Garland Canada International Chef Challenge

The ferocity is real, the tension palpable and the culinary mastery unparalleled. Welcome to the Garland Canada International Chef Challenge, the most prestigious competition of the 2026 PEI International Shellfish Festival.

The heat is ON!

Watch in awe as award-winning chefs go head-to-head in an epic battle for the title of Garland Canada International Chef Challenge. It’s a race against the clock as the highly talented chefs are challenged to produce epic PEI shellfish dishes.

There’s no room for error in this high-stakes world-class culinary competition with a $10,000 cash prize on the line for first place. Competitors are expected to bring creativity and originality to their dishes and will be judged on presentation, taste, and menu. The chefs are going to have to put it all on the line to win!

$10K Up for Grabs

With a grand prize of $10,000 at stake, you won’t want to miss this exhilarating competition under the lights of the PEI International Shellfish Festival stage and in front of the live audience. Under the intense pressure of the clock, the chefs will be pulling out all the stops to prove they’ve got the culinary chops to be crowned winner of the 2026 Garland Canada International Chef Challenge.

Cheer on your favourite as the competition unfolds and that mighty PEI shellfish dishes are plated before your eyes – one of them is going to be worth a cool $10K!

This fierce competition is presented by Garland Canada in partnership with the Culinary Institute of Canada. Established in 2003, it is now one of Canada’s longest-running culinary competitions.

2026 Garland Canada International Chef Challenge Competitors:

CHEF THOSHAN ALWEERA
Vancouver, BC
Black + Blue

CHEF GREG ARSENAULT
Grand Tracadie, PEI
Fluke at Blackbush Resort

CHEF ALIJAH CASELLAS
Toronto, ON
The Westin Harbour Castle

CHEF STEVEN CHE
Vancouver, BC
Haisan

CHEF JORDAN DINIZ
Toronto, ON
ēst Restaurant

CHEF CATHERINE FRENETTE
Montreal, QC
Bon Vivant Table Fermière

CHEF CRYSTAL HIGGINS
Beaumont, AB
Chartier

CHEF ALLYSON HUYNH
Calgary, AB
Foxtrot at Spruce Meadows

CHEF TAYLOR McMEEKIN
Toronto, ON
Cluny Bistro

CHEF LUCY MORROW
Charlottetown, PEI
The Brickhouse Kitchen & Bar

CHEF HIROMI TSUJI
Osaka, Japan
Tsuji Wellness Cooking Shinsaibashi School and Harukas School

CHEF TYSON WRIGHT
Camrose, AB
The Old Red Barn

2026 Garland Canada International Chef Challenge Judges:

CHEF MARC LEPINE
Ottawa, ON

CHEF IRWIN MACKINNON
Charlottetown, PEI

CHEF CORBIN TOMASZEKI
Toronto, ON

2026 Garland Canada International Chef Challenge Winners:

1st Place: Chef Ally Huynh from Foxtrot at Spruce Meadows, Calgary, AB – $10,000
Runner Up: Chef Alijah Casellas from The Westin Harbour Castle, Scarborough, ON – $2,5000