Culinary Chops Tested in Top Chef Canada

Gochujang lobster tail, crab and miso custard

This evening was the kick off of season 12 of Top Chef Canada, with 10 professional chefs competing for the top prize of bragging rights and a cool $100,000.

I attended the screening party for the first episode tonight at Five Sails in the Pan Pacific Hotel, where chef Alex Kim is the executive chef and one of the competitors.

Chef Kim of Five Sails

Before the show aired he welcomed the assembled crowd of food journalists, influencers and fellow chefs like Chanthy Yen, who won last season's Top Chef Canada, and Warren Chow, who was awarded the Michelin Young Chef title in 2023. Even one of the judges, Mijune Pak arrived a few weeks after giving birth to her daughter Amelie. Baby was carried into the noisy restaurant by Pak's husband Romain.

The episode was set in Toronto's St Lawrence Market, and the challenge was for the 10 chefs to collaborate to present a 10-course dinner that would be served at Linny's, a steakhouse opened by chef David Schwartz. The dishes they made had to reflect their heritage and when they wanted to become a chef.

For Kim, he has always talked about his childhood of being born in Seoul, but spending holidays with his grandparents on their farm. His grandmother taught him how to cook, particularly pickling and fermenting. He decided to use gochujang, or red chilli paste incorporated into a lobster, crab and miso custard topped with lobster tail and crispy mushroom.

Also competing from Vancouver is Katy Cheung, who is sous-chef at Michelin-starred Burdock & Co. Originally from Hong Kong, Cheung was inspired by fish balls to made a fish mousseline that looked flawless in execution.

Chef Cheung of Burdock & Co

She also held a viewing party at Bar Gobo, where Cheung encouraged gathered guests to drink alcohol if she is running; swears, says "Let's go!"; Hong Kong and Burdock & Co.

In the end the judges were very impressed by Kim's dish and he won the challenge handily. Lo and behold -- we were served a portion each to try! It really was balanced, not too spicy, smooth texture, fresh lobster and the bisque flavour was infused in the custard.

Exciting first episode, but we'll have to see who eventually wins as no one on the show is allowed to reveal anything!