The Vancouver Foodster Chili Challenge was a great success featuring unique creations at restaurants around Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley, New Westminster and North Vancouver. Each restaurant featured their creation on their menu from January 8-31, 2015. and their customers voted for their favourites daily throughout the challenge.
Our media judging panel determined the ultimate winners of the challenge, and this was quite the task as each judge who tasted each creation with a rigorous process based on taste, originality/uniqueness and presentation/appearance.
Our Media judges for this challenge were: Joe Leary, Benjamin Yong, Simone Grewal and Norma Reid.
The Winners are:
1st Place:
The Meatery’s Oaxacan Chilli
The Meatery
Created by: Grant Mckay
Description: 6 types of chilies some fresh, some roasted and some are dried, A Mexican beef and pork chorizo, fire roasted tomatoes, black beans and a special spice blend. all topped with a peanut crema, salsa verde and mango
The Meatery
3108 Edgemont Blvd, North Vancouver
Tel: 604-980-1125
Twitter: @MeateryB2B
2nd Place:
Chili Island
Morocco West
Created by: Chef Nourdine Majdoubi
Description: Beef and lamb merguez, taktouka, cucumber yogurt, fried bread
Morocco West
795 Jervis Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-563-8466
Web: https://moroccowest.com/
Twitter: @MoroccoWest
3rd Place:
Turkey Chili
Truffle Fine Foods Cafe
Created by: Chefs George Moutsos and Aaron Smith
Description: Serrano & Pasilla chilies and Grated Oaxaca Cheese. Topped with Cilantro Kaffir Lime Yogurt & Pickled Jalapeño
Offered: Offered for lunch and early dinner (9am-5pm)
Truffle Fine Foods Cafe
5151 Oak Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-505- 4961
Web: www.trufflesfinefoods.com/café
Twitter: @trufflesfoods
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Chili Creations were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
The Winners are:
1st Place People’s Choice:
MATCH’s Grab the bull by the horns chili
MATCH Eatery & Public House
Created By: Chef Steven Courtney (Match Langley) and Chef Dante Ramos (Match New Westminster)
Description: Packed full of meat this one will stick to your ribs on those cold winter days. Fresh ground chuck with kidney beans and just the right amount of heat all topped off with smoked cheddar cheese and served with a side of baked to order jalapeno corn bread.
MATCH Eatery & Public House
350 Gifford Street (Starlight Casino), New Westminster
Tel: (604) 777-8008
Web: http://matchpub.com/match-new-west/
Twitter @MatchPubNewWest
And
MATCH Eatery & Public House
20393 Fraser Highway (Cascades Casino), Langley
Tel: (604)-539-4424
Web: http://matchpub.com/match-langley/
Twitter: @MatchPubLangley
2nd Place People’s Choice:
Chili Island
Morocco West
Created by: Chef Nourdine Majdoubi
Description: Beef and lamb merguez, taktouka, cucumber yogurt, fried bread
Morocco West
795 Jervis Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604-563-8466
Web: https://moroccowest.com/
Twitter: @MoroccoWest
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Butternut Squash Winter Chili
Abode Restaurant
Description: A savory blend of butternut squash and winter root vegetables slow simmered for hours. Spiced with chipotles and a 12 spice and fresh herb seasoning. Vegetarian served in a fresh baked sourdough bowl made at local family owned bakery.
Created by: Chef Tannis Smith and Alvin McLeod
ABODE Restaurant
1223 Robson Street, Vancouver
Tel: 604.688-1411
Web: http://www.aboderestaurant.ca/
Twitter: @ABODERestaurant
Thank you to all the chefs and restaurants that accepted my invitation and featured the Chili Challenge on the menu for the past few weeks during this challenge.
I encourage you to visit the winning restaurants to try their Chili creations! See all the 11 Chili Challenge Entries Here.
By: Richard Wolak