Alice Wang Crowned Top Amateur Chef in the Quince Black Box Competition

The winner of the Chef and Patron awards at our Anniversary Black Box Competition was Alice Wang, with Katherine van der Gracht coming in a VERY close second.


Competitors had 75 minutes to make a main course using Thomas Reid Organic Chicken Breast, Red Chard, Squash, and Red Fingerling Potatoes. They also had the option of using anything from our Common Table, and 5 opportunities to ask for one extra item (we can't be accused of being as mean as those folks on TV).

Just to add to the pressure, our contestants had to work surrounded by Patrons - some of who were overheard muttering that it didn't look soooo difficult. Yeah, right!

Patrons had two opportunities to vote for the dish they'd most like to eat. Then Chef Andrea Jefferson and Quince Dishwasher Extraordinaire/Writer Nick Stenner savoured, studied and politely argued over the finer points of each competitor's submission. The experts struggled to make their decision, but finally agreed that Alice's dish was best.

Alice arrived in Canada just over a year ago, with next to no cooking knowledge. She registered in our Nine Day Basics series for amateur chefs, and has obviously been dedicating herself to the culinary arts since then. She was up against tough competition from the other cooks, mostly other Quince students, but despite the pressure and time contraints Alice managed to create an elegant chicken and vegetable dish, which tasted as good as it looked. Katherine presented a great Chicken with Vegetable Succotash dish which managed to lure almost as many Patron's votes.

Among the many surprises that night, was Jonathan Cheung's discovery that he and his wife Carmen would be competing against each other and not as a team. With only three month's of marriage behind them, this was a night that would test their bond. But competitive natures beat out marital loyalty, and the battle was on. Both were able to create dishes that had many a Patron droolling, making it clear that this is one couple you want to get a dinner invitation from.


Thanks to all the competitors: Alice Wang, Katherine van der Gracht, Carmen and Jonathan Cheung, Alan Ip, Kristy Watson, Michelle Tchea, Brock Craig and Jason Teakle. And thanks to all our Patrons who made it a fun night.

And a special thanks to Ming Wo for providing a fabulous Messermeister Meridien Elite Mincing/Mezzaluna Knife for our first prize, Thomas Reid for providing the free range chicken, and 8th Generation Vineyard for providing the wonderful Riesling and Pinot Gris we all enjoyed on Saturday night.

We'll keep you posted on the one!