Page 4 - VIDS Fall 2011

THREE THREE CHEFS THREE THREE CITIES
Join Top Chef Canada competitors Dale MacKay Rob Rossi and Connie DeSousa on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a three-city tour as they collaborate on on three three spectacular dinners Now that the the battles are over it’s time to to to to get back to to to to the the kitchen — and you’re invited to to to to come for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a taste Exclusively for for Visa Infinite cardholders our our Three Three Chefs Three Three City tour offers you you a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a personal dining experience experience designed and and executed fin in in in collaboration by all all three chefs chefs chefs These young chefs chefs chefs are all all all at at at the the the the top o of their their game and and this opportunity to to to experience experience their their collective culinary output — — with all all three chefs chefs chefs chefs cooking together at at at each venue — — may never be repeated Read on for more details but first: meet the the the chefs chefs Dale MacKay Top Chef Canada Season 1 Winner
Ensemble in Vancouver
Dale Dale MacKay MacKay opened his restaurant Ensemble last May just one month before Top Chef Canada began airing on on on on on on Food Network A Saskatchewan-born prairie boy Dale Dale MacKay MacKay learned the the kitchen ropes working on on on on the the front lines and and and opening restaurants for Gordon Ramsay and and and Daniel Boulud As executive chef of both Lumière and and and db Bistro Moderne in in in in in Vancouver
MacKay honed his his his classical French technique while applying his his his skills to the the ingredients of of of of the the the Pacific Northwest The culmination of of of of his his his life’s work work can be found — — and tasted — — at at at Ensemble named in in in in recognition of of of of the the power of of of of teamwork combined with passionate leadership Rob Rossi Bestellen in Toronto
This fall Top Chef Canada Season 1 Finalist Rob Rossi is is is is is is busily putting the finishing touches on on on on his his new and first-ever restaurant Bestellen which is is is is is is is opening on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a funky stretch of of College Street just west of of of of Little Italy The location is is is fitting given Rossi’s triumphs as executive chef of of of Toronto’s three acclaimed Mercatto restaurants where he he he he he he he presided over a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a menu of of of inventive yet reverential classic Italian cuisine Previously he he he he he he he he worked the kitchens at at Canoe one of of Toronto’s top restaurants as as as as as well as as as as as The Chef’s Table in in in in Calgary At Bestellen Rossi will channel the the aesthetics of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a casual European tavern where seasonal ingredients and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a nose-to-tail philosophy meet a a a a a a a a a a a a hot and happening downtown vibe Connie DeSousa CHARCUT Roast House in Calgary As co-owner of of one of of Calgary’s most vibrant critically acclaimed and inventive downtown restaurants Connie DeSousa was well known in in in her hometown long before she she she splashed onto
national national TV screens as as as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fierce culinary competitor But she’s also recognized as as as as an an international force: DeSousa competed with Team Alberta at at at at the the the the World Culinary Olympics in in in in in in Germany in in in in in in in 2004 then worked worked for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a year in in in in in in in Cologne She opened the the the the restaurant at at at at at the the the the St Regis hotel in in in in San Francisco in in in in 2006 and worked worked with farm-to-table icon Alice Waters at at at at her her legendary California restaurant Chez Panisse At CHARCUT her her passion for for for meat comes to to the fore but she wraps it it all up with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a farm-fresh focus that is is both global and down home