Daily Bread’s second annual chef competition and foodie fundraiser served up delicious food and great entertainment for 250 people down at Corus Quay Wednesday night. The event raised $90,000 to help support Daily Bread’s kitchen programs. These programs provide 170,000 nutritious meals annually to shelters, schools and other meal programs serving low-income children and adults at more than 100 community agencies in neighbourhoods across Toronto.

Three chefs including Jason Parsons (Executive Chef, Peller Estates Winery Restaurant), Alexandra Feswick (Executive Chef, The Samuel J. Moore at The Great Hall) and Devan Rajkumar (Executive Chef, Bosch & Branding Chef, Food Dudes) sliced, diced and cooked their way through the evening. They showed off their talent at their signature dish stations at the beginning of the evening, before getting to the main event – a timed competition in front of the crowd. Each chef had 30 minutes to complete a dish that was judged on taste, presentation, creativity and use of ingredients commonly found in a food hamper box.

The winner, as chosen by judges Arlene Dickinson (CBC’s Dragons’ Den and The Big Decision), Melissa Grelo (Co-Host, CP24 Breakfast), Erin Davis (Co-Host, CHFI’s Morning Show), Leslie Roberts (Anchor, News Hour and News Hour Final at Global Toronto) and Suman Roy (Executive Chef, Campbell Company of Canada), was Alexandra Feswick, who made a Western Falafel using chick peas, spiced yoghurt and lentils. Devan Rajkumar won Fan Favourite with a Vegetarian Slider (pita bread, cheese, canned pineapple) and Jason Parsons made a delicious dish of Ham, Cheese and Potato Croquettes (which included canned ham). Many thanks to hosts Humble Howard (The Humble and Fred Radio Show), Josie Dye (Host, 102.1 The Edge and Cosmo TV) and Preet Banerjee (Oprah Winfrey Network Canada’s Million Dollar Neighbourhood)!

Sponsored by Campbell’s, Nutella, Canadian Pacific and hosted at the beautiful Corus Quay thanks to support from Corus Entertainment, guests enjoyed signature dishes from the chefs, appetizers from Daily Bread’s Catering Kitchen, as well as dessert from Dufflet’s, wine from Peller Estates, beer from Beau’s and coffee from Balzac’s. Dozens of companies including Porter Airlines and Loblaws also supported the event with donations for prizes and the silent auction.

You can check out more pictures of the event on Facebook by clicking here.

Daily Bread announces 2^nd annual Ultimate Food Challenge on May 8

TORONTO – What happens when you get three celebrity chefs competing in front of judges including Arlene Dickinson (star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den and The Big Decision) and Leslie Roberts (anchor, News Hour and News Hour Final at Global Toronto)? An evening of the finest foodie fight in Toronto, as heavy hitters including chefs Alexandra Feswick (Samuel J. Moore and the Great Hall), Jason Parsons (Peller Estates Winery Restaurant) and Eron Novalski (Aria Restaurant) battle it out at Daily Bread’s 2^nd annual Ultimate Food Challenge.

A fundraising event with flair, chefs will create epicurean delights using items from a typical Daily Bread hamper box. They’ll also provide their own showcase smalls, which guests will enjoy along with gourmet hors d’oeuvres prepared and served by Daily Bread’s Catering Kitchen, and a cocktail reception.  Round out the evening with an espresso and dessert bar, silent auction and entertainment.

Last year’s inaugural Ultimate Food Challenge raised over $100,000 to help support Daily Bread’s Food Services Training Program, which provided 170,000 nutritious meals last year to shelters, schools and other meal programs serving low-income children and adults at more than 100 community agencies in neighbourhoods across Toronto.

What: Daily Bread’s 2^nd annual Ultimate Food Challenge
When: Wednesday, May 8 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Corus Quay, 25 Dockside Drive, Toronto
Tickets: Tickets are $150 and are on sale now at www.dailybread.ca/ufc.
Who: A cast of celebrity talent – check out our website as we release more names.

Sponsored by Campbell’s and Nutella.

Daily Bread Food Bank

Proceeds from the 2013 Ultimate Food Challenge will support Daily Bread’s Kitchen Program which includes the Food Services Training Program for individuals facing barriers to employment. With five full-time professional staff onsite each day to teach and guide the trainees, this one-of-a-kind comprehensive program has successfully fostered job readiness and confidence in our trainees, both professionally and personally. To find out more about how Daily Bread’s 2^nd annual Ultimate Food Challenge, check out our website at www.dailybread.ca/ufc.

This Wednesday night, Chef Rob Rossi will be competing against Chef Steve Gonzalez and Chef Nick auf der Mauer at Daily Bread’s Ultimate Food Challenge. Chef Rob Rossi gave us some insight as to what makes him tick in the kitchen.

My interest in the kitchen and everything food started in my kitchen at home at my mother’s side helping her make dinner for our family. At the young age of 16 my interest for the kitchen had become reality after applying to a local restaurant north of Toronto.

Being a chef has always been my dream. I always knew that I would be a chef. My training in Toronto and abroad has given me a strong sense of the classic French kitchen. My cooking style lies in the ability to take great ingredients and apply good technique to them. Not overloading them and allowing the simplicity and quality of the product to come through on the plate.

The most important thing to me as a chef is taste. My motto is always happy but never satisfied!

I am currently the Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Bestellen Restaurant in downtown Toronto.

You can see what Chef Rob Rossi creates in the kitchen first-hand at the Ultimate Food Challenge on May 2^nd at the George Brown Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Adelaide Street East and Jarvis) starting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Enjoy fabulous food, cocktails, a silent auction, entertainment and desserts. Tickets are $150. To buy tickets or find out more information about this great event, click here.

Campbell Canada’s Corporate Chef, Bob Villeneuve

As Campbell Canada’s corporate chef, Bob Villeneuve has been creating recipes for Canadians that are tasty and good for you. At Daily Bread’s Ultimate Food Challenge, Chef Bob will be putting his taste buds to the test with some creative and tasty dishes from three different chefs, including Chef Rob Rossi of Bestellen restaurant.Thank you to Campbell’s for generously supporting this event as presenting sponsor.

What made you decide to be a part of Daily Bread’s Ultimate Food Challenge event?  

Over the past few years I have had a few opportunities to work with the students and teachers of the food service training program on several occasions and I believe it is truly a wonderful program.  The heart and soul that comes from the students is truly touching.  I am honored any time I can play a small part in continuing this amazing work.

What does giving back mean to you? 

Giving back is about doing what you can do.  I am a chef, it is what I am and what I do.  Giving back means sharing my skills, passion, time and knowledge at any opportunity I get in a way which positively impacts other.

What are you expecting from the chefs at the Ultimate Food Challenge?

Creative, innovative and inspired food. I think that for an event like this risks have to be taken and new things have to be tried.  I expect that some of the items prepared may not work out perfectly, but with no risk there is no reward!

If you had to make dinner for anyone (rich, famous, dead, or alive), who would it be and why?

If I could cook for any one it would be my parents.  They are both passed and more than anything I miss sitting around the dinner table with them.

What’s in your fridge right now?

Left over roast pork, eggs, apples, pears, chicken broth, half a can of Pea Soup, cheese,

What do people need to eat more of?

Food they cook themselves.

What would your last meal on earth be?

Crispy Roast chicken, new potatoes with butter and kosher salt, corn on the cob, fresh peas from the garden.

If you have to give the chefs some last-minute advice for the Challenge, what would it be?

Playing it safe will not get the win!

Chef Bob Villeneuve will be judging dishes from Chefs Rob Rossi, Steve Gonzalez and Nick auf der Mauer at the Ultimate Food Challenge on May 2^nd at the George Brown Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Adelaide Street East and Jarvis) starting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Enjoy fabulous food, cocktails, a silent auction, entertainment and desserts. Tickets are $150. To buy tickets or find out more information about this great event, click here.

Ultimate Food Challenge judge and Toronto Star food editor Jennifer Bain will be tasting her way through some amazing dishes on May 2 at Daily Bread's Ultimate Food Challenge.

What’s a chef competition without some judges? We have some amazing ones lined up for the Ultimate Food Challenge and first up is Jennifer Bain, Toronto Star food editor, who writes about her eating and drinking adventures as Saucy Lady. Jennifer will be tasting her way through dishes on May 2^nd at the Ultimate Food Challenge to determine which chef will be crowned the Ultimate Food Challenge Champion.

What made you decide to be a part of Daily Bread’s Ultimate Food Challenge event?

I believe everybody is entitled to good food and that you can make inspiring meals from the simplest of ingredients (like the garlic-lentil soup I made this weekend).

What are you expecting from the chefs at the Ultimate Food Challenge?

Extreme deliciousness.

If you had to make dinner for anyone (rich, famous, dead, or alive), who would it be and why?

I would bring back my dad (a fellow carnivore) and make him a bison rib-eye in a cast-iron skillet. He died in 2001 and never got to meet my husband, who owns a bison ranch in Alberta.

What’s in your fridge right now?

It’s stuffed with leftovers from a six-day photo shoot for my Toronto Star cookbook.

What do people need to eat more of?

Speaking only for myself, dark, leafy greens.

What would your last meal on earth be?

Prime rib (medium rare, lots of fat) and my husband’s apple pie. He grates his apples and uses lard in his pie crust.

You can find Jennifer Bain on Twitter www.twitter.com/thesaucylady, and Facebook www.facebook.com/thesaucylady and at the Ultimate Food Challenge on May 2^nd at the George Brown Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Adelaide Street East and Jarvis) starting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Enjoy fabulous food, cocktails, a silent auction, entertainment and desserts. Tickets are $150. To buy tickets or find out more information about this great event, click here.

Chef Steve Gonzalez, from Top Chef Canada's first season, will be competing at Daily Bread's chef event, the Ultimate Food Challenge on May 2nd.

Chef Steve Gonzalez was in the first season of Top Chef Canada, and is originally from Toronto. Steve is competing at next week’s Ultimate Food Challenge to raise money for Daily Bread because he believes in “trying to give back to a place that gives so much”. We asked Steve some questions this week about being a chef and what we can expect to see from him next week as he competes in the kitchen using some of our most-needed food items to create dishes to tempt our panel of expert judges,

What’s your signature dish?

‘Fire and ice’ Albacore tuna with passion fruit, jalapenos and lulo snow.

In 5 words or less, what can people expect from you at the Upcoming Food Challenge?

High-energy street food.

What’s in your fridge right now?

Fresh box of Jamaican beef patties, sliced bread, cheese, salumi,  grape Fanta, sparkling water, pickles, mustard, miso, curry paste, hot sauces, yuzu vinaigrette and some other randoms.

What’s your most prized kitchen utensil in your arsenal?

All my knives in my toolkit are my favourite, but I’ve got some bad boys. Some [knives] I’ve had for over 15 years.

What advice would you offer aspiring chefs?

To aspiring chefs – taste, taste, taste.

If your culinary style was a person, who would it be and why?

I am my food style. Straight up Latin, kitchen gangster with some in your face flavour and spice.

You can watch Chef Steve Gonzalez compete against Chef Nick auf der Mauer and Chef Rob Rossi  on May 2^nd at the George Brown Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Adelaide Street East and Jarvis) starting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Enjoy fabulous food, cocktails, a silent auction, entertainment and desserts. Tickets are $150. To buy tickets or find out more information about this great event, click here.

Chef Nick auf der Mauer, owner of Porchetta & Co., will be competing at Daily Bread's chef event, the Ultimate Food Challenge on May 2nd.

If you’ve ever walked down Dundas West past Palmerston Avenue and stopped at a little place to have one of the most amazing sandwiches you’ve ever had, chances are you were in Porchetta & Co. Chef and owner, Nick auf der Mauer, can now also add Daily Bread Food Bank to his gastronomic resume.

“[I] wanted to be a part of something that can help people that are less fortunate”, said Nick, who will be competing against chefs Rob Rossi and Steve Gonzalez on May 2 in the first-ever Ultimate Food Challenge to help raise money for Daily Bread.

Inspired to become a chef by cooking with his mom while growing up, Nick’s advice to other aspiring chefs is to never serve anything you wouldn’t eat yourself. The Ultimate Food Challenge will be a great place for him to show off his culinary skills in front of an audience. People will have an opportunity to watch all of the chefs prepare food made from items commonly found in food hamper boxes, such as canned tuna, Kraft Dinner, canned peaches, canned chickpeas, potatoes and yoghurt.

You can watch Chef Nick auf der Mauer in action on May 2^nd at the George Brown Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts (Adelaide Street East and Jarvis) starting from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  Enjoy fabulous food, cocktails, a silent auction, entertainment and desserts. Tickets are $150. To buy tickets or find out more information about this great event, click here.