Bobby Milheron stands on the top step of the podium this evening, emerging victorious among the city’s brightest culinary stars.
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is proud to announce the gold medallist of the Vancouver regional culinary competition held today at the Westin Bayshore.
Vancouver was the final stop of nine competing cities on the Kitchen Party (KP) tour across the country, spotlighting talented chefs from St. John’s, Newfoundland to the west coast of British Columbia.
Each region’s gold medal-winning chef earns the privilege of competing for national honours at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa on February 3-4, 2023.
2022 Canada’s Great Kitchen Party Vancouver Chef Competitors:
- Sandy Chen – ArcherScott Korzack –
- Bacaro Vish Mayekar – Caffè La Tana, Pepino’s
- Bobby Milheron – Homer St. Cafe & Bar, Tableau Bar Bistro, Maxine’s Cafe & Bar Thachaya
- “Mike” Tuangkitkun – Maenam Restaurant
Deliberating over the five chefs’ dishes was a panel of seven esteemed judges, led by national Kitchen Party Head Judge James Chatto, Vancouver Kitchen Party Senior Judge Joie Alvaro Kent, and 2019 KP Vancouver Gold Medallist and 2020 Canadian Culinary Championship Gold Medallist Roger Ma.
After each competing chef presented their dish and accompanying wine pairing to the panel for tasting, the judges enthusiastically chose Bobby Milheron from Homer St. Cafe & Bar, Tableau Bar Bistro, and Maxine’s Cafe & Bar as the gold medalist for his lightly smoked Canadian Geoduck, B.C. spot prawn terrine, pickled bull kelp, sunchoke, shellfish jus—truly a chef d’oeuvre.
His dish was sharply paired with Mission Hill Reserve Rosé 2021, Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Finishing in second spot was Thachaya “Mike” Tuangkitkun from Maenam who prepared Southern Thai-style Turmeric Curry with a mosaic of B.C. sockeye salmon, mussel, side-striped prawn, fresh young coconut, and squid-ink cracker with housemade “Tom Yum” seasoning paired with Tantalus Old Vines Riesling 2020, Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Vish Mayekar from Caffè La Tana and Pepino’s Spaghetti House, placed third with their Lamb Agnolotti and Seared Scallop in South Indian Curry Sauce, with curry-leaf foam and lime crumb accompanied by Artakama Roussanne/Viognier 2021, Oliver, B.C.
Chef Bobby Milheron was privileged to receive the double honour of taking home the People’s Choice Award—voted on by all guests in attendance.
In addition to tonight’s culinary competition, funds were raised for two national beneficiaries and one local charity: Spirit North, empowering indigenous youth through sport and play; MusiCounts. providing musical instruments to schools; and Fresh Roots, cultivating meaningful connections between students and the food they grow.
All eight gold-medallist chefs from across the country will gather at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa on February 3-4, 2023.
Over the course of two days, they’ll flex their culinary muscles on the national stage to bring home the coveted title of Canadian Culinary Champion.