CRFA Presents the DISCOVERED Culinary Competition

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The Discovered Culinary Competition features four different up and coming chefs competing each week for 16 weeks, and the 16 winners will compete in the semi-finals at the CRFA Show in early March. In addition to bragging rights, the winning chef will get an all-expenses-paid trip to spend a week cooking at a Michelin-star restaurant in northern Spain.

On the evening of December 5, 2011, the four chefs were:

• Adam Calzonetti, territory manager at Morton Wholesale, Guelph
• Dave McIntyre, creative chef at Food Dudes, Toronto
• Sarah Schmidt, chef de cuisine at Compass Lakeside Grill, Oakville
• William Tolentino, line cook at Celestin Restaurant, Toronto

and the round 3 judges were:

• Giacomo Pasquini, executive chef at Vertical Restaurant, Toronto
• Luis Londono, meat expert at Retail Ready Foods, Burlington
• Rob Gentile, executive chef at Buca Osteria Enoteca, Toronto

The baskets contained:

• Box 1 (appetizer): Brie, Prosciutto, Sandwich bread, Pomegranate juice.
• Box 2 (main course): Beef, Fish sauce, Peanut butter, Chinese egg plant.
• Box 3 (dessert): Mango, Blackberries, Ginger, Chili flakes

In round one, Chef Adam Calzonetti was eliminated, followed by Chef David McIntyre, and finally Sarah Schmidt, leaving William Tolentino to advance to the semi-finals in March, possibly to win the trip to Spain.

"At first, I felt nervous but excited," said Chef Tolentino. "Then once I opened the basket I felt more calm and easy, and more focussed." His first dish included prosciutto stuffed with fresh apple and mango, with a reduction of pomegranate juice and balsamic vinegar. His entrée involved pureed eggplant with peanut butter, seared rib eye cap and a sauce of reduced fish sauce and fig topped with grilled scallions.

"The last dish -- dessert -- was not easy to choose," said judge Chef Paganelli. "Both desserts were about equal so we had to go back to the first two dishes."

Chef Tolentino's dessert featured grilled fruit in a rice paper wrapper, topped with dark chocolate sauce and a blackberry and ginger compote.

"Chef Tolentino demonstrated good use of culinary techniques and he used a variety of techniques as well," said judge Chef Londono. "We felt that Chef Tolentino had the best total dishes and really showed us his skills."

Previous Winners

• Round 2 winner -- Chef Trish Gill, sous chef at Beast Restaurant, Toronto
• Round 1 winner -- Chef Arron Carley, sous chef at Volos restaurant, Toronto