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Chef Wagner wins with a cheeseburger chowder
Winner of today’s Kootenay Granite Stone Soup Challenge decided by only three votes
The last challenge in round one of the Kootenay Granite Stone Soup Challenge did not disappoint.
Chef Marc Rathpoller of Tuscany’s and Chef Doug Wagner of St. Eugene Mission Resort put on a skilled culinary show. The two chefs are used to a fast-paced, diverse kitchen that produces both mouth-watering pub food as well as a customized, high-end gourmet menu. They each moved quickly, skillfully, and with confidence.
But only one will move to next week’s semi-finals.
By a score of 27 to 24, today’s challenge was won by Chef Wagner with a cheeseburger chowder. Chef Rathpoller impressed with his own soup creation: an apple, sausage and squash soup with potato. It was the closest competition to date, and Salvation Army guests greatly enjoyed the soup feast.
“My soup started to evolve as time went,” said Chef Wagner. “My goal was to create a hearty, healthy flavourful soup – the kind of soup I myself would want to eat on chilly spring day.”
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Chef Rathpoller. “My soup combined classic flavours that worked well together and focused on nutrition and substance. Doug and I had a great time working in the kitchen. I’m really glad to have participated in this and enjoyed my experience. It felt good to cook for my community.”
The semi-final events, sponsored by College of the Rockies Professional Cook Training, begin next week. On Monday, Chef Rusty Cox of The Heid Out Restaurant and Brewhouse will compete against the Salvation Army’s own Chef Kathy Morey, who has been head chef in the soup kitchen for nearly 11 years.
Friday, February 27, Chef Shelby Schiller of BJ’s Diner and Creekside Pub in Kimberley will match up against today’s winner, Chef Wagner.
The two final chefs will compete at the grand finale event on March 4, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort and Convention Centre, which is not only sponsoring the final event, but providing the Grand Ballroom, staff, and food at no cost, ensuring all funds raised go directly towards the Salvation Army homeless shelter project and Cranbrook and District Community Foundation general endowment fund, which provides annual grants to local non-profits.
Tickets to the public event are available in two prices: $25 for lunch; or, $45 for lunch and a $20 charitable receipt. They can be purchased with cash at Max’s Place or by calling 250-426-1119.
Cranbrook and District Community Foundation
