(Vancouver, BC) November 7, 2022 - Apprentice of the Year 2022 Competition showcasing eight local BC Culinary talents was hosted by Chefs’ Table Society of BC on Friday, October 28 at Vancouver Community College. The winners of the 2022 competition were an all-female line up for the first time since the competition began in 1982. The first-place winner received $2000 from Chefs’ Table Society along with a $1000 gift certificate for Russell Hendrix.

Apprentice of the Year 2022 Winners:

1st Place: Anh Tran, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
2nd Place: Ellianna Dyble, Locals Restaurant
3rd Place: Danae Dejong, Pier 7 Restaurant + Bar

All Competitors
Abhishek Chettoii, The Executive Plaza, Coquitlam
Anh Tran, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Angel Ortiz, JRG
Danae Dejong, Pier 7 Restaurant + Bar
Ellianna Dyble, Locals Restaurant
Kate Gonzoles, Cocktails and Canapes
Peter Ko, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Richard Hughes, Next Generation Reforestation

Chef Poyan Danesh, Competition Chair, Chefs’ Table Society brought the competition back to life in 2019. Apprentice of the Year Competition ran annually from 1982-2009 with BC Chefs Association, and after a decade long absence, Chef Danesh, a former winner of the competition (2008), gave new life to the valuable industry competition.  The winners of previous years have all gone on to have illustrious culinary careers (see winners list below).

Chef Danesh states, “Just being selected to compete makes you a winner. The opportunity to showcase and elevate your skills and connect with the culinary community gives each competitor an advantage in building their culinary career. Being a part of the competition opened many doors in my career.”

The competitors for 2022 were required to create a three-course meal that were critiqued by kitchen judges and tasting judges. To be eligible to compete, each person must have received their Red Seal Chef Certificate in 2021 or be registered as a third-year culinary apprentice in 2022.

Kitchen Judges:  Steve Lewis, Corporate Chef + Culinary Director at The Keg Steakhouse + Bar, Leah Patitucci, Culinary Team BC Competitor and Past Team Captain for Jr. Culinary Team BC, Edison Antejos, Executive Chef of Marriot Pinnacle Vancouver and Laura Dawe, VCC Instructor were scoring competitors on their prepped mise en place, techniques and execution, proper utilization of the provided ingredients along with their professionalism, sanitation in the kitchen and timing.

Tasting Judges: Damon Campbell, Fairmont Pacific Rim, Tobias Macdonald, Canada’s Second Master Chef and VCC Instructor, Bruno Marti, the “Godfather” of BC Culinary and Culinary Team BC coach and Mijune Pak, local BC influencer and Top Chef Canada judge were rating the competitors on creativity, cleanliness and presentation of their dish, the portion size, menu and ingredient compatibility, knife skills, texture, flavour and taste. Once the winners were announced, the competitors for Apprentice of the Year 2022 were all given the opportunity to speak with the judges directly to get feedback on their dishes and performance.

The competition was sponsored by:

Title Sponsors
Chefs’ Table Society of BC, ITA, Vancouver Community College

Gold Sponsor
Russell Hendrix

Product Sponsors
Rossdown Farms, BC Eggs, Pacific Provider

Donations
Chef & Co – Competitor Aprons
Cascadia Tableware – Competition Plateware

Prize Donations
F Dicks Knives
Summerhill Pyramid Winery

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Past BC Culinary Apprentice of the Year Winners:

2021 – Moonyoung Jung, Fairmont Pacific Rim
2019 - Nathan Sundeen, Sutton Place Hotel
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2009 – John Ho
2008 – Poyan Danesh
2007 – Michelle Meyer
2006 – Jason Harris
2005 – Fumiko Moreton
2004 – Daniel Driol
2003 – Hamid Salimian
2002 – Duncan Ly
2001 – Kevin Cherkas
2000 - Marnie Coldham
1999 - Michael Brough
1998 - Andra Davis
1997 - Greg Van Poppel
1996 – Chris Mills
1994 - Morgan Wilson
1993 – Colin Gill
1992 – Shawn Lang
1991 – Chris Johnson
1990 - Brian Jeskay
1989 - Ranada McAlister
1988 - Neil Genovese
1987 - Graham Quayle
1986 - Bruce Chandler
1985 - Peter Cervicek
1984 - Geoffery Coupier
1983 - Lynne Cotter
1982 – David Probst