The Toronto Top Chef Canada contestants go through the motions for us at a mock quickfire
Head judge Mark McEwan with resident judge Shereen Arazm and host Lisa Ray
Season two of Top Chef Canada premieres this Monday, and to celebrate, Food Network Canada held a mock quickfire challenge at Victor (the home kitchen of competitor David Chrystian ) for the Toronto-based contestants. Judges Mark McEwan and Shereen Arazm were on hand with Lisa Ray (in an ivory Pink Tartan sheath dress) playing host, as on the show. Chrystian had home field advantage, while Ryan Gallagher (sous chef at Ruby Watchco and erstwhile private chef for the Thompson family), Daniel Boulud– alum Carl Heinrich, Frank and caféAGO sous chef Elizabeth Rivasplata, Crush Wine Bar sous chef Trista Sheen and Sarah Tsai of the Toronto Lawns Tennis Club vied for the symbolic win (the real show, of course, was filmed months ago).
Top Chef Canada is never without surprises, so the chefs should have seen this one a mile away: they were asked to make hors d’oeuvres with secret ingredients supplied by the various media outlets there to cover the event. Special ingredients ranged from banal (like bacon and frozen vegetables) to inventive, like birch syrup and tamarind (both given to Tsai). Our picks were dried morels and gochujang, which were combined with the Grid’ s gift of stilton and bacon and given to chef Sheen. The chefs scrambled for their ingredients then made a mad dash into the kitchen (with Tsai losing the contents of her bag in the process) before attacking the challenge. There was a strange calm about the kitchen—part of which chef Sheen attributed to knowing this challenge was only for fun. The chefs rarely broke the silence, but when they did it was to scream “at your back!” or “behind!” as they scurried around the kitchen (along with constantly queries about how much time was left). There was a camaraderie that we didn’t quite expect, given how contentious the show usually gets—chefs offered to share their tools and ingredients and commiserated over the sweltering heat of the kitchen.
When it was all over, the chefs presented six dishes, three of which were served on crostini, making it officially a trend. Sheen’s appetizer was no exception: her crostini was tossed in gochujang and olive oil, topped with a bacon and stilton pâté (it tasted like an even richer foie gras) and garnished with white radicchio, deep-fried morel slivers and a truffle vinaigrette. The day’s unofficial winner, as crowned by McEwan and Azram, was chef Gallagher, who served foie gras with maple syrup on a parsnip base, topped with bacon and a gooseberry gastrique. McEwan’s explanation of the judging process: “I look at the size and does it explode in my mouth” (insert your own dirty joke here). For his troubles, Gallagher was offered the prize of taking home as much of the leftover produce as he’d like. He demurred, however—he was taking the subway home.
122221 (Image: Fraser Abe) Trista Sheen’s gochujang and olive oil–tossed crostini, topped with a bacon and stilton pâté and garnished with white radicchio, deep-fried morel slivers and a truffle vinaigrette Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress19/ mar12topchefcanpress19 0 0
Trista Sheen’s gochujang and olive oil–tossed crostini, topped with a bacon and stilton pâté and garnished with white radicchio, deep-fried morel slivers and a truffle vinaigrette
122220 (Image: Fraser Abe) All the chefs’s hors d’oeuvres Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress18.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress18/ mar12topchefcanpress18 0 0
All the chefs’s hors d’oeuvres
122219 (Image: Fraser Abe) The chefs added their hors d’oeuvres, one by one, to the platters Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress17/ mar12topchefcanpress17 0 0
The chefs added their hors d’oeuvres, one by one, to the platters
122218 (Image: Fraser Abe) Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress16/ mar12topchefcanpress16 0 0
122217 (Image: Fraser Abe) Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress15/ mar12topchefcanpress15 0 0
122216 (Image: Fraser Abe) Tsai finishes up her dish Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress14/ mar12topchefcanpress14 0 0
Tsai finishes up her dish
122215 (Image: Fraser Abe) Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress13/ mar12topchefcanpress13 0 0
122214 (Image: Fraser Abe) Head judge Mark McEwan visits the chefs in the kitchen Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress12/ mar12topchefcanpress12 0 0
Head judge Mark McEwan visits the chefs in the kitchen
122213 (Image: Fraser Abe) Ryan Gallagher, rushing Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress11/ mar12topchefcanpress11 0 0
Ryan Gallagher, rushing
122212 (Image: Fraser Abe) Carl Heinrich, Elizabeth Rivasplata and Trista Sheen Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress10/ mar12topchefcanpress10 0 0
Carl Heinrich, Elizabeth Rivasplata and Trista Sheen
122211 (Image: Fraser Abe) Ryan Gallagher and Sarah Tsai prep their ingredients Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress9/ mar12topchefcanpress9 0 0
Ryan Gallagher and Sarah Tsai prep their ingredients
122210 (Image: Fraser Abe) Elizabeth Rivasplata and Trista Sheen Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress8/ mar12topchefcanpress8 0 0
Elizabeth Rivasplata and Trista Sheen
122209 (Image: Fraser Abe) Sarah Tsai drops her bag in the dash, sending produce flying Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress7/ mar12topchefcanpress7 0 0
Sarah Tsai drops her bag in the dash, sending produce flying
122208 (Image: Fraser Abe) Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress6/ mar12topchefcanpress6 0 0
122206 (Image: Fraser Abe) And they’re off! The chefs scramble for ingredients Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress4/ mar12topchefcanpress4 0 0
And they’re off! The chefs scramble for ingredients
122207 (Image: Fraser Abe) Crush Wine Bar’s Trista Sheen receives her secret ingredients (two of which were selected by us) Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress5.jpg 410 619 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress5/ mar12topchefcanpress5 0 0
Crush Wine Bar’s Trista Sheen receives her secret ingredients (two of which were selected by us)
122205 (Image: Fraser Abe) The bounty of produce available to them Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress3/ mar12topchefcanpress3 0 0
The bounty of produce available to them
122204 (Image: Fraser Abe) The chefs stand at the ready Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress2/ mar12topchefcanpress2 0 0
The chefs stand at the ready
122203 (Image: Fraser Abe) Ray gave props to Arazm for introducing her to Spanx ("I’m wearing mine today!" she exclaimed), noting she needed them more and more as the season dragged on Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress1/ mar12topchefcanpress1 0 0
Ray gave props to Arazm for introducing her to Spanx (“I’m wearing mine today!” she exclaimed), noting she needed them more and more as the season dragged on
122201 (Image: Fraser Abe) Head judge Mark McEwan with resident judge Shereen Arazm and host Lisa Ray Top Chef Canada mock quickfire https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12TopChefCanPress_intro.jpg 656 400 [] https://torontolife.com/culture/top-chef-canada-mock-quickfire/slide/mar12topchefcanpress_intro/ mar12topchefcanpress_intro 0 0
Head judge Mark McEwan with resident judge Shereen Arazm and host Lisa Ray
Top Chef Canada airs Monday, March 12 at 10 p.m. on Food Network Canada.
UPDATE: Check out our recap of episode 1 »
Head judge seems ok but Shereen Arazm seems to be too pushy. Mike Holmes is fun and Lisa Ray a breath of fresh air.