Chef Jasper Cruickshank of L’Abattoir Wins Kitchen Party Vancouver
All-Star Invitational and joins
Chef of Distinction Chef Alex Chen
to represent Vancouver at the
Canadian Culinary Championship
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party is proud to announce Chef Jasper Cruickshank of L’Abattoir as the gold medalist of the 20th Anniversary Kitchen Party Vancouver All-Star Invitational, held Wednesday, October 7, at The Pipe Shop. Chef Cruickshank earned gold for his stunning Alliums creation, featuring scallion pasta ravioli filled with braised beef cheek, baby leek terrine and cave-aged Gruyère; a cipollini soubise tartlet with braised shallot and leek cream; ramp gelée with buttermilk ranch; garlic “caper”; chive emulsion; French onion consommé; and onion tuile. The dish was beautifully paired with Fort Berens Estate Winery Pinot Noir Reserve 2025 from Lillooet, B.C. Congratulations to Chef Jasper Cruickshank on this remarkable achievement and celebration of culinary excellence at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party.
The silver medalist and People’s Choice Award winner was Chef Robert Lee of Five Sails by Alex Kim for his Duck and Prawn Duet, featuring duck and spot prawn terrine with foie gras and duck consommé glaze; taro puff with confit duck, Japanese curry and prawn aioli; spot prawn tartare with lotus root and lotus seed crème; and apple with watercress emulsion, duck, foie gras and spot prawn jus, paired with Nomad Cider. The bronze medalist was Chef Bal Ajagaonkar of Desi Indian Lounge for his Botanical Reverie: A Journey Through Roots, Fruits & Leaves, featuring paan mithai stuffed with strawberry compote, carrot and fennel pudding sphere, cherry-beet-lime mousse, and rabri crémeux on a cardamom chocolate feuilletine disk with saffron crème anglaise, paired with La Stella Moscato d’Osoyoos 2025 from the Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Congratulations to all of the medalists for showcasing exceptional creativity, technique and culinary artistry at the 20th Anniversary Kitchen Party Vancouver All-Star Invitational.
All wines featured throughout the evening, including the wines selected for the chef pairings, were judged blind by an expert panel at the Canadian Culinary Championship Vancouver Regional Qualifier. Joie Farm En Famille Chardonnay from the Okanagan Valley, B.C., received the bronze medal, while Ailm Chenin Blanc 2025, also from the Okanagan Valley, B.C., earned the silver medal. The coveted Wine of the Year and Best of Show honours went to Unsworth Vineyards Pinot Noir from the Cowichan Valley, B.C., recognizing it as the top-scoring wine of the competition.
The Vancouver 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. Vancouver’s winner will compete alongside Chef Alex Chen, Chef-partner of Wild Blue restaurant and cocktail bar and culinary director of Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar, giving Vancouver a two-chefteam on the national stage.
The six chefs who competed in Vancouver’s 2026 All-Star Invitational were:
Jasper Cruickshank – L’Abattoir
Bal Ajagaonkar – Desi Indian Lounge
Robert Lee – Five Sails by Alex Kim
Bo Li – The Fish Man
Felix Zhou – ATLAS steak + fish
Clement Chan – The Apron
“Tonight was extra special because it represents the 20th anniversary celebrations. The judges and I were wowed by every one of the competitors. It is the best we have ever seen in the city. The level of excellence was impressive and the points were so close. The podium winners displayed incredible technique and unique innovation. The Vancouver team will be a force to reckon with at the national championships,” said Chris Johns, National Culinary Advisor for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party and the Canadian Culinary Championship.
“It means a lot to win against such an accomplished group of chefs, many of whom I’ve admired and competed alongside over the years. I’m incredibly proud to represent Vancouver again, and the opportunity to compete alongside Chef Alex Chen makes it even more special. January is going to be a completely different challenge this time, and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Chef Jasper Cruickshank.
“Winning this competition takes tremendous skill, creativity, and composure. Chef Cruickshank is an exceptional chef, and seeing him win tonight was incredibly well deserved. I’m honoured to compete alongside him, and I look forward to combining our strengths as we take on some of Canada’s best culinary talent at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa in January. Having the opportunity to compete again is a real honour. This could be my last competition, which makes it especially meaningful. I’m looking forward to continuing to coach, mentor, and push Vancouver’s culinary community forward. I’m proud to represent Vancouver alongside Chef Cruickshank, and I’m excited for the challenge ahead.” Said Chef Alex Chen.
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 Karen Blair, Co-founder, 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.
