Top local Vancouver chefs bring the heat to the BC Home + Garden Show

Chef Karen Barnaby and Alexa Pitoulis of Goodly Foods

Presenting: Making You Look like a Kitchen Genius: Carrot & Pear Soup with a Spectacular Garnish – Sunday, February 24 at 1:30PM

Karen Barnaby is an award-winning chef, cookbook author, cooking teacher, Vancouver Sun columnist and is the product development chef with Goodly Foods. She has the opportunity to tackle wasted food first hand everyday and her goal is to help make some changes in how people look at surplus food while also making good food accessible to those who need it. After 40 years in the food industry, she still loves to cook which leads her down many rabbit holes of ancient and modern foods, techniques and cuisines.

Alexa Pitoulis is a creative strategist with over 17 years of experience leading teams in public, private and non-profit sectors. Alexa is currently the general manager for Goodly Foods, an innovative social enterprise that makes delicious soups, stews and sauces by repurposing surplus produce and creating unique community employment opportunities.

Matthew Murtagh-Wu of The Dumpling King

Presenting: Dumpling 101: Tips and Tricks on Making and Cooking the perfect Dumpling – Friday, February 22 at 4:00PM and Saturday, February 23 at 5:00PM

Matthew Murtagh-Wu is Vancouver’s one and only Dumpling King. As a Chinatown-sourced, handmade and personally delivered frozen dumpling delivery service, The Dumpling King has continued its upward trajectory as one of the most original Vancouver-based businesses in the last 3 years of operation. While born and raised in Vancouver, Matthew leverages his growing celebrity as a voice for Chinese, Taiwanese and Canadian identity and also does freelance food writing for Daily Hive and Vice.

Emma Davison of Golden Ears Cheesecrafters

Presenting: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Local Cheese with Emma, The Cheese Girl – Friday, February 22 at 5:00PM and Saturday, February 23 at 2:30PM

Emma is part of a 5th generation farming family that has been rooted in Maple Ridge since the early 1900’s. At the tender age of 20, her parents recognized her eager abilities and offered her an irresistible opportunity. Alongside her sister and with the guidance of their parents, they founded Golden Ears Cheesecrafters in 2010.

After studying Business and Marketing at the University of the Fraser Valley, she attended BCIT to obtain her Dairy Processing Certificate. Emma’s education infused with her strong passion for food and family allows her to be a leader in the Fraser Valley for the Local Food Movement.

Kate Allan of Kate Naturally – Holistic Nutrition & Wellness

Presenting: Building a Healthy Lifestyle through Nutrition – Saturday, February 23 at 6:30PM and Sunday, February 24 at 11:30AM

Kate Allan is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist with a passion for health and wellness. Her goal is to help people make lifestyle changes that will last, rather than quick and drastic changes that are not sustainable. Kate believes that foods should be natural, healthy and nutritive and we should be fuelling ourselves with whole foods that make us feel energized, balanced and satisfied. As a Holistic Nutritionist, Kate guides individuals on their wellness journey by finding the root of their health issues.

Sheila Comer of Pink Ribbon Bakery

Presenting: Simple Cake and Cupcake Decorating Trends – Sunday, February 24 at 4:00PM

Discovering her love of baking and decorating nearly 9 years ago while making a cake for her dad’s 50th surprise birthday party, Sheila Comer is the owner of Pink Ribbon Bakery. The bakery which first opened its doors in 2010 in New Westminster is filled with delicious gourmet treats and offers beautiful and delicious custom cake designs.

Giulia Lombardo of Just Giulia Productions

Presenting: How to Host the Perfect Party – Thursday, February 21 at 6:00PM

Giulia Lombardo is the executive chef at her family owned pizzeria Lombardo’s, a Vancouver institution and the first wood fired pizzeria in Vancouver. Chef Lombardo graduated from a local culinary school and then took her skill to London, UK where she worked under Wolfgang Puck at CUT 45 Park Lane. She has held a series of kids cooking classes at Bosa Foods and is passionate about teaching others about cooking, no matter what their age is. Giulia has also made numerous TV and media appearances including CTV Morning Live, Breakfast Television and That Talk Show.

Currently, Chef Giulia is working on her YouTube series “Just Giulia” where she shares her favourite recipes in fun and easy to do short videos which showcase her passion and knowledge of all things food.

Jeremy Kersche of Fable Kitchen

Presenting: Plant Based Cooking – Thursday, February 21 at 4:00PM

Chef Jeremy Kershe began his professional career in 2005 with his apprenticeship in Brisbane, Australia. In 2010, Jeremy travelled to Vancouver and worked for one year at the Shangri-la Hotel restaurant, Market by Jean-Georges. Returning to Australia, he moved to Cairns, Australia and took on his first lead role as head chef at the award-winning seafood restaurant, Tha Fish. After two years, Jeremy was drawn back to beautiful Vancouver where he joined Fable Kitchen in 2015.

Cameron Hunter & Lynn Colliar of Geo Cider Co.

Presenting: Cider House Fare and Perfect Pairings – Thursday, February 21 at 2:00PM

At the age of 15, Chef Cam fell in love with cooking while working his first summer job at a burger restaurant in Ontario. That passion took him to Red Seal certification both as a chef and a baker. He moved to the west coast in 2008 and was the sous chef at Furry Creek, opening chef at The Joinery and has now joined the team as executive chef at Geo Cider Co. in Squamish. Creating amazing pairings, Chef Cam builds his menu around fresh, locally-sourced food.

Josef Driemel of Fable Diner

Presenting: Preserving Techniques, featuring Alaskan Turbot – Friday, February 22 at 7:00PM

Chef Josef Driemel got his start in the culinary world in Calgary where at the age of 18, he landed his first job as a sandwich chef at a French brasserie. After Calgary, Chef Driemel honed his skills in kitchens across the country from Halifax to Sun Peaks before assuming the role of sous chef at Fable Diner.

Kurtis Kolt, Private Wine Consultant

Presenting: A Tasting Tour through BC Wine Country – Saturday, February 23 at 3:30PM

Kurtis Kolt is a Vancouver-based freelance wine consultant, competition judge and writer with bylines in Vancouver Magazine, Decanter and Maclean’s, along with his weekly column in The Georgia Straight. Certified by London’s Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the Court of Master Sommeliers, his enthusiasm and experience have resulted in many high-profile opportunities, from appearances at New York’s James Beard House, to leading wine festival seminars and beyond.

The BC Home + Garden Show runs from Wednesday, February 20 at 4:00p.m. to Sunday, February, 24 at 6:00p.m. at BC Place Stadium. View the final Cooking Stage schedule which includes all the details of when to catch the talent on stage. For more information, or to buy tickets online and save $2, visit http://bchomeandgardenshow.com/.

About the BC Home + Garden Show: The BC Home + Garden Show has been a staple in consumers’ calendars since 1971, attracting more than 50,000+ qualified visitors each winter. Produced by Marketplace Events, the show features high-interest exhibits, high-profile industry personalities and the latest home, garden and lifestyle trends. Marketplace Events produces 66 events, 58 which are home shows in 32 markets that collectively attract 1.8 million attendees and another 3 million unique web visitors annually.

About Marketplace Events: Marketplace Events creates vibrant expositions connecting enthusiasts with experts, products and services in dynamic face-to-face environments. The company produces 42 consumer home shows in the US, 16 in Canada, and 8 holiday shows. The 66 combined events, in 32 markets, attract 20,000 exhibitors, 1.8 million attendees and another 3 million unique web visitors annually. From 14 offices, the 150-person staff produces some of the most successful and longest-running shows in North America, including market-leading shows in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal—some of which have thrived in their markets for more than 75 years. www.marketplaceevents.com