On Wednesday, March 21, 10 restaurants will be busy prepping food for 500 guests at the 19th Annual BCPMA Healthy Chef Competition, co-hosted by the BC Produce Marketing Association (BCPMA) and the BC Chefs Association (BCCA).
Over the past 18 years, the Healthy Chef Competition has become a highly-anticipated event in Vancouver! And post-competition, BCPMA proudly contributes $7,000 to the BCCA Junior Scholarship Foundation.
This lively event gives attendees a chance to rub shoulders with celebrities, entertainers and sports guests. Get a selfie with mascot Freggie, bid on live and silent auction items (proceeds go to the Canadian Cancer Society, BC Heart and Stroke and the BCCA Scholarship Program) AND go home with some healthy, fresh produce and cool foodie swag.
10 restaurants and culinary schools are invited annually by the BCCA to create amazing dishes and desserts while keeping fresh produce as the star of the plate.
Guests only learn what entrée and dessert they’ll be enjoying after they open a sealed envelope at their table seating on event night.
Diners at each table are called up to the plating area to pick up their entrée (and later) dessert in a beautifully decorated ballroom with roaming entertainers, a DJ and other surprises.
At 6 pm, five BC chefs and two guest judges will evaluate each dish based on a point system, including the use of six or more produce items, taste, and plate presentation for both entrée and dessert. Formal judging is done by BCCA chefs.
Each restaurant and culinary school will compete for a chance to win one of five trophies:
– Healthy Half Your Plate Entrée Award (includes a $1,000 cash prize)
– Best Dessert
– Best Table Showcase (selected by attending food and event bloggers!)
– People’s Choice Award
Participating Competitors
– Beach Grove Golf Club
– Delta Hotels Burnaby Conference Centre
– Executive Plaza Hotel Metro Vancouver
– Grouse Mountain
– Hyatt Regency Vancouver (host hotel)
– Sandpiper Resort – Clubhouse
– Vancouver Airport Marriott Hotel
– Vancouver Community College
– Vancouver Island University
– White Spot
Returning Master of Ceremonies Marke Driesschen of CTV will put his special spin on the evening’s events. Premier sponsors include The Little Potato Company and BC Tree Fruits. Food suppliers include Sysco Vancouver and Gordon Food Service.
19th Annual BCPMA Healthy Chef Competition
Date: Wednesday, March 21, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
Venue: Hyatt Regency, 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $90 (including taxes/no service charge); only 500 tickets sold, available via (604.785.0765) or email (info@bcpma.com)
Tickets include dinner and dessert, entertainment and a big box of goodies. I’ve attended past BC Healthy Chef Competitions and they’re a fun way of connecting with fellow foodies.
Follow the action and post your food pix on social media with hashtags #BCHC18 #bcpma and #HealthyChefBC. Photos courtesy of BCPMA and FreshGuru1 on Flickr.
