BC Home + Garden Show launches high-stakes cooking competition!

 Chopping Block presented by Urban Fare & 102.7 The Peak

Vancouver foodies, take note! You won’t want to miss the BC Home + Garden Show’s first-ever Chopping Block challenge, a high-stakes culinary competition designed to find the city’s top home chef, in partnership with Urban Fare and 102. 7 The Peak.

Hosted by Ned Bell, executive chef of the Four Seasons Vancouver, Chopping Block will see four contestants take the Urban Fare Cooking Stage on Saturday, February 22 from 2-4PM. Each competitor will race against the clock to create the ultimate three-course meal using mystery ingredients from Urban Fare, as chosen by public vote. Course by course, one chef will be “chopped” from the competition by an expert judging panel led by Vikram Vij, executive chef of Vij’s and Rangoli, Urban Fare executive chef Ryan McDonald and 102.7 The Peak host Clinton Herman, until just one remains. The winner of Chopping Block will receive a deluxe flightseeing and dining experience for four valued at $3,500, courtesy of Urban Fare and Helijet. Keep reading to learn how you to can enter!

Announced last week at an exclusive preview party for the BC Home + Garden Show at Urban Fare, Chopping Block kicked off with a unique social media challenge. Guests were asked to tweet photos of their favourite Urban Fare products using hashtag #UFchoppingblock. Not only did these tweets help to raise money for BC Children’s Hospital (a donation was made for every tweet), but they also helped to create a grocery list of potential mystery ingredients to be revealed during Chopping Block! From today until Sunday, February 16, you can visit the Home + Garden Events Facebook page to vote for your top picks – and enter to win a $50 gift card to Urban Fare. 

Click here to vote!

Think you have what it takes to compete in Chopping Block? 102.7 The Peak is on the hunt for four fearless home chefs ready to put their cooking chops to the test, but beware – this cutthroat competition is not for the faint of heart. Click here to visit 102. 7 The Peak for entry details. Hurry! You only have until Friday, February 7 to enter. 

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Stay tuned to the BC Home + Garden Show Facebook page and Twitter feed to see the big reveal of the four chosen contestants the week of February 10! Bon appétit.

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Opening Night in Vancouver: Celebrating 30 years of design

The Vancouver Home + Design Show kicks off tomorrow with a party to celebrate 30 years of all things design, home improvement and entertaining. You’re invited to join in the fun at our opening night soiree tomorrow, October 17, from 4-9PM at BC Place Stadium.

Enjoy an evening of rubbing shoulders with the who’s-who of Vancouver’s creative set at the biggest design party of the season, complete with au-courant cocktails in the Western Livng Lounge designed by Nicole Sjostedt. Nibble on snacks from some of the city’s favourite eateries, like Beaucoup Bakery, while bobbing your head to a live performance from DNA6 presented by The Beat 94.5. You’ll be treated to exclusive surprises all night long; make sure you don’t leave empty handed, no good party ends without a goodie bag!

For three decades, the Vancouver Home + Design Show presented by Scotiabank has been a major event, attracting more than 30,000 visitors each fall. Every year we bring you high-interest exhibits and high-profile industry personalities, accompanied by the latest in home and lifestyle trends.

  

This year, you won’t want to miss the big names like Johnathan and Drew Scott, stars of W Network’s Property Brothers, Jillian Harris and Todd Talbot, hosts of W Network’s Love It or List It Vancouver and local favourites like A Good Chick to Know. The Vancouver Home + Design Show will also play host to more than 325 exhibitors and tons of new and exciting features. Check out the HGTV Main Stage schedule to mark off your must-sees in your calendar.

Home entertaining will be infused with flair and flavor from Vancouver’s best known chefs and culinary personalities on the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage. Chef Massimo Capra, Ned Bell and Trevor Bird are some of the familiar faces that will be cooking up a storm on stage. Check the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage schedule so you don’t miss out on all the flavor filled action.

Purchase your tickets online today for the Vancouver Home + Design Show and save $3 off regular adult admission.  See you tonight! 

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What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’? Ned Bell gets grilling!

Nothing says “local Canadian fare” quite like sockeye salmon and BC blueberries, but rarely do you see these tasty treats married together. Fear of the unknown is something, well, unknown to Ned Bell, executive chef at award-winning Yew seafood + bar, so he has scoffed at the doubters and put together a recipe that can only be called Ned’s Awesome BBQ Sockeye Salmon. Try not to drool.

Grill ingredients:      

·       4 to 5 oz pieces of your favourite fresh fish - Ocean Wise Sockeye salmon, halibut or Albacore tuna are the best!

·       1 whole avocado, pitted and peeled

Lemon & Lime BC Blueberry ‘Jam’ ingredients:

This can be made with any local fresh seasonal fruit, but BC blueberries rock!
       4 cups fresh blueberries
       1/2 cup honey
       1 tbsp sea salt
       1 tbsp cracked black pepper
       1 whole lemon and 1 whole lime, zested and juiced
       3 tbsp Oikos Greek Yogurt

Grill method:

·       Grill or BBQ fish for about 3-4 minutes per side, season with sea salt and cracked black pepper

·       Season avocado with sea salt and cracked black pepper, rub with extra virgin olive oil and grill for about 1-2 minutes

Lemon & Lime BC Blueberry ‘Jam’ method:

·       Cook everything together in a small pot for ten minutes, cool, add Oikos Greek yogurt and serve!

The blueberry jam is great on Ocean Wise grilled fish and seafood, your favourite roasted or BBQd veggies and grilled meats. Earn bonus points by adding it to your evening cheese plate!

Catch Chef Ned Bell’s cooking demo at the Vancouver Home + Design Show’s Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage presented by Edible Canada on Sunday, October 20^th at 1:00PM. Buy online and save $3 on advance adult tickets!

Are you going to give this recipe a go on the grill? 
Let us know how it turns out!

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