Taj Parmar, Acme Food Co. head chef, is working up the nerve to collect the main ingredient for a dish he’ll serve at an upcoming fundraiser – alligator tail. Parmar, who wants to offer something different at the event, is one of the Vancouver Island University Culinary Arts program alumni applying his talents to help send VIU graduate David Wong to Lyon, France, to represent Canada in the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Competition.
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By Jenn Marshall - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: October 10, 2008 3:00 PM
Vancouver Island University is hosting an event no food lover will want to miss.
Alumni from VIU’s culinary arts program will serve up their culinary talents at a fundraising reception and auction Friday (Oct. 17). Partial funds raised will support graduate David Wong, who will represent Canada at the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Competition in Lyon, France, this winter.
“He’s Canada’s next contender in the hardest hot-food competition in the world,” said chef Debbie Shore, chairwoman of the culinary institute. “It’s a huge deal in the world of food.”
She said Wong has prepared for the competition for at least four years and travelled to France with the previous contender as an observer two years ago.
The competition at the Bocuse d’Or is fierce.
“The best Canada has ever done is fourth,” said Shore.
For the event, alumni are preparing tasters at 12 different stations, although what is being served will be a surprise to everyone, including Shore.
“They’ve probably got their plans, but I didn’t ask them for a menu,” she said.
Alumni participating include David Wong; Iain Rennie, executive chef of the Westin Bear Mountain; Sean Riley with Global Group of Restaurants; Bill Clay, owner/operator of Bodhi Bakery in Nanaimo; Rich Atkins, a chef at the Longwood Brew Pub; and Taj Parmar, of Acme Food Co. in Nanaimo.
Wong is a full-time chef instructor at the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Vancouver.
Tickets for the reception and auction fundraiser are $45. Funds raised will support student scholarships, as well as to help Wong with competition costs.For tickets, please call the VIU Alumni Relations office at 250-740-6215 or by calling Josephine Chong at 250-740-6289.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
