An Interview with five B.C. chefs competing in Top Chef Canada Season 3

Top Chef Canada is back for a third exciting season and after thousands of submissions only 16 talented chefs from across the country were chosen, five of them from right here in B.C.

Who are these determined new B.C. competitors ready to jump into the kitchen for another round of intense challenges, surprise twists and higher stakes?

Clement Chan, 33, Chef tournant at Fairmont Pacific Rim and owner of Vancouver’s popular Le Tigre Truck
Kayla Dhaliwall, 28, (originally from Victoria) – Executive chef at Tapenade Bistro in Steveston
Caitlin Hall, 24, (originally from Maple Ridge) – Chef de cuisine at Pied-à-Terre restaurant in Vancouver
Daniel Hudson, 29, (originally from Coalville, UK) – Chef/owner of Hudson’s on First, Duncan’s newest fine dining restaurant
Matthew Stowe, 30, (originally from Cloverdale) – Product development chef at Cactus Club

I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Chefs at Fable restaurant in Kitsilano (run by season two contestant, Trevor Bird). We talked about Top Chef Canada season three, Vancouver food trends and more.

Internationally-acclaimed actress Lisa Ray returns as host, joined by head judge, Chef and restaurateur Mark McEwan and resident judge, L.A. restaurateur Shereen Arazm, but a new season won’t be complete without guest judges and tasters.

Celebrities set to make an appearance this season include:

Seven-time WWE Champion Trish Stratus
International comedic sensation Russell Peters
Survivorman Les Stroud
The Real Housewives of Vancouver
JUNO Award winning Singer/Songwriter Jann Arden
Chef Michael Voltaggio (winner of Top Chef: Las Vegas)
Chef Robert Irvine (Restaurant: Impossible)
Chef Chuck Hughes (Chuck’s Week Off)
Food Network host David Rocco (David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway).

Combined with the weekly challenge prizes, the total amount up for grabs this season is higher than ever before at $250,000.

“We’ve upped the ante this season on Top Chef Canada, with even bigger drama, louder personalities and more cutthroat competition than ever before,” says Barb Williams, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media. “Viewers will see this season’s chefs stir up the most intense rivalries, stopping at nothing to win the coveted title of Canada’s next Top Chef.”

“Season three is bigger, better and more aggressive,” says John Brunton, Executive Producer, Insight Production Company Ltd. “Tune in each week to see Canada’s up and coming chefs put up some amazing dishes under incredibly difficult circumstances.”

In the end only one chef will take home the grand prize of $100,000, a GE Monogram kitchen worth $30,000, a custom installation by Caesarstone Quartz Surfaces worth $25,000 and the title of Canada’s Top Chef.

The new season of Top Chef Canada premieres March 18, 2013 at 9 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. PT exclusively on Food Network Canada. To watch full episodes online and access exclusive interviews and winning elimination challenge recipes throughout the run of the series, visit topchefcanada.ca.

Written and researched by Felix Kay, a contributor at Vancity Buzz. Cook with Felix on Twitter at @TheFelixKay.

Video by: Paul Albi, @AlbiJr