Toronto chef Collin Thornton cooks up win at The Royal

Royal Agricultural Winter Fair celebrates world of farming, fresh local food until Nov. 16

TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - The inaugural Royal International Invitation Chef Challenge served up a big win for a local chef Sunday at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and put a bright spotlight on fresh, local food.

Chef Collin Thornton from the Fairmont Royal York stepped up to the plate and claimed top spot in a cooking competition against Aphisith Phongsavanh, Assistant Chef de Cuisine at New York's Waldorf Astoria and Mike Wehrle, Executive Chef, and Dimitri Fayard, Executive Pastry Chef, at Chicago's The Peninsula Hotels.

A large crowd of excited food lovers took in the competition on The Royal's new Food and Lifestyle Stage. Michael Bonacini, a judge on CTV's MasterChef Canada, judged the competition, along with Rita DeMontis, Lifestyle and Food Editor for The Toronto Sun and National Food Editor for Sun Media. Ben Mulroney, anchor of ETALK, CTV's Number 1-rated entertainment show, and award-winning chef and author Ted Reader co-hosted the event.

Also new this year, The Royal introduced a Supreme Class to its line-up of Canadian Beef Champion events, sponsored by MasterFeeds. The Supreme Champion Beef Bull was awarded to NJW 73S W18 Downhome 21Z ET, owned by Lyons Polled Herefords, Dalmuir Farms and Ned and Jan Ward. The Supreme Champion Beef Female was awarded to OSU Empress 3100, owned by Premier Livestock and Hasson Livestock.

Featuring 10 days of diverse programming which celebrates all that's new in the world of farming and fresh, local food, The Royal began Friday, November 7 and runs until Sunday, November 16 in the Direct Energy Centre and Ricoh Coliseum.

Highlights for the week ahead include:

• Remembrance Day at The Royal on Tuesday, November 11. A full day and night tribute commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of WWI. Learn about the key role horses and dogs have played in our military efforts at the President's Choice Animal Theatre. Take in the Culinary Historian's demonstrations of war-time recipes making great food with limited ingredients at th Food & Lifestyle Stage. Don't miss The Royal Horse Show with the 48th Highlanders parade and performance by Ruth Ann Onley singing We are the People of the Maple Leaf, a musical salute celebrating Canada's military history, penned by her husband, former Lt. Governor David Onley.
• Champions' Day on Wednesday, November 12. New and previous Royal Champions in agricultural products like jams, honey, maple syrup, wine and cheeses will be featured. There will be sampling and demonstrations all day long, plus the new Royal Butter Tart Competition finals.
• Australian horse whisperer Guy McLean, will be the featured entertainment at The Royal Horse Show from Wednesday, November 12 to Saturday, November 15.
• Get in the Christmas Spirit at The Royal. On Sunday, November 16, families will get to visit with Santa Claus and his Real Reindeer in the President's Choice Animal Theatre from 2-4 p.m. The Sheridan Nurseries Winter Galley will also feature The Royal Christmas Tree Competition, presented by Coca-Cola ®. Vote for your favourite for a chance to win prizes, and be inspired by the approaching holiday season. Takes place at Heritage Court at the SheridanWinter Gallery – Winner declared at 4 p.m.

A full schedule of events can be found at www.royalfair.org/schedule.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is supported, in part, by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

About The Royal:

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show.  This year, The 92nd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 7-16, 2014 in the Direct Energy Centre and Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.

Image with caption: "Masterfeed Supreme Bull (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141110_C7703_PHOTO_EN_7798.jpg

Image with caption: "International Chef Challenge winner Collin Thorton (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141110_C7703_PHOTO_EN_7799.jpg

SOURCE: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

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Related Links

http://www.royalfair.org