by Andrew Morrison | The competing chefs for this year’s Gold Medal Plates competition in Victoria are set. 11 cities from coast to coast host these challenges every autumn, with the gold medal winner from each moving on to compete in the prestigious Canadian Culinary Championships. The chefs are chosen by the two Senior Judges – myself and Sid Cross – with input from the GMP National Culinary Advisor, James Chatto. Competing in Victoria on November 17th for the opportunity to represent BC will be one of the talented following:

Jefferson Alvarez – Mosquito | Vancouver BC
Ned Bell – Oceanwise | Vancouver, BC
Sam Chalmers – North 48 | Victoria BC
Mark Filatow – Waterfront Wines | Kelowna, BC
Sergio Hernandez – Nourish Kitchen & Cafe | Victoria BC
Jesse McCleery – Pilgrimme | Galiano Island, BC
Mike Robbins – AnnaLena | Vancouver BC
Rob Walker – Liquidity Bistro | Kelowna BC
Nicholas Waters – Toque Catering | Victoria BC
Morgan Wilson – Fairmont Empress | Victoria BC

A very strong line-up indeed — note the inclusion of return 2012 GMP gold medallist Mark Filatow (pictured above between silver and bronze medallists Angus An of Maenam and Quang Dang of West) and the dark horse likes of Jesse McCleery, whose Pilgrimme eatery on Galiano Island was named the 3rd best new restaurant in Canada last year by enRoute Magazine. To get an inkling of an idea as to the intensity each winning chef will face in the finals, check out this three-part film on the CCC 2015: