News and Events

May - 2008

Skills Canada Update

Liaison college is proud to sponsor Lindsay Vandekamp from Hamilton as she travels to Calgary with Team Ontario. We wish to thank Mercer Tool & Christopher Day for their generous sponsorship of Mick Elliott who will travel to Calgary as Lindsay's coach and mentor . The balance of the funds are being raised by a raffle run by Barrie campus.

Another Liaison college Win!

Liaison College Durham campus student, Kathleen Guthrie, wins the US Pear recipe contest! (more info to follow)

Liaison College Victory: Ontario Technological Skills Competition

What a great event we had at Skills Ontario this week!
It started with the inter-campus cook off in March that determined the two competitors to represent Liaison College at Skills Ontario at RIM Park in Waterloo. Lindsay from Hamilton and Sarah from Toronto Downtown campuses became our two Liaison college representatives. They challenged 17 other competitors from across Ontario!

Hamilton and Downtown Campuses brought their competitors in on Sunday night so that they could get a good night's sleep! And on Monday May 5 they arrived at the crack of dawn for the judges' orientation. Then the contest began in earnest with all competitors assigned a station and number while the ingredient table was unveiled.

For hours they sliced, mixed, stuffed and chopped to perfect their 3 courses for the judges. Not such an easy task when hundreds of spectators are watching and a dozen judges looking on with clipboards in hand! But they all looked professional and poised as they worked their culinary magic.

When time was called and the plates presented, head Judge Christopher Ennew had this to say: " Lindsay kept it simple and did the skills well following through with proper cooking methods and seasoning of the food. Good clean presentation while keeping to a time line (critical path). She does have a passion; this comes through in her work (practice & pride). She should walk tall and proud. Do not lose the focus of your dream. Please thank the Chef's for putting in the work they do, as you see practice does pay off."

Well said, Chef. As Lindsay packs her bags and utensils for the trek to Calgary, May 25 - 28/08, we wish her luck and send a big Liaison College team spirit with her. Liaison College HQ is pleased to sponsor Lindsay's traveling costs to Calgary. She makes us all proud!

Good job to everyone who made Skills Ontario a huge success for Liaison College this year! Lindsay will be the one to beat!

April - 2008

Chef Mick meets the host of Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsey

Chef Mick has done it again, folks! April 25 on MIX 99.9 (Toronto radio station) with hosts Mad Dog and Billie, Chef Mick competed against two other Toronto Chefs for the chance to meet Gordon Ramsey and won --- Hands Downs!

With hundreds of recipes submitted vying for the chance to win a meeting with Ramsey, Chef Mick blew away the competition with his Lobster (poached in butter) and battered Fish and Chips style, the taste testers were in heaven!!

The show was aired on Monday April 28 at 99.9FM as Chef Mick met everyone’s favourite culinary “devil”!!

Way to go Chef Mick, we can’t wait for the full report and to see the photo evidence!

Liaison College Oakville campus at Halton Skills competition

Halton Skills Competition is organized by Halton District school board every year, this year it was held at M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington. Dozens of schools, trainers, employers set up booths, Liaison College Oakville being one of them.

2000 - 3000 students came from schools all around the area to obtain information about their future. Oakville campus representatives were handing out free food samples and these were quite popular with the students wanting to try something they had never tried before. They served a Black Olive Tapenade with Citrus Infused Cream Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper on Crustini.

A draw was done as well, for a free Recreational Class and the lucky winner was Deshinie Alwis.

Liaison College Hamilton - Grand Opening

Oakville Campus organizes an event for CUMIS

CUMIS employees were at Liaison College Oakville campus to celebrate by having fun in the kitchen! Chef Juliana Vasiljevic, campus director, arranged all 18 employees into teams of three and assigned them with different food tasks. Each team was responsible for different parts of the meal, while Chef Juliana did the wine pairing.

Chef Jeff Recommended by His Students For Television Fame

The students at Barrie Campus nominate their own Chef Jeffrey Kenny to appear on the new (proposed) tv reality show about chefs: The Pressure Cooker. They recognize in Chef the playful, colourful, innovator we are proud to find among our instructors. Go for it Chef!

Read their submission. It's great fun!

March - 2008

Attention Choclate Lovers!

Chef Ana Paula Elliott (Liaison College Downtown & Durham) recently took her talents as a "chocolatier" on the road and shared her amazing knowledge and skills with a "Fun with Food" class in Kitchener. There were twenty eager learners on hand to watch and taste everything chocolate! As an added bonus, CR Visuals brought a videographer to capture the entire evening on DVD ( we hope to have a pod-cast available by the end of April ... ).

Steel Chef Hamilton Challenge '08, Hamilton Convention Centre

Lindsay Vandecamp of Liaison College, Hamilton Campus, was competing with David Collins of Greensville Gourmet, Dundas, at Steel Chef Hamilton. Each chef was required to create 2 unique cold dishes using a mystery ingredient that wasl only revealed at the competition. A guest panel did the judging with the $1000 prize money that went to a charity of the winner's choice. Saturday March 29, 2008. For more information visit foodanddrinkfest.com.

Liaison College inter campus competition

On Monday March 24th,2008 we held our inter campus competition at Liaison College Durham campus. We had 8 participants that included two students from Durham campus, two students from Barrie campus and one from each Hamilton, Kingston, Oakville and Downtown Toronto campuses. Students were cooking an already set menu by the judges. Winners from this competition will be competing in the Ontario Technological Skills Competition held in Waterloo on May 5-7, 2008. This event was the first leg of inter campus cook off, enjoy the complete story.

Liaison College on Discovery Channel

On March 8, 2008 the Discovery Channel was at the Oakville Campus. The event was called food and kids.

The CRFA Show 2008 Toronto

Liaison College held a booth at the CRFA Show this March in Toronto. CRFA brings together two major trade shows: HostEx and The Canadian Food and Beverage show. HostEx is Canada's largest hospitality trade show with nearly 10,000 food service professionals attending every year. The Canadian Food and Beverage show is dedicated to food suppliers for the hospitality industry. The trade show took place March 2-4, 2008 at the Direct Energy Center in Toronto.

February - 2008

Liaison College Toronto West joined CTV News at noon on February 27th

CTV News at Noon is a magazine program focusing on news, trends in health, food, wellness, and the weather.

Liaison College was chosen by the Pear Bureau Northwest to host the CTV noon show. The Pear Board had been at local schools in the Fall, and returned to Liaison College Lakeshore as they were impressed by our students. Wendy Barrett at the Pear Board felt that the students showed amazing talent.
Students were directed by the campus chefs Rupert Boreland ccc, Josh Heulman and Wendy Barrett from Pear Bureau.

Pear Bureau is a non-profit marketing organization established in 1931. This organization promotes, develops and advertises markets for fresh pears grown in Oregon and Washington. Pear Bureau has professional representatives who promote USA pears in countries around the world.

Liaison College Kitchener at Total Woman Show
At the Total Woman Show held recently in Kitchener at Bingeman Park, Liaison College Kitchener was centre stage!
Chef Brian Clafton wowed the crowd with his super easy and tasty appetizers: goat cheese, prosciutto and herb in a puff pastry cup. The aromas from the stage were mouth-watering! The jam-packed seating area was impressed with the simplicity of this complex dish.

The stage was sponsored by The Food Diva - an up and coming celeb foodie who, just before the Liaison College demo, showed the crowd how to make super easy grapes in bleu cheese covered with toasted walnuts. What an interesting (yet delicious) combo!

Liaison College Hamilton Campus new Location
We are excited to announce that Liaison College Hamilton Campus has moved to Lloyd D. Jackson Square, King street West, Unit 206. Classes start February 4th, 2008.

January - 2008

Kitchener Campus Graduation
Another wonderful graduation at Liaison College Kitchener Campus on January 29, 2008. A good time was had by all!

Liaison College voted Toronto's best in Culinary Arts
Liaison College of Culinary Arts wins 14th Annual Readers' Choice award (Silver) for best private/vocational school in Toronto.

Rudy Florio and Susanne Mikler on the air with The Wine Ladies
January 19, 2008 - Liaison College directors Rudy Florio and Susanne Mikler joined The Wine Ladies on air at 1050CHUM radio.

Oakville Campus Graduation
Another batch of students graduated from Liaison College (Oakville campus), graduation ceremony took place January 3, 2008.

December - 2007

Chef Ana Paula shares her appreciation for her Culinary Career, in Spanish!
Click here to read Chef Ana Paula's views on a career in the culinary industry.

Susanne Mikler becomes the new Chair of the WFIM organization, she takes the reigns from Donna Messer.
December 12, 2007 - (Oakville, ON) Susanne Mikler of Liaison College became the new chair of Women in Food Industry Management (WFIM). Click here to read more news from WFIM.

Liaison College recognized as Best School for 2008
December 6, 2007 - We are pleased to announce that the Foodservice News has awarded Liaison College the Best School Prize for 2008.

November

The Mayor learns Sushi!

On November 30th, 2007, the Durham Region Campus officially opened its doors and its kitchen! With dignitaries, such as Her Worship, Mayor Pat Perkins and Chamber of Commerce President, Wendy Matton (with gigantic scissors in tow!). Chef Mick and Ana Paula, the Campus Directors, were presented with a "welcome mat" - really, an actual mat - by the Mayor and a wonderful written plaque welcoming Liaison College was presented by the Chamber.

In Liaison College tradition of teaching culinary skills, Chef Mick gathered the crowd into the kitchen for a sushi demo. The twist was, the Mayor was going to do the work! Mayor Pat Perkins put her best culinary foot forward as she spooned rice onto the wrapping and then topped with vegetables. The trick was in the rolling, and the final test was cutting the California Roll to see if the sushi was shaped properly (vegetables neatly tucked into the centre of the rice). The Mayor was a grade A student and passed her test with flying colours! The best part is, of course, the eating … everyone was able to sample. Kudos to the guest Chef!

The excitement of opening the 10th Liaison College Campus, which will be a tasty addition to the Durham Region, was shared by all present. Everyone was keen to hear about the Diploma programs, recreational programs and Corporate Team Building offered at the Campus. The Whitby Chamber of Commerce is holding their networking breakfast at the Campus next week!

Thank you for your well-wishes as we welcome Liaison College Durham into the group! Please see www.liaisoncollegedurham.com for more details or contact Ana Paula Elliott at 905-430-0400 for more information.

Market skills on the menu at Liaison College
December 6, 2007 - Nick Candiotto writes about Liaison College. The article on Liaison College was published in Toronto Star.

Bon Appétit with Arlene
Read Arlene Mahood's Article on Cora's breakfast and lunch, published in Real Women Canada's November 2007 release.

Egg Solution
Winners were announced on November 15 for the Provincial Egg Recipe contest hosted by Egg Farmers Ontario.

Culinary Dream Fulfilled at Liaison College, Kitchener
November 26, 2007 - (Kitchener, ON) Today in Kitchener a small man did a big event!  Michael Druik may be less
than 5' tall, but his culinary skills and kitchen management were put to the test today as he presented his Chef of the Day luncheon.

Michael started his culinary dream as a result of his mother's love of the kitchen and their family heritage:  German and French.  Michael now uses his
old world flavours in his creations and tried it out on his guests today at lunch.  Coming from a background in building maintenance and construction,
Michael made the jump to culinary arts to fulfill his dream of creating dishes to please customers. 

Today was a testament to his determination as he offered a menu that was a delicious autumn feast:

Appetizers:
Fazool with Crostini
Shaved Fennel & Red Onion in a honey vinaigrette

Entree:
Smoked Salmon Sandwich Chicken and Mushroom Stew with Spatzle

Dessert:
Hot Hot Chocolate with White Chocolate Whipped Cream garnished with Cappuccino Biscotti

Michael will be completing the Cook Basic, Cook Advanced and Personal Chef programs at Liaison College.  He plans to continue his career in fine dining.

Well done and Bon Chance!!

The winners of the 10th Annual Canadian Culinary Book Awards announced November 2nd.

November 2, 2007 - (GUELPH, ON) Some of Canada’s top food professionals spent their summer at their stoves testing recipes and evaluating culinary books from more than 50 entrants and now Cuisine Canada and the University of Guelph are proud to announce the winners of the 10th annual Canadian Culinary Book Awards.

Winners in the English Cookbook Category are:

• Gold: Vij’s: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine by Vikram Vij and Meeru Dhalwala (Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., Vancouver)
• Silver: Lucy’s Kitchen: Signature Recipes and Culinary Secrets by Lucy Waverman (Random House Canada, Toronto)

Winners in the English Special Interest Category, books about food, but not cookbooks, are:

• Gold: Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World’s Most Seductive Sweet by Carol Off (Random House Canada, Toronto)
• Silver: Red, White, and Drunk All Over: a Wine Soaked Journey from Grape to Glass by Natalie Maclean (Doubleday Canada, Toronto)

Winners for the English Canadian Food Culture Category, books that best illustrate Canada’s rich culinary heritage and food culture are:

• Gold: Canadians at Table: Food, Fellowship, and Folklore: A Culinary History of Canada by Dorothy Duncan (Dundurn Press, Toronto)
• Silver: Hearth and Home: Women and the Art of Open Hearth Cooking by Fiona Lucas (James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Publishers, Toronto)

October

The “Eggstraordinary” 2007 Student Recipe Contest sponsored by Egg Farmers of Ontario searched for delicious, simple and innovative egg recipes in 3 categories:

• New Takes on the Classics: New versions of basic egg cooking methods such as recipes for omelettes, scrambled, poached, etc.
• Real in the Kitchen: Easy to prepare egg recipes using only 5 ingredients or less, with a total prep and cooking time of 20 minutes and a 3 step method.
• Cooking for a Crowd: Egg recipes with a yield of 24 – 48 servings.

Here are our finalists:

• Real in The Kitchen: Shelagh Reddy, Downtown campus; Lara Gillespie, Oakville; Veronica Mal, Downtown
• Cooking for A Crowd: Lara Gillespie, Oakville; Liz Foote, Oakville; Christine Amar, Vaughn
• New Takes on the Classics: Taryn Dixon, Downtown; Lara Gillespie, Oakville; Angela Clarke, Kingston

The final “Cook Off” takes place on Nov. 12, 2007 at 10 am at the Downtown campus. Celebrity judges include:

• Anita Stewart - Cuisine Canada
• Sebastian Cugno  ccc - North Peel SS
• Christopher Ennew ccc - Ste Annes Spa
• Paul Horychyk - Lewis Foods