Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - Canadian Cooking Connoisseurs to Compete in Live Sandwich Showdown

~ ACE Bakery, Food Network Canada personality Bob Blumer, and renowned food blogger, Julie Van Rosendaal, watch as four regional finalists battle it out in Canada's Best Sandwich Contest ~

TORONTO, Oct. 15, 2013 /CNW/ - To help celebrate its 20^th anniversary, ACE Bakery challenged Canadians to make the country's best sandwich - and boy, did they deliver!  Now it's time to toast a winner. After reviewing hundreds of recipes from across the country, Food Network Canada personality Bob Blumer, acclaimed food blogger Julie Van Rosendaal and ACE Bakery have chosen four finalists to compete in a Sandwich Showdown and really show their chops.

On October 17, the four regional finalists will be given 30 minutes to prepare their sandwich to perfection and present it to the judging panel, which includes Bob, Julie and Marcus Mariathas, ACE Bakery's master baker. The creator of the winning recipe will be awarded $10,000 cash prize and $10,000 to donate to their charity of choice.

Between August 8 and September 26, crafty Canadians were invited to submit their most delicious home-made sandwich recipe for a chance to be one of four finalists in Canada's Best Sandwich Contest.  Of the Canadians who submitted recipes, one was chosen from Western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada and awarded $1,000 cash prize and $1,000 towards their charity of choice.

When:	Thursday, October 17, 2013 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Where:	Cooking School at Maple Leaf Gardens 60 Carlton Street, 2^nd Floor Toronto, Ontario
Who:	Bob Blumer, host of Food Network Canada's World's Weirdest Restaurants Julie Van Rosendaal, popular Calgary-based blogger behind DinnerWithJulie.com Marcus Mariathas, ACE Bakery's master baker Four regional finalists

Visuals:

• Four finalists preparing their sandwiches in front of a live audience and panel of judges
• Finalists presenting their creations to the judges to be tasted and evaluated
• Judges tasting, evaluating and providing feedback to each finalist
• Judges announcing the overall winner and presenting awards

Opportunities:

• Interview all four finalist about their experience in the competition and what inspired their recipes
• Interview the judges about how their chose the finalist and the overall winner
• Test out all four sandwiches and see which ones you deem the best

ABOUT ACE BAKERY:

One of North America's leading artisan bakeries, ACE Bakery opened in 1993 creating hand-made, European-style rustic breads.  The gentle shaping of each loaf, long fermentation periods, and a stone deck oven all work to create exceptionally flavourful bread with a pleasing texture and crisp crust. The breads contain no preservatives and are made with the finest ingredients. ACE Bakery's baguettes and artisan breads are available at hundreds of restaurants, hotels, caterers, grocery and gourmet food shops across Canada, throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

Community involvement is an essential part of ACE's philosophy. The company donates a percentage of its net profits to charitable organizations in the principle centres where ACE breads are sold. ACE's focus is on food and nutrition programs that assist low-income members of the community, financing culinary scholarships and supporting organic farming initiatives.

SOURCE: ACE Bakery

Kate Kurys | Citizen Optimum | [email protected] | 416.934.8020
Marika Bower | ACE Bakery | [email protected] | 416.241.3600 x.384