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 Nurturing Culinary Excellence: Taste Canada and Canada Beef Partnership The partnership between Taste Canada and Canada Beef continues to be a powerful example of fostering growth and educational enrichment within the Canadian culinary community. The celebrated Cooks the Books student cooking competition is central to this collaboration, now in its third year with Canada Beef as the presenting sponsor. This partnership brings together a multitude of events and initiatives that provide the opportunity to reach culinary educators, and students, and Canadian culinary writers. Information shared includes the Canadian Beef Advantage and the Canadian Beef Information Gateway. The 2024 Cooks the Books competition took place on October 20, 2024, at Cirillo’s Academy in Toronto, with the theme Global Flavours Grow in Canada. This theme challenged student chefs from culinary schools across Canada to craft unique recipes that blend international inspirations with premium Canadian ingredients, including a cut of Canadian beef each team selected from the Canadian Beef Information Gateway – Foodservice edition.   Participants showcased their skills in front of an enthusiastic audience and a panel of expert judges. The winning team from the Toronto-based George Brown College claimed the Gold medal, a $3,000 bursary, kitchen swag, and the prestigious title of Taste Canada’s Best New Student Chefs. The team from Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) secured the Silver medal, rounding out a highly competitive and inspirational event. Winners were celebrated during the Taste Canada Awards Soirée on October 21, 2024, at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Complementing the competition was the Graded for Greatness workshop hosted by Chef Mathieu Paré, Executive Director of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence. This virtual session provided Cooks the Books participants, college faculty, and select industry professionals with an in-depth understanding of Canadian beef grading, emphasizing its importance to chefs and how various grades can be best utilized in the kitchen. This educational element underscored Canada Beef’s dedication to enhancing students’ knowledge and practical skills. In addition, Canada Beef, in partnership with Taste Canada, Canadian Food Focus, and Rowe Beef, sponsored an exclusive field trip for participating students and faculty, as well as culinary influencers, to the University of Guelph’s Beef Research Centre in Elora, Ontario. This field-to-table experience showcased the connection between sustainable agricultural practices and the culinary industry. The University of Guelph, operating with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has been at the forefront of developing methods to optimize beef production while minimizing environmental impact. Finally, Canada Beef’s presence extended to the Taste Canada Awards soirée, an evening honouring Canada’s top food writers and culinary storytellers. Canada Beef, in partnership with Rowe Beef, hosted a chef station during the celebration reception, showcasing delicious recipes featuring oxtail, prepared by Chef Bradly Yip. This event brought together industry leaders, chefs, authors, and media to celebrate the richness of Canadian food culture. By sponsoring key aspects of Taste Canada’s programming, Canada Beef has amplified its role as a vital supporter of culinary excellence, bridging the gap between classroom education and real-world application and enriching the landscape for aspiring chefs nationwide. View highlights reels at the following links: The Cooks the Books student competition The National Cookbook Awards event The Beef Research Farm tour Back to main page JOYCE PARSLOW Executive Director, Consumer Marketing

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