2011 GOLD MEDAL PLATES IN CALGARY

The 2011 Gold Medal Plates played host to athletes, chefs, musicians and guests during a fun-filled night in Calgary. To celebrate the next Olympics in London, British flags, London underground signs and a British inspired soundtrack lent a cool Brittania vibe to the Telus Convention Centre.

First, guests enjoyed a VIP reception with classic British cocktails - gin and tonic, Pimm's and Molson Canadian beer. Then, guests filed into the tasting room where ten chefs offered their best appetizers paired with sumptuous wines.

Last year's winner, Duncan Ly (Hotel Arts) plating his beautiful lamb appetizer

Some chefs took a cue from the British theme with Fish and Chips: Potato crusted black cod, curried creamed pea with dungeness crab, minted thai basil tarter sauce (from Belgo Brasserie's Chef Shaun Desaulniers, pictured above), while some went for all out decadence with Rougie foie gras sundae (Chef Michael Dekker, Rouge).

Other highlights included:

Chef Kyle Groves from Catch: Organic ocean BC spot prawns with Rougie Foie Gras, Saffron and vanilla with 2009 Black Hills Syrah (above)

Brasserie Kensington's Chef Cam Dobranski's Applewood smoked Alberta lamb rilette with brome lake foie gras torchon, apricot compote and lamb jus with 2009 Black Hills Syrah (above)

Rush Chef Andrew Steven's Smoked black cod, maple sake poached foie gras torchon, sesame chicken skin cracker miso powder, dashi/maple emulsion with 2009 Kettle Valley Gewurztraminer

Chef Justin Labossiere from Notable: Butter poached pork tenderloin double smoked bacon perogy root vegetable rissole, crab apple brown butter with 2010 Joie farm : a Noble blend (above)

Chef Andrew Keen from Chop Steakhouse and Bar: Foie Gras Sacchetti with squash and double beef shin consomme with Inniskillin 2008 Disovery Series Marsanne Roiusanne VQA (above)

Petite Restaurant's appetizer

Finally, the evening ended with a rousing musical performance from Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Ed Robertson and a live and silent auction.

When the Gold Plates were announced the winners were:

1st Place: Chef Michael Dekker, Rouge : Rougie Foie Gras Sundae with 2008 Sratus cabernet ice wine (below) 2nd Place: Chef Jan Hrabec, Crazyweed Kitchen: Chili crusted pork belly and steamed sablefish with peanut nahm jim with 2008 Peninsula Ridge Estates Fume Blanc

3rd Place: Chef Justin Leboe, Model Milk: Shrimp and grits with ham hock and rock shrimp vinaigrette with Bartier Scholefield Rose table wine 2010 (below)

All photo's K&S Media

Dessert for the evening: dulce de leche banoffee pie

The Fall 2011 issue of City Style and Living magazine, is available at
the following address (follow the three simple steps to access the full
magazine, online (also available in PRINT)) :

1) go to http://www.citystyleandliving.com
2) click on the 'front cover' image, on the left hand side of your screen
3) to flip through the e-magazine, click on the bottom right hand corner
of the magazine, just as you would our print magazine!