Top Chef Canada judge Mark McEwan on food, f-bombs and the famed franchise
By Amartya Smaran
For over 10 seasons, Food Network’s Top Chef Canada entertained its fanbase and managed to carve a niche for itself as the go-to culinary competition show on Canadian TV. This fall, Top Chef Canada season 11 is all set to premiere on October 14, with ten well-accomplished competitors from all over Canada eyeing the title.
Top Chef Canada judge Mark McEwan on food, f-bombs and the famed franchise
Ahead of the show’s big premiere, INBETWEEN Magazine sat down with the show’s head judge and Toronto-based chef and restaurateur, Mark McEwan, to dig deeper into what makes Top Chef Canada a binge-worthy show.
Balance, confidence, and determination are the top three qualities that Chef Mark McEwan looks for in contestants. Asked about what puts him off while judging a contestant, McEwan remarked, “I get a little put off by people when some of the chefs get a little cocky and think they’re much better than they are and produce food that’s not very good.”
McEwan said he could give some harsh criticism but wouldn’t throw F-bombs at anybody about their food. “People wouldn’t buy that from me(laughs). Throwing plates across the kitchen? That’s not happening,” enthused McEwan.
Top Chef Canada judge Mark McEwan on food, f-bombs and the famed franchise
All the contestants on the show are experienced chefs with an impressive portfolio. Being a head judge on a prestigious show like Top Chef Canada is a huge responsibility. So, we wondered if that makes McEwan a tad stressful. “I think it’s pretty easy,” said the chef with a smile, “Because I know what I am talking about. All I have to do is taste food and tell you what I think. They do my hair, dress me, and put make-up on me. We have a lot of fun when we produce the show.”
The restaurateur made it very clear that he doesn’t pull any favourites. For McEwan, it’s all about cooking, and that’s the end game. The only stress the chef ever faces is when he feels things are not going in the right direction. “You have to tell the right story, and I think the audience wants the right story,” shared McEwan.
Celebrating the diverse heritage in the Canadian culinary space is one of the top-selling points of Top Chef Canada. The chef told us he likes authentic national cooking rather than fusion cooking. “We always have those conversations about what Canadian cuisine is, but it’s hard to define as it’s a patchwork of international cuisines. Because we’re so international, there’s a bleeding effect between cultures if you don’t take it too far. I think having all those influences in one place is a great thing. You can experience food in a hundred different directions at any given time,” he said.
Season 11 of Top Chef Canada premieres Monday, October 14 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network Canada or stream it on @STACKTV.