Culinary Celeb Padma Lakshmi Hosts Chef Challenge and Dinner at the 90th Royal

- Fairgoers and foodies have the opportunity to see Padma in action at the Royal Chef Challenge, and mingle with the star at an exclusive wine tasting dinner -

TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - To celebrate its 90^th Anniversary, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair will kick-off its spectacular 10-day event lineup with culinary royalty. On Friday, November 2^nd at 6:00 p.m. cookbook author and host of Food Network's Top Chef, Padma Lakshmi will host The Royal Chef Challenge. Padma will then host the WineAlign Tasting Dinner, an exclusive wine reception where guests can mingle with the star, followed by a three-course dinner.

"We are thrilled to welcome Padma Lakshmi to The Royal, and are excited that she will help us celebrate our 90^th Anniversary," said Sandra Banks, CEO, The Royal. "Fairgoers and foodies alike can see and meet Padma on The Royal's Opening Day - Friday, November 2^nd."

Rounding out the multi-day Royal Chef Challenge, Bob Blumer of Food Network Canada's World's Weirdest Restaurants will host the Chef Challenge on Sunday, November 4^th, while Australian chef and host of Food Network's Top Chef Masters, Curtis Stone will host the Chef Challenge Finale on Saturday, November 10^th.

A ticket to attend all three Chef Challenge events is $50. The ticket price to attend the WineAlign Tasting Dinner with Padma Lakshmi, which starts at 8:00 p.m., is $100.  Tickets can be purchased at www.royalfair.org.

The Royal is also honoured to recognize Toronto's own celebrity chefs from the city's top hotels, including Chef Robert Mills of The Thompson Hotel, Chef Colin Thornton of The Royal York Hotel, Chef Duff Lampard of The Westin Harbour Castle, Chef Roberto Fracchioni of The Templar Hotel and Chef Kevin Prendergrast of The Hilton Hotel who will participate in the Royal Chef Challenge. These amazing chefs will create dishes using ingredients from The Royal's prize-winning list of local products.

Taking place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show, which brings thousands of livestock animals to the city each November.  This year, The 90^th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 2-11, 2012.

TO OBTAIN MEDIA CREDENTIALS FOR THE ROYAL

Please visit www.RoyalFair.org / MEDIA

SOURCE: The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

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