top of page
Search

Yannick La Salle Executive Chef at the Supreme Court of Canada Wins Kitchen Party Ottawa All-Star Invitational and joins Chef of Distinction Marc Lépine to represent Ottawa-Gatineau at the Canadian Cu

Writer: KoW Connected
KoW Connected
22 hours ago
5 min read

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 22, 2026




Canada’s Great Kitchen Party Ottawa is proud to announce Yannick La Salle of the Supreme Court of Canada as the gold medalist of the 20th Anniversary Kitchen Party Ottawa All-Star Invitational, held Monday, September 21 at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine. La Salle earned gold for his Veal sweetbreads with celeriac, apples & horseradish, paired with Domaine l’Espiègle Aube à l’est Chardonnay 2024, Dunham, QC. 


Winner of the silver medal was Ian Carswell of black tartan kitchen , who presented "We're Rooting That Nothing Beets Our Berry Deer Dish" Beet / Haskap / Potato / Venison paired with Rosewood "Blau" Blaufränkisch 2024, Niagara Lakeshore, ON. Jason Sawision of Stofa earned the bronze medal with Kataifi wrapped lobster and langoustine torchon, lobster coral agnolotti, sweet corn timbale, smoked beef tongue and corn salad, passion fruit-vermouth sauce, vadouvan curry mayonnaise, nora pepper tuille, paired with Black Bank Hill Liberté 2023, Beamsville, ON.


Guests selected the People’s Choice Award winner: Lizardo Becerra, the 2024 Regional Gold Medalist of Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine for his Sablefish Usuzukuri & Manila Clam Tart, Aged Wild BC Sablefish Usuzukuri, Pistachio, Dill and Ginger Emulsion, Achiote Soil, Warm Leek & Green Apple Tart with Citrus-marinated Manila, Clams and Aged Canadian Cheese. Manila Clam Gelato over Pistachio Crumble, Apple-Ginger-Green Onion Gremolata, Aji Limo-Lemongrass Gel paired with Grange of Prince Edward Aurelia Series Chardonnay 2023, Prince Edward County, ON. 


New this year, all dishes were judged blind, as were all the featured wines, by an expert panel. Results in the wine competition were: Bronze went to Grange of Prince Edward Aurelia Series Chardonnay 2023, Prince Edward County, ON , Silver to Black Bank Hill Liberté 2023, Beamsville, ON, and Gold/Best of Show to The Grange of Prince Edward Lafontaine du Loup Brut 2023, Prince Edward County, ON.


The Grange of Prince Edward Lafontaine du Loup Brut 2023, Prince Edward County, ON, advances to the Wine of the Year competition at the Canadian Culinary Championship.


The Ottawa event is one of 10 regional competitions being staged across Canada, with each city’s gold medal-winning chef advancing to the Canadian Culinary Championship presented by MNP in Ottawa, January 29–30, 2027. For the first time in the competition’s history, each regional winner will be joined at the national championship by a pre-selected Chef of Distinction from their city. Ottawa’s winner will compete alongside two-time Canadian Culinary Champion Marc Lépine of Atelier, giving Ottawa a two-chef team on the national stage.


The five chefs who competed in Ottawa’s 2026 All-Star Invitational were:


Lizardo Becerra, Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine – 2024 Ottawa Regional Gold Medalist

Ian Carswell, Black Tartan Kitchen – 2019 Ottawa Regional Gold Medalist

Yannick La Salle, Supreme Court of Canada – 2019 Canadian Culinary Champion and 2018 Ottawa Regional Gold Medalist

Jason Sawision, Stofa – 2025 Ottawa Regional Gold Medalist

Joe Thottungal, Coconut Lagoon – 2017 Canadian Culinary Championship Silver Medalist and 2016 Ottawa Regional Gold Medalist


The intimate, five-course competition also featured a welcome hors d’oeuvre prepared by Lépine. Each competing chef presented an original dish paired with a Canadian wine for the judging panel and guests.


“Tonight was extra special because it represents the start of our 20th anniversary celebrations and all of the chefs competing here tonight had already won in years past, so it was an exceptional event. We’ve got 9 cities left on our schedule and if any of them achieve the level of excellence we saw here tonight, we’re in for a blockbuster year. We’ll be back in Ottawa in January with the winners of those other competitions for the Canadian culinary championship and I can’t wait” said Chris Johns, National Culinary Advisor for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and the Canadian Culinary Championship.


“Peace, Love, Flower, Power is what I say to my kids everyday, " commented Yannick La Salle on being the gold medalist. 


Watch out Canada, we’ve got TWO gold medalists, National gold medalists coming to the Canadian Culinary Championship this year said Lépine. 


The national championship brings together 20 All-Star chefs representing 10 Canadian cities across three competitions: the Mystery Wine Pairing Competition on Friday, January 29, followed by the Black Box Competition and Grand Finale on Saturday, where the 2027 Canadian Culinary Champions will be crowned. The Grand Finale will also feature an East vs. West showdown, with Team East — Ottawa, St. John's, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg — facing off against Team West — Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, Calgary, and Saskatoon.


The Grand Finale will also feature live entertainment from the Steven Page Trio, led by Steven Page, former lead singer of Barenaked Ladies, with Craig Northey of Odds and Kevin Fox.


“This 20th anniversary is a celebration of the extraordinary chefs, Canadian producers, musicians, partners and guests who have built Canada’s Great Kitchen Party over two decades. Bringing 20 All-Star chefs to Ottawa for the Championship will make this a very special year, and we’re excited to welcome people from across the country to be part of it,” said Lisa Pasin, Senior Vice President, Canada’s Great Kitchen Party.


Canada’s Great Kitchen Party has contributed $19.9 million to charitable causes across Canada. National beneficiaries include MusiCounts and Spirit North, while this year’s Canadian Culinary Championship also supports local Ottawa organizations addressing food insecurity and improving access to nutritious food for children and youth.


The Mystery Wine Pairing Competition will support R.I.S.E. Academy’s Kitchen Brigades, marking the organization’s first Canadian Culinary Championship fundraising partnership. The Black Box Competition will feature a fundraising component for the first time, with onsite raffle proceeds supporting the Ottawa Network for Education School Breakfast Program. At the Grand Finale, onsite raffle proceeds will support Nutrition Blocs, returning for its second year as a Canadian Culinary Championship beneficiary.


Tickets, tables and corporate hospitality opportunities are available for the Canadian Culinary Championship, January 29–30, 2027, at Rogers Centre Ottawa.


Corporate partnership and hospitality opportunities: https://greatkitchenparty.com/docs/2026/ccc2027.pdf


For information about the Canadian Culinary Championship or corporate partnership opportunities:

Lisa Pasin, Senior Vice President, Canada’s Great Kitchen Party 


For media inquiries and interview requests:

Mary Jelley, KoW Connected Inc. 

613-791-6703 | mary@kowconnected.ca


Photos: 


Podium: L-R - Jason Sawision, Yannick La Salle, Ian Carswell - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eTq-WQrSCSjEp7gGH6EdUMvP33KF8Jrv



(credit: Canada’s Great Kitchen Party)


– 30 –


ABOUT CANADA’S GREAT KITCHEN PARTY AND THE CANADIAN CULINARY CHAMPIONSHIP

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party celebrates and elevates Canadian excellence through food, wine, music and community impact. Culinary competitions are staged in 10 cities across Canada, bringing together leading chefs, Canadian wineries, breweries and distilleries, musicians, business leaders and guests while supporting charitable initiatives focused on healthy food, music education and sport.


In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the 2026 regional events feature All-Star Invitational competitions, bringing past regional and national podium finishers back to the competition. Each regional winner joins a pre-selected Chef of Distinction to form a two-chef city team at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa January 29–30, 2027.


MNP is the Presenting Partner of Canada’s Great Kitchen Party. For more information, visit greatkitchenparty.com

 
 
bottom of page