Royal Agricultural Winter Fair dishes up competition for local chefs
Six regional fairs to participate in The Road to The Royal Chef Competition
TORONTO, Ont. (July 15, 2014) – The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is hitting the road this summer
and fall with a travelling chef competition that will challenge top local chefs to put their creativity and
culinary skills to the test against each other at several regional Ontario fairs.
The Road to The Royal Chef Challenge is expanding to include six regional fairs across the
province. Award-winning chef and author Ted Reader — known as one of Canada’s top barbecue
authorities — will serve as Master of Ceremonies for each competition.
“These events will showcase fresh ingredients that can be found in local restaurants in Ontario and at the
same time it also celebrates the amazing talent of the chefs,” said Sandra Banks, CEO of The Royal.
Each regional fair competition will follow the same format. Chefs will be given a 45-minute time limit to
create two dishes using “secret ingredients” provided to them at the beginning of the competition. The
mystery ingredients will be selected from locally grown or produced food products.
The winners of each regional competition will vie for the title of Royal Chef Challenge Champion during a
final round at The Royal in Toronto on Saturday, November 15.
The schedule for The Road to The Royal Chef Challenge is as follows:

Peterborough Exhibition – Saturday, August 9

Barrie Fair – Saturday, August 23

Paris Fair – Sunday, August 31

Great Northern Exhibition in Collingwood – Sunday, September 21

Markham Fair – Sunday, October 5

Norfolk Country Fair and Horse Show – Saturday, October 11
“There has been an important relationship for many decades between regional fairs and The Royal, which
continues today through events such as The Road to The Royal Chef Challenge,” Banks said.
In addition to an expanded line-up of participating regional fairs, this year’s competition will be even
sweeter than ever before. The Royal Butter Tart Competition has also been added to celebrate a staple on
the Canadian dessert menu. Each of the fairs above will have a special Royal Butter Tart Class in their
homecraft section. The top 3 winners at each fair will be invited to compete at The Royal in November for
title of Grand Champion Butter Tart.
About The Royal:
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world’s largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian
show. This year, The 92nd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 7-16, 2014 in the Direct Energy
Centre and Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. For competition schedules, live webcasting, results and to
purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.
-30-