Chef Marc Lepine poses for a photo at his restaurant Atelier Photo by Tony Caldwell /POSTMEDIA

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The 2027 Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa is super-sizing its lineup of chefs so that 20 all-star competitors will be cooking.

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In past years, 10 chefs representing their cities or provinces vied for gold, silver and bronze at the high-profile culinary competition held in Ottawa since 2020. But to mark the event’s 20th anniversary, organizers devised the enlarged format for their late January 2027 event, which will feature 10 two-person teams of celebrated chefs going head to head.

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Regional qualifiers will take place across Canada this fall, and Ottawa’s event will take place Monday, Sept. 21, at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine on Elgin Street. Its five competitors, who will serve their small plates to judges and the public, will be past winners of Ottawa qualifying events who went on in past years to compete nationally.

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They include Yannick La Salle, now the chef for the Supreme Court of Canada, Joe Thottungal, chef-owner of Coconut Lagoon and Thali, Jason Sawision of Stofa on Wellington Street West, Ian Carswell of Black Tartan Kitchen in Carleton Place and Lizardo Becerra of Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine.

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The winner among them will advance to the national competition, paired with Marc Lepine, the chef-owner of Atelier on Rochester Street and winner of the national championship in 2012 and 2016.

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“Only one city will rise above the others,” says a release announcing the new format.

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The release adds that the event will confer additional bragging rights by pitting “Team East” versus “Team West.” The eastern team will represent St. John’s, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg. The western team will bring together Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Victoria.

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The national championship will consist of three parts: a mystery wine pairing event on Jan. 29 at the Rogers Centre in Ottawa, a black box competition the next morning at Collège La Cité  and the finale signature-dish competition on the night of Jan. 30 at the Rogers Centre.

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The regional qualifying events are branded as Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, which raises funds in support of Canadian youth. Specific beneficiaries include MusiCounts, a music education charity, Spirit North, which supports Indigenous children through sport, and food charities across Canada. More information and tickets are available at greatkitchenparty.com.

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