The Good Side Of The Holiday Season

Dan    Thoughts     Anju, calgary, Calgary Co-op, Cookbook Cook Co, Dan's Good Side, downtownfood, giveaway, Muse, White Cap Publishing

I don’t normally do giveaways on my website, but this December, I thought it would great to be able to provide some great culinary experiences to some well-deserving individuals.

There are always people in our lives that deserve that extra something. Whether it’s a person working hard volunteering for a local initiative, a friend that carpools with you to work, a boyfriend that always holds the door open for you, or even someone who’s recently experienced the passing of a relative.

There are thousands of people (in Calgary alone) that could have their day deservingly brightened by an extra special gift. Well, not wanting to be a Grinch this year (not that I am typically a Grinch…), I’ve reached out to some great businesses and am excited to partner with them all for three weeks of giveaways.

Do you have an amazing individual in your life who’s day needs to be brightened?

GIVE ME A FANTASTIC REASON WHY SOMEONE YOU KNOW DESERVES A CULINARY PRIZE PACK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BY FILLING OUT THE ONLINE FORM HERE.

I’ll be selecting one person each week leading up to Christmas for a dinner for four at one of Calgary’s top restaurants, some cookbooks and gift card to Calgary Co-op. What more could you ask for?

Top Chef Canada: Season Two Premiere and Exciting Announcement!

Dan    Season 2, Thoughts, Top Chef Canada: Taking The Challenge Home     Connie Desousa, cooking, Food Network Canada, Muse, Top Chef, Top Chef Canada, Xavier Lacaze

Finally, in seven days (March 12th, 10 p.m. ET/PT) the second season of Top Chef Canada will return to Food Network Canada. I’ve been filling my Top Chef void with ‘Chopped’ and ‘Pitchin’ In’. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love both of those shows…’Chopped’ stressed me out (oh, the pressure!) and Chef Lynn Crawford on ‘Pitchin’ In’ always makes me laugh, but nothing quite gets me going (no, not like that) like watching a brand new episode of Top Chef Canada!

Last year, I spent every Monday night at Charcut, a restaurant owned by one of season one’s finalists, Connie Desousa. The excitement in the restaurant week after week was amazing. It was like watching a football game, but actually interesting!

This year, with a new line-up of sixteen competitors, there is only one chef from Calgary. Xavier Lacaze, executive chef at Muse Restaurant. It’s too early to place any bets, but judging from Xavier’s work at his restaurant, I think he’ll be a contender for the top title.

Naturally, I am biased, but you’ve got to root for your own city’s representative, right? Go Xavier!

I’m really excited to be attending the season two premiere at Muse next week. If it’s anything like the show opener at Charcut last year, it’s going to be a very memorable evening.

The show will air every Monday night for thirteen consecutive weeks which, leads me to my announcement…

I am pleased as spiked punch to announce that I have signed on to produce thirteen online, interactive pieces for this new season of Top Chef Canada.

So…what exactly does that mean? It means that I’m going to have to cook…a lot. Not high pressure, ‘pack your knives and go’ kind of cooking, but, rather, I will be recreating some of the series’ favourite dishes week after week.

Each Monday night, Top Chef Canada fans will vote (via Facebook, Twitter and FoodNetwork.ca) for their favourite dish from the episode. Once the voting has concluded, I will be assigned the viewers’  favourite dish to recreate at home, in my own kitchen. Fun? Yes. Scary? More so. Following each episode, we’ll share my cooking experience (successes and failures) on the Top Chef Canada site, along with a recipe so that you too, being the avid home cooks that I know you are, can cook up a Top Chef Canada quality dish at home. Can we all be ‘top chefs’ at home? Well, I am going to try and find out!

So, feel free to let any Top Chef Canada fans that you have in your life know that they can partake in this dish recreation adventure with me by voting for their favourite dish each week!

Anyway, saying that I am excited for this Top Chef Canada engagement is an understatement. I’m beyond elated to take on this fantastic culinary experience. Having the opportunity to recreate delicious dishes from some our country’s top chefs is definitely an honour and I will do my best not to let you down!

Scout’s honour!

For more information on the second season of Top Chef Canada, the competitors, judges and their brand new (drop dead gorgeous) host, check out the website here.