Nov 06, 2009 - 04:30 AM

By Kristen Calis

PICKERING -- Top-notch chefs will soon dish it out at a Pickering high school, serving up tasty treats to the public to promote local food.

Dunbarton High School has been running a weekly farmers’ market on Mondays to promote local food and agriculture. And on Wednesday, Nov. 25, it’ll turn up the heat with the Dunbarton Culinary Challenge.

Fifteen local chefs will face off to showcase their talents, and will be judged by three guest judges with international culinary experience. For example, Terry Allen of George Brown College, has cooked for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family.

“They’re top chefs that are recognized not only nationally, but internationally as well,” said James Blair, a food science teacher at Dunbarton.

And those participating so far are also impressive, he said. Some already signed up to go head-to-head are chefs from Pickering hot spots Port Restaurant and Burbs Bistro and Bar.

The kick-off for the challenge took place Monday night at Dunbarton during the farmers’ market, and in attendance were Mayor Dave Ryan, Ward 1 Regional Councillor Bonnie Littley and members of the Durham Regional Food Charter, which has partnered with Dunbarton in the event as its main mandate is to promote local food.

Coun. Littley has for a long time been promoting local agriculture and local food in order to achieve a strong local economy.

Mr. Blair is of the same mind-set, and believes teaching the students the reality of food and local farming is one way to get there.

“The whole point for this is to get kids looking at the food business in itself,” he said, adding they also get that experience by participating in the farmers’ market.   

In fact, he believes farmers’ markets and hands-on programs promoting local food and agriculture should become provincially mandated in all schools.

“We’ve got such an abundance here of good things,” he said, and added too much of Durham’s prime farmland has turned into pavement.

Craig Dougall, Dunbarton’s department head of social sciences and humanities, said the school is already toying with possibly adding more hands-on courses regarding local food when a new curriculum is introduced in 2011.

“Then (the students) start making those real world connections in our community,” he said.

He’s even looking into creating the school’s own food garden. He emphasized the importance of actually showing the students how local agriculture works, not only talking about it.

“I think something like this is where the rubber hits the road,” he said.

Mr. Blair said people can still sign up to join the culinary challenge, but spaces are going fast.

“If you’re a chef and can make good local food, we’re definitely interested,” he said.

The event will include entertainment by local musicians and tastings. It will run from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Dunbarton (655 Sheppard Ave., Pickering).

Tickets for the general public are $5 to enter; $2 for soups; $3 for deserts; and $5 for main courses.

For tickets, to sign up, or for more information:

Call: 905-839-1125

E-mail: dunbartonchefchallenge@yahoo.com