The Search is on for Samsung's Junior Chef Challenge Champion

Calling all up-and-coming teen chefs! We’re searching for Calgary and Vancouver’s most talented junior home cooks to go head-to-head in the Samsung Junior Chef Challenge at the upcoming Calgary Home + Design Show and Vancouver Home + Design Show

With Samsung’s premium home appliances, including the new Flex Duo Electric Range with Dual Door, at the ready, talented home cooks ages 12-17 are encouraged to enter the competition in hopes of coupling up a local celebrity chef. Contestants will have the possibility of being paired with Michael Dekker from SAIT, CRAFT Beer Market’s Eric Mah, Craig Scherer from Trattoria Burnaby and Blacktail Restaurant + Lounge’s Geoff Rogers.

Each competitor will be tasked with creating an entrée and dessert with three mandatory secret ingredients over the course of one hour. Based on judges’ scores, the winning competitor will be crowned the Samsung Junior Chef Champion, flush with a Samsung Home Appliance prize package valued at over $5,000.

Do you, or someone you know, have what it takes to win the Samsung Junior Chef Challenge? Head to the Calgary Home + Design Show & Vancouver Home + Design Show contest pages to enter. For more information, rules and regulations, please click here.  

Be sure to arrive early to catch all the action on the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage in Calgary on Saturday, September 19 at 11:30 a.m. and on the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage in Vancouver on Saturday, October 24 at 12:00 p.m. Visit our Facebook page to save on show tickets - right now you can get two for the price of one!

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Sponsor Spotlight: Samsung

We're thrilled to have Samsung join us for the Calgary Home + Design Show (September 18-21 at the BMO Centre) and the Vancouver Home + Design Show (October 16-19 at BC Place). Here's a little inside scoop on what's cooking with Samsung.

1. What are your featured products this season?
This season we're introducing the new Samsung Chef Collection - a suite of premium culinary appliances inspired by renowned chefs from around the world. Every appliance in the collection combines breakthrough technology and sophisticated design to build the best kitchen possible and ensure the highest quality results.

• Food Preservation at its Finest - With its thoughtful attention to innovation and design, the Samsung Chef Collection 4-Door Refrigerator represents the next generation in food preservation, storage, organization and meal preparation.

• Meal Prep Innovation - Samsung's Chef Collection features three new sleek slide-in range innovations (gas, induction and electric) with Flex Duo technology to conveniently make two different dishes at the same time at two different temperatures and provides a custom, built-in finish that instantly upgrades any kitchen.

• Cook Every Meal to Perfection - Samsung's Chef Collection Over-The-Range (OTR) Microwave's new sensor cooking equips home chefs with the ultimate in cooking performance with a simple touch of a button. 

• Don't Forget the Dishes - Beautiful spotless dishes are just as important to the dining experience as the food itself. But the basic technology and design of dishwashers - with their inefficient conventional rotary and circle water sprays has not advanced in 40 years, until now. 

2. What inspires your products?
The new Samsung Chef Collection was designed in collaboration with some of the world's finest Michelin Star master chefs. Inspired by their insight and expertise, we've revolutionized everything but the kitchen sink, creating innovative ways to store, prepare, and present your favourite foods. From innovative touches to impeccable design, it's everything you need to go from cook to chef.

3. What can we look forward to from you at the show?
At this year's show, three home cooks will each partner with a top chef in Calgary and Vancouver in a battle for culinary supremacy. Armed with Samsung's Chef Collection appliances, fresh ingredients, and plenty of ambition, the dueling duos will race against time as they take turns behind the burner to create the perfect entree and dessert. Expert judges, including Chef Corbin Tomaszeski, will select the winners, with the last home cooking standing scoring $5,000 worth of Samsung Chef Collection appliances for their own kitchen.

The Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen will take place on Saturday, September 20th at 1PM in Calgary and Saturday, October 18th at 2PM in Vancouver. Don't miss out on Samsung's fine features - buy your tickets to the Calgary Home + Design Show and the Vancouver Home + Design Show now!

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NAMES IN LIGHTS AT THE CALGARY AND VANCOUVER HOME + DESIGN SHOWS

Bring on the stars! The Calgary and Vancouver Home + Design Shows are just around the corner, which means you’re even closer to meeting your favourite design, cooking and home improvement celebs. Aside from perusing through hundreds of booths from local vendors and big-name brands alike, you’ll also catch top talent that will bring you to your feet and leave you feeling inspired.

Without further ado, say hello to our celebrity line up!

COLIN AND JUSTIN

We’re thrilled to announce the triumphant return of Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, stars of Cottage Life TV’s Colin & Justin’s Cabin Pressure, after an achingly long absence. You can catch this dynamic duo detailing how to achieve a chic cottage look from cabin to condo. It’s an appearance that begs the question: will their famous kilted sartorial style make a return to the stage?

Calgary: Saturday, September 20 at 12PM and 6PM on the Trail Appliances Main Stage

Vancouver: Saturday, October 18 at 3PM and 7PM on the Metrie Main Stage

BRYAN BAEUMLER

Who could forget Canada’s favourite handyman? Bryan Baeumler, contracting king and star of HGTV’s Leave it To Bryan, is back to offer his trustworthy and no-nonsense brand of renovation know-how. Pick up valuable tricks of the trade while scoring advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of home improvement.

Calgary: Friday, September 19 at 6PM and Saturday, September 20 at 2PM on the Trail Appliances Main Stage

Vancouver: Friday, October 17 at 7PM and Saturday, October 18 at 1PM on the Metrie Main Stage

CHEF CORBIN TOMASZESKI

Do you delight in delicious dishes? Then don’t miss Chef Corbin Tomaszeski as he does double-duty hosting and judging the Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen. Chef Corbin will select the winners, with the top home cook scoring $5,000 worth of Samsung Chef’s Collection appliances for their own kitchen.

Calgary: Saturday September 20 at 1PM for Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen and Sunday September 21 at 12PM on the Trail Appliances Cooking Stage

Vancouver: Friday, October 17 at 6PM and Saturday October 18 at 2PM for Samsung Cooking Challenge: Tag Team Kitchen on the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage

Are you as excited as we are?! Catch these celebrities and more top talent in Calgary and Vancouver this fall. For tickets to spot these celebs in Calgary, click here. To see them in Vancouver, click here. 

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Sponsor Focus: Edible Canada - A hub for entertaining and the pursuit of culinary mastery!

The Vancouver Home + Design Show isn't just about design. The popular lifestyle exhibit, happening October 17 – 20 at BC Place Stadium, is also a hub for home entertaining and the pursuit of culinary mastery. Catch all the tasty goodness on the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage, presented by Vancouver Magazine and Edible Canada.

Live, full-action cooking demonstrations on the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage will leave no doubt that Canadian cuisine isn't just about smoked salmon, maple syrup and poutine. Check out the Cooking Stage schedule and make sure you don’t miss homegrown BC talent like Ned Bell, Brian Skinner and Trevor Bird cook up a storm at the Vancouver Home + Design Show.

The Cooking Stage will also host exciting features like the Samsung Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge on Saturday, October 19 from 2-5PM. Watch as host Chef Massimo Capra, chef extraordinaire from Food Network’s Restaurant Makeover, leads three of Vancouver’s best home chefs through a battle for culinary supremacy. Paired with a top local chef, a secret ingredient and a Samsung Flex Duo Oven, each competitor will have one hour to create two delicious dishes. The winning home chef will walk away with $7,000 worth of Samsung Home Appliances of their very own.

 

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Purchase your tickets online for the Vancouver Home + Design Show today and get 2 for the price of one! See you at the Vancouver Magazine Cooking Stage!

For 2-for-1 tickets to the show order HERE and save today! 

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Samsung Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge & an Exclusive Giveaway

As Samsung’s new Flex Duo Oven heats up, so will the competition during Samsung’s Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge happening this Saturday, Sept., 21 from 2-5PM at the Calgary Home + Design Show. To kick off the show, Samsung would also like to give away two tickets to the exclusive, invite-only Pop-up Dinner Party on Thursday Sept. 19 from 7-9PM at BMO Centre. See details on how to enter below.

In the Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge, three of Calgary’s best home chefs will be paired with one of three former Food Network Top Chef Canada contestants, Chris Shaften, Geoff Rogers or Xavier Lacaze. Under the watchful eye of host and celebrity chef Corbin Tomaszeki, host of Food Network’s Dinner Party Wars, the teams will duke it out on the Trail Appliances Main Stage from 2-5PM for a chance to win $7,000 worth of Samsung Home Appliances.

Tasked with cooking two tasty dishes in just one hour, the competitors must use fresh ingredients and prepare their offerings in Samsung’s latest innovative appliance, the Slide-in FlexDuo™. As if this competition won’t be spicy enough, Samsung is fueling the fire by throwing in a mystery ingredient that must be featured in each plate.

Chris, a Calgary native, is the chef and owner of Taste First, where he works as a private chef and offers culinary consulting. His innovative approach to time-honoured recipes has earned him a top-tier spot within Calgary’s restaurant scene. Chris’ culinary style is built on classic Fresh cooking techniques combined with a passion for turn-of-the-century Canadian recipes.

A Calgary transplant currently living in Vancouver and working at Fable Restaurant, Geoff started at the bottom and worked his way up in the culinary world through sheer ambition and raw talent. A firm believer that chefs should support their local farmers and food producers, his cooking style features whole animal butchery, curing, cheese making and preserving.

Born and raised in France, Xavier was practically raised on duck, foie gras and truffles. By the tender age of 15, Xavier knew he wanted to pursue a career in the culinary arts. His passion for all things food has led him to work in kitchens all over the world, including culinary hot spots in Bermuda, Los Angeles and England. His Calgarian wife brought him to Alberta and today you can find him whipping up delicacies at Briggs Kitchen and Bar.

Don’t miss the Samsung Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge! Purchase your tickets online today for the Calgary Home + Design Show, happening this weekend, and save $3 off regular adult admission.

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Stroll Down Innovation Ave. with HGTV's Sasha Andreev @ MinneapolisHome + Garden Show

Are you ready to take a stroll down Innovation Avenue with Sasha Andreev?

See the newest products in home, décor, kitchen & bath, outdoor living and more at the Minneapolis Home + Garden Show, February 27 – March 3.  HGTV’s Sasha Andreev, our New Products Expert, will be on hand throughout the show to present this year’s selections during “Innovation Avenue LIVE!” at the Lifestyle Stage.

UPDATE: All innovations have already been selected

This year's Innovation Avenue is all about automation, connectivity and convenience, with a bit of style thrown in.  Indoors, products like the Samsung Wi-Fi washer/dryer pair from Warners' Stellian and the iGrill smartphone-based cooking thermometer keep you connected to your household tasks, without keeping you tied down.  Outdoors, homeowners will be able to set it and forget it with the LawnBott automatic mower and the Juice Plus self-watering aeroponic Tower Garden, not to mention the One Ap one-time lawn fertilizer.  One of my favorites, however, is more about ingenuity than technology - Stone Rolling Pins crafted from drilled granite cores left over from boulder fountains - beautiful, sustainable, and local.  But these are just a few of the solutions at this year's Innovation Avenue, so you'll have to come down and pay me a visit at the show to see them all.  

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Sasha Andreev will be appearing on the Lifestyle Stage at the Minneapolis Home & Garden Show Wednesday, February 27; Friday, March 1; Saturday, March 2; and Sunday, March 3.

For 2-for-1 tickets to the show click HERE. 

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Top 10 Exhibitor Countdown: SAMSUNG

We’re down to the final stretch – the Vancouver Home + Design Show is only ten days away and we couldn’t be more excited! To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with our top 10 exhibitors to bring you ten days of huge giveaways as we count down to opening night on Thursday, October 11 at BC Place.

EVERY DAY we’ll be giving away a big-ticket prize on Twitter – make sure you’re following us on Twitter (@VanHomeShows) and hashtag #VHDS #top10 for all the info!

Exhibitor Profile: Samsung

Find Them: Booth 1800

The Scoop: As a leader in high-tech electronics manufacturing and digital media, Samsung has been committed to providing consumers with the most state-of-the-art and reliable products and services for over 70 years. Samsung is also official appliance sponsor for the Savour Your Life Cooking Stage presented by Vancouver Magazine – also known as the hub for Vancouver’s top culinary talent and the site of the Samsung Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge on Saturday, October 13 starting at 10AM.

Claim to Fame: As seen on the Savour Your Life Cooking Stage presented by Vancouver Magazine, Samsung’s new WiFi-enabled French Door Fridge will play a key role in the Samsung Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge. Equipped with a WiFi 8” TFT-LCD Touch Screen that provides access to a variety of apps as well as the ability to post photos, write memos, and even sync calendars, this refrigerator will reveal the secret recipe to each of our three competing teams. Ready, set, cook!

On the other side of the stage, you’ll find the Samsung Flex Duo Range complete with induction, 1300 W Dual Fan Convection System and Flex Duo technology (allowing our chefs to bake two things at once). The bright and easy-to-view Glass Touch Control system determines the exact temperatures and times of each prepared meal, while the Steam Quick produces a clean range in just 20 minutes with 10 ounces of tap water and the simple press of a button.

The Goods: One of three coveted spots in the Samsung Passion for Fresh Cooking Challenge, one of the most anticipated features at this year’s Vancouver Home + Design Show. You’ll compete for a chance to win $7,500 worth of Samsung Home Appliances for your own kitchen! For complete details, click the link below.

TO ENTER: Think you got what it takes? Click HERE to enter now!

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Entries accepted until Wednesday, October 10. Good luck – and see you in 10 short days.

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