Top Chef Canada Season Three Finale Heads West

Food Network Canada Brings its Top Rated Series' Season Finale to Calgary

Finale Airs June 10 at 9pm ET/10pm PT

Tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1015njE

For more information about Top Chef Canada including bios and high resolution photos visit our media site at: www.shawmediatv.ca

TORONTO, May 14, 2013 /CNW/ - Food Network Canada and Insight Production Company Ltd. in partnership with Tourism Calgary are bringing the season finale of Top Chef Canada to new territory for the first time in the series' history.  As the backdrop to the third season finale of Canada's fiercest food fight, Calgary is a young, edgy city home to over one million people and growing faster than any other in North America.  Calgary is also a new culinary hotbed in Canada with renegade chefs in impressive restaurant and food truck kitchens, making it the ideal setting for the cutthroat culinary competition.  The Top Chef Canada season three finale airs June 10 at 9pm ET/10pm PT exclusively on Food Network Canada.

Just before the classic cocktail-themed Quickfire Challenge in Monday night's episode with guest judge, mixologist and Toronto's BarChef owner, Frankie Solarik, the chefs learned that their ultimate destination - for those left standing - will be Calgary.

"A big part of what makes Top Chef Canada so successful is the dramatic twists and turns that unfold throughout the series," says Barb Williams, SVP Content, Shaw Media.  "Taking the chefs out of their comfort zones and into a brand new city adds a huge element of surprise and intrigue that is sure to keep viewers on the edges of their seats.  As one of Canada's most innovative dining destinations, Calgary truly is an ideal backdrop for the season finale."

"Calgary's history with food is as diverse as the landscape that surrounds the city," said John Brunton, Executive Producer at Insight Production Company Ltd.  "From their famous pancake breakfasts at the Stampede to cutting edge fusion restaurants that are getting national recognition, Calgary is the perfect place to end another great season of Top Chef Canada."

"Tourism Calgary is thrilled to showcase our city's innovative culinary scene to Top Chef Canada viewers. We hope it will give a glimpse of the metropolitan energy, culture and people that make up this talented city," says Gisele Danis, Tourism Calgary Vice-President, Marketing & Communications.

The season finale will showcase some of Calgary's landmarks such as Prince's Island Park on the river in the heart of the city.  Here, the Quickfire Challenge tasks the chefs with creating and executing their very own food truck concept.  The Elimination Challenge takes place in Rush Restaurant and Bar in the city's downtown business district where the chefs must each prepare a stellar five-course meal that best reflects their talents.  Special guest judge for the Elimination Challenge is the culinary queen of Calgary and Top Chef Canada season 1 finalist Connie DeSousa, co-executive chef and co-owner of CHARCUT Roast House.  Joining Connie as guest tasters for the challenge are JUNO Award winning Singer/Songwriter and proud Calgarian Jann Arden and Rush Restaurant owner Lance Hurtubise President of the Vintage Group.

After an intense nine weeks of gruelling competition in the kitchen, only six of the initial 16 chefs are left standing:

• Nicole Gomes, 34, Calgary, AB (Originally Richmond, BC)
• Jonathan Goodyear, 34, Toronto, ON
• Geoff Rogers, 31, Calgary, AB
• Danny "Smiles" Francis, 27, Montreal, QC
• Matthew Stowe, 30, Vancouver, BC (Originally Cloverdale, BC)
• Dennis Tay, 34, Toronto, ON (Originally Windsor, ON)

At stake for these victory-hungry chefs is the grand prize of $100,000 sponsored by SpongeTowels® paper towels, 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.

In next week's heated episode of Top Chef Canada, airing Monday May 20^th at 9pm ET/10pm PT, the chefs must create a dish based on a destination that Toronto Pearson International Airport serves.  The catch is that they must create this dish on the tarmac at Canada's busiest airport with planes landing and taking off around them.  Later in the Elimination Challenge, the chefs must create an Indian feast for special guest judges Chef Vikram Vij and international comedy superstar Russell Peters.

The exciting, Calgary-based season three finale of Top Chef Canada airs June 10, at 9pm ET/10pm 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.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter: @FoodNetworkCA, @TopChefCanada, @calgary, @TourismCalgary, #TopChefCanada

Facebook: Food Network Canada, Top Chef Canada, Visit Calgary

Food Network Canada is a Shaw Media Network

About Shaw Communications Inc.
Shaw is a diversified communications and media company, providing consumers with broadband cable television, High-Speed Internet, Home Phone, telecommunications services (through Shaw Business), satellite direct-to-home services (through Shaw Direct) and engaging programming content (through Shaw Media). Shaw serves 3.4 million customers, through a reliable and extensive fibre network. Shaw Media operates one of the largest conventional television networks in Canada, Global Television, and 19 specialty networks including HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY and Showcase. Shaw is traded on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges and is included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index (Symbol: TSX - SJR.B, NYSE - SJR). For more information about Shaw, please visit www.shaw.ca.

About Insight Production Company Ltd.
Insight Production Company Ltd., headed by John Brunton & Barbara Bowlby has become an industry leader in the creative development, financing and production of highly rated television programs and cutting edge multiplatform content for the global market in every genre. Since 1979, it has been recognized for its reputation for outstanding quality as the recipient of numerous International awards, including multiple Gemini's. The company has created thousands of hours of groundbreaking television that continues to be broadcast over major networks worldwide. Recent hits include original formats Battle of the Blades and Canada Sings along with Big Brother Canada, Canada's Got Talent, Intervention Canada, The JUNO Awards, Never Ever Do This at Home and currently in production on The Amazing Race Canada. For more information visit www.insighttv.com.

About Tourism Calgary
Tourism Calgary is a research based, market driven and industry-led organization that has specialized in the marketing and promotion of Calgary and area as the destination of choice for leisure and business travel for more than 50 years.  Leading Calgary's tourism efforts domestically, nationally and internationally, Tourism Calgary works with major sporting and cultural events, tour operators, meeting planners and travel media. Annually tourism contributes $1.4 billion in visitor spending to the local community and employs 1 in 10 working Calgarians. Please visit our website at visitcalgary.com or follow @tourismcalgary.

FOOD NETWORK is a trademark of Television Food Network G.P.; used with permission.

 

 

 

SOURCE: Shaw Media

Sayurie Naidoo
Publicity Coordinator, Lifestyle Channels
416-934-7077
[email protected]
@ShawMediaTV_PR 

Cathy Kurzbock
Senior Publicist, Food Network Canada
416-966-7501
[email protected]
@ShawMediaTV_PR

Monique Camenzuli
Publicist, UNIT:PR Inc.
416-506-1277
[email protected]

Susan Stafford
Publicist, UNIT:PR Inc.
416-506-1238
[email protected]

Stewart McDonough                  
Director, Communications
Tourism Calgary
403-750-2376
[email protected]