Fleming College

The Kawartha Culinary Association, made up of local chefs and cooks, held the area’s first Cast Iron Chef Competition in Fleming College’s Fulford’s Dining Room on Wednesday, October 24. Two teams, each comprised of two local chefs, three secondary school students from Lindsay, Haliburton and Peterborough, and four Fleming culinary students went head-to-head in a battle that raised $3,200 for culinary bursaries and scholarships at Fleming College. The team consisting of chefs Christopher Ennew, of Ste. Anne’s Inn and Spa in Grafton, and Justin Guyatt of Guyatt’s Consulting in Peterborough narrowly defeated Chefs Evan Podd of The Old Bridge Inn in Young’s Point and Brian Cassibo of Tin Mill in Uxbridge with a score of 359 to 354, giving Ennew and Guyatt the title of 2007 Kawartha Cast Iron Chef. Teams had eight hours to plan and prepare a five-course meal serving 60 guests and five judges. Judges included Francis Dineley of New Zealand Lamb, Kim Freeburn of Sysco Food Services of Central Ontario, Teresa Kaszuba of CHEX TV, and Fleming Chefs Norm Smith and Frank Delemarre. Chef Steve Benns of Fleming College and George Krohn from the Durham and Kawartha Culinary Associations served as Kitchen Judges.The 60 guests also scored each course and ‘Peoples Choice Awards’ were given to the teams based on Creativity, Taste and Presentation. A team of Culinary Management and Chef Training student volunteers lead by Professor Sylvie Provost and Natalie Wood acted as servers for the evening. Chefs David Franklin, Brand Manager of Sysco Food Services of Central Ontario, and David Hawey, Culinary Programs Coordinator at Fleming, organized the sold-out event. Sponsors included: New Zealand Lamb, King Cole Duck, Marine Harvest Seafood, Bon Chef Greenhouses, Gambles Ontario Produce, Gay Lea, Windmill Farms Mushrooms, Sysco Food Services of Central Ontario, Elco Fine Foods, Hendrix Restaurant Equipment & Supplies, Creative Kitchen Supplies, Martin’s Fruit & Vegetables, Holiday Inn Peterborough Waterfront, Passport to Prosperity, and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.