Six B.C. chefs compete on Top Chef Canada season 3

Food Network Canada has announced the competitors for Top Chef Canada season three. The popular competition-style reality show has been proven successful for past Vancouver chefs. Dale MacKay, who recently announced he will be moving to Saskatoon but worked at Vancouver’s Lumiere and opened ensemble and ensembleTap, won the inaugural season. Trevor Bird, who opened Kitsilano’s Fable restaurant in 2012, was runner-up on season two.

This season, six of the 16 competing chefs hail from B.C., and four of them currently work in the Lower Mainland. Top Chef Canada contestants compete for a prize of $100,000 and a GE Monogram kitchen valued at $30,000.

Clement Chan, who received his training from Vancouver Community College and the Dubrelle French Culinary School, has worked at Chambar, Blue Water Café, Raincity Grill, Lumiere, and Hapa Izakaya over the last decade. Chan is currently a chef at the Fairmont Pacific Rim and owns Le Tigre Truck food cart.

Caitlin Hall also completed the culinary arts program at Vancouver Community College and is currently the chef de cuisine at Vancouver’s Pied-a-Terre restaurant. According to the Top Chef Canada website, the Maple Ridge native is passionate about classic French cooking and is an avid traveller.

Matthew Stowe was raised in Surrey and received his chef training at the Culinary Institute of America. Stowe worked as executive chef at B.C.’s Sonora Resort before taking on the role of product development chef for Cactus Club restaurants.

Kayla Dhaliwall grew up in Victoria before graduating from Vancouver Community College’s culinary arts program. She cooked at Deacon’s Corner, Wild Rice, and the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel before assuming the role of executive chef at Tapenade Bistro in Steveston.

Daniel Hudson is from the U.K. and began his cooking career at the well-known Eastwell Manor. He is now the chef and owner of Hudson’s on First, a fine dining restaurant in Duncan.

Nicole Gomes was raised in Richmond but now calls Calgary, Alberta, home. She completed the culinary arts program at Vancouver’s Dubrulle French Culinary School and now runs a full-service catering company.

The third season of Top Chef Canada premieres on March 18 at 10 p.m.