Press room at the North American Beef Congress

News Releases

TOP MEADOW FARMS BRASS RING RISING CHEFS CHALLENGE

PRESS RELEASE - NOVEMBER 2004

This past weekend London Ontario's premier North American Beef Congress played host to the first annual Top Meadow Farms Brass Ring Rising Chefs Challenge. Teams from four of Ontario's finest culinary schools competed for the chance to win $1000 educational scholarships, sponsored by Top Meadow Farms, for each member of the winning team. This year Niagara Colleges entry of Merlot Braised Beef Shank on Blue Benedictine-Celeriac Mash with Bosc Pears, Root Vegetables and Fresh Chanterelles won the team members both first place prize money and the People's Choice Award, Charlie Trotter's Meat and Game Cookbook, sponsored by Ten Speed Press. George Brown Chef School took home stainless steel braziers, valued at $329.99, from All Clad for their second place entry of Slow Cooked and Hand Pulled Shin of Beef with Fork Mashed Harvest Field Vegetables and Horseradish and Garlic Soubise Compote. MAC Knives Canada sponsored the third place prize, a Japanese vegetable knife and ceramic sharpening steel, which went to each member of the team from Humber College for their third place entry of Slow Cooked Rich Top Meadow Farms Beef sandwiched between Golden Corn Cakes with Lemon-Infused Parsnips and Frazzled Onions, smothered with a Red Wine Reduction scented with Chocolate, Blueberries and Paprika.

The Competition was made more exciting by the presence of cheering squads from each of the colleges. Judges came in from both Toronto and London to grade the teams on the taste of their entries and included such noted chefs as Chris Squires, London restaurateur extraordinaire and Lino Collevecchio from Toronto's Via Allegro. Kitchens were equipped with gas ranges sponsored by Garland Commercial Ranges Ltd.. Phil Sabatino, owner of Via Allegro, a leader in Toronto fine dining, was on hand to present each of the students with competition chef jackets which he sponsored.

Members of the public had the great pleasure of watching the students compete and learning some preparation tricks. As well, the public tasted all of the entries and voted for the People's Choice Award winner.

After the competition, team members and students added to their own experience by checking out some of the finest purebred cattle in Canada in the barns and watched the Canadian National Championship of the Limousin breed - won by competition sponsor Top Meadow Farms!

With few college level competitions in Ontario the Top Meadow Farms Brass Ring Rising Chefs Challenge gives the students the opportunity to create using the finest quality 'naturally-raised' beef and to share some good collegial fun with their peers. All agreed that the event was a tremendous success and are eagerly anticipating next year's event, held again during the North American Beef Congress.

Further information can be had from Deborah Reid at deborah059@sympatico.ca or office phone 416.465.0634 or cell at 416.801.2213.

###