Last summer I received a most welcome email from my dear blogger friend, Lorraine Elliot of the famed Not Quite Nigella blog. She was coming to Canada as a guest of the Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism Yukon and she wondered would I be available to meet if she could arrange a slight diversion to Toronto! I was absolutely thrilled! Of course, I wrote back, who wouldn’t want to meet with one of their blogger heroes? I kept having to pinch myself! No, really!
I suspect that there were many arrangements to make/and subsequently change with the Canadian Tourism Commission so that Lorraine could be in TO for a couple of days. They booked her solid so it was a bit whirl-wind, but Lorraine made sure we had at least a half a day and it was awesome! (You can read about Lorraine’s Toronto experience here, here, here, here, and here). I had asked Lorraine to email me her Toronto schedule so that I could a) make the most of her time, and b) choose something to do that wasn’t on the Tourism Commission’s itinerary. I wanted to show her something unique.
I am very fortunate to know or be acquainted personally with many culinary giants in Toronto, mostly through my past life as a Client Service Rep for a design firm that specializes in Food Packaging, but some because of my current vocation, so I got out my address book. I called Claudia Bianchi, a very close friend of a friend, and an accomplished chef, food stylist and producer of several Food Network Canada shows. I knew Claudia was in the midst of the taping of Season 3 of Chopped Canada and I wondered if there might be an opportunity for us to visit the set and even stay a bit to check out the taping. Claudia very generously put me in touch with Cary Mignault, the PR guy for Chopped Canada, Season 3. It was such an amazing experience, Cary was open and more than happy to make the set visit happen. And such perfect timing too, because as it turned out, the day we visited the set was the LAST DAY of taping the show! Can you believe our fortuitousness? Had Lorraine made arrangements for the day after, it simply could not have happened and I would have been up the creek without a paddle!I picked Lorraine up at the hotel at 7:30 am and we drove across town to Leslieville where they were taping Chopped Canada, Season 3. As soon as she stepped into the car, we talked and talked and talked, it was as if we were long lost friends! I can attest that Lorraine is as lovely, kind and sweet in person as she is on Social Media. Cary met us in the parking lot and we entered the building. To say this is a huge production is an understatement, there is even an enormous refrigerator/prep room filled with full-size refrigerators! And the set is outstanding, sparkly and new, filled with the latest gadgets and appliances, it is a cook’s dream!
Claudia met us on set and took us for a little tour, this little slide show includes some of the photos sent to me by Cary. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to chat with Claudia about the show, so here are some insights:There are a total of ten judges who participate on the show, but there are only 3 seats actually on the show, the judges alternate depending on availability (read about the judges here). The judges are not just there to assess and evaluate the participants but their interaction also provide mentorship to each culinary participant. I enquired how the secret basket of ingredients are determined and Claudia said that she gets her inspiration from many places…it could be a trip to the market, a weekend at their cottage or perhaps her husband’s restaurant (Actinolite) or even some of the judges! And the ingredients need not be Canadian! I asked what ingredient was sourced from the furthest place, sadly she could not mention it as the show had not aired! As you can see from the slide show below, the on stage pantry is exceptionally stocked (here is a link to some great pantry photos (BTW, my friend the designer Kim Sewell, designed most of the labels because they were not permitted to have branded product on set!)).
Namaskaram Eva – it reads like you both had such a blast in and out of the Studio – and you managed to actually meet one of my own top blog contributor – Lorraine!!! Oh how I envy you 🙂 Carina
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Beware, Eva, now all your visitors will come to see you in Canada! It was such a wonderful idea!
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Wow! What a great day and how wonderful for you and Lorraine to have that time together. I’m sure Lorraine would love to reciprocate if you can, one day, get yourself down to Oz xx
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Well, this only confirms what we already knew. You, Eva, are the consummate host — or is it still “hostess”? Either way, what a great idea it was to treat your guest to the set of “Chopped Canada”! Brava, Eva!
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Eva I swear I thought I left a comment on this a few days ago! I absolutely loved meeting with you and thank you so much for showing me that very cool experience! Maybe one day I can return you the favour if you come to Sydney? xxx
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Thank you so much, Lorraine, we did have fun! Plans may be in the works! 😉
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Hi Lorraine, I am definitely putting Oz on my bucket list because of you and my other delightful blogging buds. But I’ll probably come during your winter where temperatures are a bit milder. XOXO
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Such a fun day!!! You pulled out all the stops and made such memorable visit for Lorraine. I hope we can meet one day 🙂
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Thank you very much Liz, I hope so too, Toronto is only 7 hours from Indi, wouldn’t it be fun!
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What a fun time you had! Loved reading about your day. Cool pictures, too. Thanks!
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Thank you kindly John, it was a blast.
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What a great day out, Eva. I had no idea you can watch these shows from behind the scenes. I’ll need to get myself a contact as the new MediaCity in Manchester is growing ever stronger. The BBC moved here a couple of years back.
Thanks for the nudge about my blog. I was oblivious to it to going AWOL. All sorted now.
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Hi David, I’m not sure that the shows are available to the public, I was able to get access because of some very lovely contacts I have but I would certainly encourage you to find a way in. They loved that I was going to blog about it.
I’m glad to have been able to give you a heads up about the blog.
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You literally continue to impress me, woman.
Like all the F’n time. ALL.
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Oh my, thank you kindy Dana, I am truly flattered.
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What fun for you.
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Thanks Liz, it was amazing to meet Lorraine and I was happy to have been able to share something unique with her.
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Sounds amazing.
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Thank you Maria, it was a blast.
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