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Two graduates of Holland College's Culinary Institute of Canada compete on CH television's The Next Great Chef this season, representing P.E.I. and New Brunswick on the popular show.
P.E.I. will once again be represented by a Culinary Institute of Canada graduate on January 26th when Culinary Arts alumna Lindsay Closson, squares off against Saskatchewan's Julian Helman; while graduate Gregory Reid represented New Brunswick in the season opener on January 5th.
The show was taped a few months ago in Victoria, B.C. It airs on channel 17 in Charlottetown and channel 33 in Summerside at 9 pm on Friday evenings, pitting 10 young chefs against each other in one of the toughest competitions of their lives.
Those familiar with the series from last year will notice a few changes in the format. This year, it is a tournament format with 10 provincial champions fighting until there is only one left standing. Depending on their score, the defeated chefs get another chance to become a wildcard chef and get back into the competition. Also, in addition to the three course meal, chefs must pair a wine with their dish.
Closson, 25, is representing the Island because of her affiliation with the Culinary Institute of Canada; but the first round of competition pits her against a young chef from her home province of Saskatchewan.
"People always ask if I won, can't tell you that, but I can say that it was truly one of the most exhilarating, influential and educational experiences of my life! I made amazing friends, great contacts, learned a great deal not only about food and competing, but about myself as well. I feel very honored that I had this opportunity to grow as a chef and as a person. None of this would have been possible without the support of the Culinary Institute of Canada, and the Canadian Culinary Federation; the constant help and advice from all of the chefs and staff at school, support from my family and friends and most of all my mentor, the inspiring Chef Hans Anderegg."
As well as cheering for Lindsay Closson, Islanders can root for New Brunswick's representative, Gregory Reid. Reid, 23, is also a graduate of the Culinary Institute. Although Reid lost out to B.C. chef Poyan Danesh, he still has the opportunity to reenter the competition as a wildcard, if his score is high enough.
"It was a great honour for me to be a member of such an amazing group of young chefs." Reid said.
"This wouldn't have been possible without the education and support I received from the Culinary Institute of Canada. Countless hours were put in on my part preparing for this competition, but what wasn't seen was all the efforts put in by the chef instructors preparing me to go as far as I did. And for that I am truly grateful!"
Edi Osghian, Producer of The Next Great Chef, said Closson and Reid were assets during the taping of the show.
"They are both, apart from being great competitors, tremendously intelligent and honest. Having them both in a show was a blast, since they were always able to speak their minds in front of the camera and share their insight. Their thoughts about competition and other competitors proved invaluable."
For more information about this release, please contact:
Sara Underwood, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: 902-566-9695
Date: Friday, January 19, 2007
