2016 Gold Medal Plates

Image Credit: Bonne Belle Photography, via Canadian Culinary Championships

Thursday, November 17th local Chefs Mark Filatow, Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar and Rob Walker, Big White Ski Resort will be competing at the provincial Gold Medal Plates competition in Victoria.

The competition will have 10 chefs competing for the opportunity to win Gold Medal Plates in British Columbia and move forward to compete at the Canadian Culinary Champions February 3-4, 2017 in Kelowna.

Chef Mark Filatow, Executive Chef & Sommelier. With over twenty years of experience, Mark Filatow represents the pinnacle of culinary excellence and is the driving force behind Waterfront Restaurant and Wine Bar. After graduating with honours from the Dubrulle Culinary Institute, Mark honed his culinary skills at some of the most prestigious restaurants in BC including Tofino’s Wickaninnish Inn, Vancouver’s Bishops and Diva at the Met and Kelowna’s Fresco Restaurant.

Chef Mark Filatow

Image Credit: Canadian Culinary Championships

In 2001 Mark was accepted into the coveted Sommelier Guild, making him one of the only chefs in Canada with this level of skill in food and wine pairing. By 2005 Mark’s culinary prowess was acknowledged by Enroute Magazine when they recognized Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar as one of Canada’s best new restaurants. With these awards and continual stream of industry accolades from Vancouver Magazine, The Calgary Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, Eat Magazine and more, Mark still manages to keep his feet on the ground… and in the kitchen as Executive Chef/Sommelier of Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Mark was the Gold Medal Plates Vancouver winner in November 2012 and competed in Kelowna at the Canadian Culinary Championships in February 2013.

“I’m looking forward to competing and this week, there is strong competition and I hope to showcase my best and have the opportunity to represent Kelowna and British Columbia at the Canadian Culinary Championships in February,” comments Mark Filatow, Executive Chef/Sommelier, Waterfront Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Chef Rob Walker, Executive Chef at Big White Ski Resort. Rob is a Canadian Born and BC Raised Chef. He trained most of his career in the Okanagan Valley and is a true local Chef. Rob graduated from the culinary arts program at Okanagan University College in 2001 and worked under Chefs from Culinary Team Canada and Culinary Team BC. Rob spent several years in Vancouver. While in Vancouver, Rob pursued his passion for the marriage of food and wine, training with the International Sommelier Guild and participating in the University of British Columbia’s wine program.

Chef Rob Walker

Image Credit: Canadian Culinary Championships

In 2008, Rob returned to Kelowna to participate in the growing trend towards “farm to table” cuisine - utilizing the plentiful products of the Okanagan Valley. Rob has served as Executive Chef for Bonfire Restaurant & Bar at the Cove Lakeside Resort, Mica Restaurant at Spirit Ridge, Liquidity Bistro and most recently has joined the Big White Ski Resort team as Executive Chef.

“Food should be fun and inviting; it should showcase the ingredients in a creative and memorable way and I hope to show this in Victoria this week,” states Rob Walker, Executive Chef, Big White Ski Resort.

Other chefs competing in Victoria are:

• Jefferson Alvarez – Cacao, Vancouver BC
• Ned Bell – Ocean Wise, Vancouver BC
• Sam Chalmers – North 48, Victoria BC
• Sergio Hernandez – Nourish Kitchen & Cafe, Victoria BC
• Jesse McCleery – Pilgrimme, Galiano Island BC
• Ricardo Valverde – Ancora, Vancouver, BC
• Nicholas Waters – Toque Catering, Victoria BC
• Morgan Wilson – Fairmont Empress, Victoria BC

Judging the 2016 competition in Victoria are: national head judge James Chatto, senior judges, Sid Cross and Andrew Morrison as well as Gary Hynes, Sinclair Philip and 2015 Gold Medal winning chef and 2016 Canadian Culinary Championships Bronze winner Chef Alex Chen.

Net proceeds from Gold Medal Plates are provided to the Canadian Olympic Foundation which supports Olympic athletes and high performance programs. Since 2004, Gold Medal Plates has generated close to $11 million for Canada's Olympic athletes.

Gold Medal Plates - Gold Medal Plates is the ultimate celebration of Canadian excellence in food, wine, athletic achievement and entertainment and has raised over 9.5 million for elite Canadian athletes.  For more information, visit the Gold Medal Plates website.

Canadian Olympic Foundation – The Beneficiary of Toronto Gold Medal Plates:  The Canadian Olympic Foundation is a national charitable organization that generates support to meet the technical, scientific, medical and coaching needs of Canada's athletes across all Olympic sports. Proceeds from Gold Medal Plates are given to the Canadian Olympic Foundation to support high performance programs such as Own the Podium. To learn more about the Foundation and the programs it funds, please visit their website.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016