March 18, 2011

BCPMA x Healthy Chef Competition 2010 x Hyatt Regency

12th annual Healthy Chef Competition at The Hyatt Regency Vancouver on March 16, 2010.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

I was invited to attend this year's Healthy Chef festivities from the BC Produce Marketing Association. At this event, "media" meant anyone who writes or promotes local dining.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

Friendly faces were abound including competition judge and food entrepreneur Melody "Gourmet" Fury, petite eater Mijune Pak from Follow Me Foodie, Jonathon Yapp of Food and Tell, and many others.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency VancouverHealthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

The night was a very classy affair done to the nines. Ten different chef teams varying Asian dining to hotel restaurants, culinary schools and so on competed to make the best meals incorporating the daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies through entrées and desserts.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

The theme of healthy dining was sprinkled across the evening with different references to it throughout the night.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

Each diner had an envelope with one restaurant listed for an entée and dessert to eat, but that did not last as everyone more or less got a chance to try anything and everything as the night went on.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

The competing chefs were from the Hyatt Regency itself (winner: best entrée), Executive Hotel, Art Institute, VCC, CCCA (winner: best showcase & people's choice), River Rock (winner: healthy plate award), The Well, Delizia Fusion, Goldfish Pacific Kitchen (winner: best dessert), and Dynasty.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

CTV weatherman Marke Driesschen was kind of an awkward emcee at times even making a bizarre Chilean miners joke looking under his podium remarking if there was one left under it. And the live auctioneer blasted us with his deafening voice and banter. I liked the amalgam of different kinds of social fun thrown together with the focus still primarily squared in on the food.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

The food itself was quite splendid and diverse.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency VancouverHealthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

I will spare you my supbar food anecdotes and leave that to the real food writers.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

The seafood from the Chinese Canadian Chef Association (above) was probably my favourite and the must have dish of the night which explains their two awards.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency VancouverHealthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

There was quite a line for it when it was announced seconds were available. The prawns, scallops, and dry noodles delighted the senses.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency VancouverHealthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

The desserts were a nice capper to the night with small, interesting portions to wind down the evening.

Healthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency VancouverHealthy Chef Competition 2011 | Hyatt Regency Vancouver

I am continually intrigued as I discover new, diverse elements of Vancouver's social scene and all its niches, food being chief among them.

Originally published in Vancouver Is Awesome.

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