Two Vancouver chefs are heading to the Top Chef Canada kitchen, and one of them is going back for more.
Top Chef Canada alum Vish Mayekar of ELEM is returning to the competition, joined by Vancouver chef Katy Cheung. For a city that takes its food seriously, that’s a good week to be a local diner.
What a return trip says
Going back into a competition kitchen after you’ve already been through it takes confidence. Alumni know what the pressure feels like, which can be an edge, but it also means the expectations are higher. Having ELEM’s chef back in the mix puts a Vancouver restaurant in front of a national audience again.
Details such as the exact season, premiere date and how the rest of the cast shapes up weren’t part of the announcement we saw, so we’re leaving those out rather than guessing.
Why local fans care
- Visibility for independent kitchens. TV exposure can bring new guests through the door of restaurants that don’t have big marketing budgets.
- Vancouver on the national stage. The city’s food scene is often described by its diversity, and competitions are one place that comes through.
- Something to cheer for. There’s nothing like watching someone whose restaurant you’ve actually eaten at take on a mystery-box challenge.
Have you eaten at ELEM, or do you know Katy Cheung’s cooking? Tell us who you’re rooting for.
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