STRONGER AS A PACK

Like any competition, winning the Bocuse d'Or is a team effort.
Our organization brings together Chefs, Foodies, Business Owners,
Canadian and International companies. Get to know team Canada 2018-2019:

PRESIDENT - ​SIMON SMOTKOWICZ
Since moving to Edmonton in 1975, French-born Chef Simon Smotkowicz has lent his talents to the Edmonton Plaza, the Four Seasons Edmonton as well as Delta Hotels in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Montreal. Committed to helping the community Chef Smotkowicz has been elected president of the Canadian Culinary Federation and president of our team.

MANAGER - ​THOMAS DELANNOY
Canada Director of Sales for Rougié for over 6 years, Thomas travelled across Canada to supply and assist the Hospitality community. His employer is one of the main sponsors at the finals and founder of the Bocuse d'Or Winners Academy. This atypical profile will complete team Canada organization with a corporate perspective.

MEXICO PRESIDENT & JURY - JOHN HIGGINS​
Chef John Higgins has cooked for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, for heads of state in Washington, at Michelin Star Malmaison, and ran the King Edward before becoming director of George Brown College Toronto. Chef Higgins also has an extensive experience in competition: Top Chef, Chopped, Culinary Olympic to name a few.

CANDIDATE - ​TREVOR RITCHIE
Chef Technologist at George Brown College Toronto, Chef Ritchie worked in Canada's best kitchens: Langdon Hall, Queen's Landing,  La Société, Campagnolo just to name a few. Cooking competition isn't new for him: he was Chopped Champion (Chopped Canada), represented Canada and won gold at Hans Beuschkens Culinary Challege, placed world second at Angliss Culinary Cup, and was Bocuse d'Or Canada Coach for the 2017 finals.

COMMIS - ​JENNA REICH
Student at George Brown College, Jenna is eager to master the arts of fine cuisine. This talented hard worker can be seen as the extension of the candidate's arm when performing. 

COACH - ​JAMES OLBERG
Chef Olberg has cooked across the country for more than two decades in such kitchens as the King Edward Hotel, La Societe bistro, the Sheraton Hotel in Red Deer, and Queen's Landing Hotel. Last year he stepped down his job as culinary director and executive chef of Glowbal Group in Vancouver to represent Canada at Bocuse Finale.

KITCHEN ASSISTANT - NICK LIN
A graduate of George Brown College, Chinese-born Chef Nick Lin first showed his passion as a student volunteer assisting Chef Trevor Ritchie at Bocuse d’Or Canada Selection Competition 2016. Since then, he has been of great support thanks to his natural talent and hard work. Nick is excited and humble to work once again with Team Canada as kitchen assistant in 2018.​

KITCHEN ASSISTANT - KEVIN BUCK
A graduate of George Brown College, Kevin has worked with Team Canada at the 2017 Bocuse d'Or competition. After returning from a semester in Italy, he is extremely excited to work with Team Canada again in 2019.

ADVISOR - JEAN-PIERRE CHALLET
French-born Chef Jean-Pierre Challet is internationally recognized for his mastery of French cuisine and led many best restaurants in Toronto. Currently Executive Chef at The Fifth Toronto, Chef Challet brings his endless knowledge from representing Canada on multiple occasions at The James Beard House and not missing a single Bocuse Finale in Lyon France.

ADVISOR - ​JOHN PLACKO
Born in Australia, Chef Placko quickly traveled around the world to work in the best restaurants. Since he moved to Canada he also helped the industry as corporate Chef until he started his own business: Modern Culinary Academy and Powder for Texture. Last but not least Chef Placko represented Australia at the 1989 Bocuse d'Or.

HEAD OF PLATTER DESIGN - LUIGI FERRARA
Luigi Ferrara is a visionary designer and head of design and film production teams. Luigi is the Dean of the Centre for Arts, Design & Information Technology at George Brown College in Toronto, Canada and Director of the internationally acclaimed Institute without Boundaries (IwB). 

PLATTER DESIGNER, FABRICATION MANAGER - SEAN SINA ZARABI
With a background in Industrial Design and Design Management Sina is a pioneer in utilizing and merging state-of-the-art technology within everyday design projects and pushes the envelope of ordinary into perfection one sketch at a time. He is responsible for design and fabrication of the platter, cloches, molds and custom made kitchen utensils.

COMMUNICATION - BRIGITTE FOISY
As a respected marketing and communications professional with over 20 years of solid experience, Brigitte has promoted some of the best food brands in the country. This altruist entrepreneur helps us promote our various event through her agency: THE PR DEPARTMENT.

FILM PRODUCTION - ANDREW WRIGHT
Andrew is an Associate Producer and the Post-Production supervisor at the Institute without Boundaries. He is coordinating the filming of the Bocuse d'Or project and is also helping to write, edit and mix the sound for the final production.

OUR COMMUNITY

MARK McEWAN
The McEwan Group

JASON BANGERTER
Langdon Hall Cambridge

ROMAIN AVRIL
Lavelle Toronto

DANIEL CRAIG
Delta Kelowna

SEAN REEVE
Mackenzie Room Vancouver

JONATHAN GUSHUE
The Berlin Kitchener

BRANDON OLSEN
​La Banane Toronto

MARC LEPINE
Atelier Ottawa

ROYCE LI
Shoko Toronto

MATTHEW TAI
Sheraton Toronto

JESSICA MARTINEAU
Oliver & Bonacini Toronto

PATRICK GARLAND
Absinthe Ottawa

ANDRÉS LARA 
Cacao Barry Toronto

TAKESHI HORINOUE
Lavanderia/Park Montreal

JASON MORRIS
Le Fantôme Montreal

GILLES TOLEN
Salmigondis Montreal

BRIANA KIM
Cafe My House Ottawa

JOE THOTTUNGAL
Coconut Lagoon Ottawa

ANDRES MARQUEZ
The taco diplomat​ Toronto

DIDIER LEROY
​French Master Chef Toronto

OLIVIER LE CALVEZ
El Catrin Toronto

ANDREW LECKY
Private Chef Toronto

MARVIN PALOMO
DaiLo Toronto

LUIS VALENZUELA
Carmen Toronto

PATRICK McMURRAY
The Ceili Cottage Toronto

CORA JAMES
Mamakas Taverna & Agora

STEPHEN BAIDACOFF
Campagnolo Toronto

FRANK LU
​Trattoria Burnaby

SAMUEL SIROIS
ITHQ Montreal

GRÉGORY FAYE
Montreal

TRENT BREARS
Legislative Foodservice SK

JONATHAN THAUBERGER
Crave Kitchen +Wine Regina

CHARLES OLIVIER DUBÉ 
CFP Marie-Rivier

ADAM MARTIN
​Miel Montreal

NICOLAS DUTERTRE
Cacao Barry Chocolate Academy Montreal

DANIEL GARCIA 
​ITHQ

ANTHONY LUSSIER
Bistro V ​Varennes

TAKEUCHI NOZOMU
Nozy Montreal

FRÉDÉRIC DUFORT
Chez Lionel ​Boucherville

ROMAIN LEROT
​Café Prague Montreal

MARCUS SAHOU
FoieGwa Montreal

JEREMIE FALISSARD
Barroco Bocata Montreal

JEROEN VAN HELVOIRT
La Rocca Toronto

NED BELL
Vancouver Club

DAVID HAWKSWORTH
Hawksworth Vancouver

ANGUS AN
Maenam Vancouver

ERIN SEARLE
Anna Lena Vancouver

SEAN MURRAY
Pan Pacific Vancouver

SARAH MORTEN
​YEW Vancouver

ALEX CHEN
Boulevard Vancouver

SCOTT JAEGER
The Pear Tree Burnaby

MAKOTO ONO
Mak m Ming Vancouver

JAMES WALT
Araxi Whistler

STACY JOHNSON
Ocean Wise Vancouver

DAVID WONG
Earls Vancouver

MELISSA CRAIG
Bearfoot Bistro Whistler

ALEX TUNG
Acadian Sturgeon&Caviar

VICTOR BARRY
Piano Piano Toronto

CORI OSBORNE
Bacchanal Toronto

MATHIEU PERREAULT-JESSERY
Le coup Monté

VERONIQUE GRENIER
Sommelière

PHILIPPE J. HÉTU
Alimentation Maison

FRÉDÉRIC COSTA
Délice Lévis

PHIL TEES
Asado Montréal

CLAUDE BUZON
Chef's Hat

ALEXANDRE AUBIN
​Gaspor

GEOFF SCOTT
Garland Canada

CAROLE LECOCQ
​Rougié Canada

ELIANE NEVEU
Fêtes Gourmandes des Lanaudières

FRANCOIS LANOY
La Table d'Antony

YAN GARZON
Testek Instruments

YOANN DUROY
​CDBL

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TEAM CANADA WINS SILVER AT AMERICAS SELECTION

BOCUSE D'OR CANADA

Copyright 2018