Winnipeg chef wins People’s Choice Award at national culinary competition in Kelowna

KELOWNA – The first competition of the Canadian Culinary Championships has come to a close.

Chef Mike Robins from Winnipeg’s hidden gem, Sous Sol, took home the first prize of the two-day event.

The 11 participating chefs received a bottle of unlabeled ‘mystery wine’ Thursday evening, Feb. 1. They were tasked to create a dish that would pair well with it.

Friday morning the chefs took to Kelowna grocery stores with a budget of $500 to feed 400 people.

Some chefs that were not familiar with the area had arrived a few days before to explore the options.

This year’s mystery wine was the Pinot Gris from Fort Berens, an emerging wine region in Lillooet, BC.

Chef Robins won the popular vote pairing it with cold smoked halibut cheek and salt spring mussels, juniper berry, chanterelle mushroom, lobster bisque and cashew cream.

Competitions end today, Feb. 3. The grand finale takes place tonight at the Delta Grand Okanagan Hotel.

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