresk.org
cell: 306-341-4750
John Howden
Director of Business Development
SaskTel Centre
jhowden@sasktelcentre.com
cell: 306-222-9903
Anthony McCarthy
Executive Chef
The Saskatoon Club
anthonym@saskatoonclub.com
tel. 306-652-1780
Backgrounder on Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan
Today, less than 3% of Canadians have a direct connection to the farm, which is one reason why so many have questions about how their food is produced. Farm & Food Care works to address consumer questions and inspire more confidence in our farmers and in Saskatchewan-grown foods. To learn more, follow us @FarmFoodCareSK on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter or visit farmfoodcaresk.org. Or let us put you in touch with a farmer so you can ask them directly about the food on your table!
Backgrounder on SaskTel Centre
SaskTel Centre is the largest indoor public assembly facility in Saskatchewan. It is Saskatchewan’s number one venue for large-scale musical productions, as well as one of the Canada’s busiest entertainment and sports venues. SaskTel Centre hosts more than 500,000 guests annually, with seating capacity of approximately 13,000 for concerts and 15,100 for hockey and lacrosse. SaskTel Centre is the home of the Saskatoon Blades Hockey Club of the Western Hockey League and The Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League.
Backgrounder on Taste of Saskatchewan
A Taste of Saskatchewan is Saskatoon’s festival of fabulous food featuring 31 of Saskatoon’s finest restaurants serving their house favorite dishes in beautiful Kiwanis Park from July 16-21, 2019. The extensive menu offers everything from succulent entrées to delicious desserts to specialty items.