Top Chef Canada Fires Up a New Season

A new round of competition launches on the country’s favourite culinary TV hit

Canada’s fiercest kitchen battle is back, and its latest course is nothing if not bold. The most diverse group in the show’s history is set to fry, bake and whisk some of the hardest Quickfires and Elimination Challenges ever cooked up.

Hailing from Vancouver are CinCin’s chef de cuisine Andrea Alridge and Pidgin’s sous chef Kym Nguyen. Meanwhile, Siobhan Detkavich, the demi chef de partie at Terrace Restaurant at the Mission Hill Family Estate Winery is representing Kelowna as the youngest-ever culinary combatant to appear on the show. And then there’s married couple Erica Karbelnik and Josh Karbelnik, who hail from Toronto and aren’t afraid to go up against each other when it’s their turn at the chopping block.

The season was filmed in adherence to COVID protocols in T.O. last year. (And head judge Mark McEwan even brought his gourmet grocery store chain, McEwan Fine Foods, directly to the set.)

Also returning this season, of course, is host Eden Grinshpan, who wrapped filming before announcing on social media that she and her husband are expecting their second child. Vancouver food blogger Mijune Pak, restaurant critic Chris Nuttall-Smith and prolific restaurateur Janet Zuccarini round out the esteemed panel of judges.

They’ll oversee a slew of delectable challenges (including the newly revamped Takeout Wars) during which chefs compete over a $100,000 grand prize and a brand-new Lexus.

And just because this season was shot during a pandemic doesn’t mean there won’t be a few fun foodie cameos to look out for. Guest stars range from celeb chefs Paul Toussaint and Stefano Faita to author and social advocate Suzanne Barr to ubiquitous Canadian interviewer George Stroumboulopoulos.