Amateur chefs put skills to the test during My Neighbourhood Bites

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Friday, 07 December 2012 13:49

A new generation of Ottawa chefs are coming out of the woodwork lately, and with events like My Neighbourhood Bites just around the corner, they're sure to be featured even more. Presented by Taboo Eats, this amateur cooking competition will highlight just how far the Ottawa food scene has come, calling residents' and visitors' attention to the young and experimental chefs making a name for themselves.

As many as 12 events will take place during the winter and early spring, so future visitors staying in Ottawa hotels should keep their calendars open for any or all of the following activities:

Wellington West, December 15
The Wellington West neighbourhood will be the starting point for this year's festivities at the Cube Gallery, and the Ottawa Citizen recently had a sneak peek as to what visitors can expect if they attend the dinner December 15. Five judges attended the private tasting dinner, picking which meals will make the cut for the big event. Test dishes included corn and clam chowder, Québec tourtière with an Asian twist and a surprisingly healthy yogurt parfait.

Centretown, January 12
The Babylon Nightclub will host Centretown's contribution to My Neighbourhood Bites, and chefs are currently pulling out their recipes to determine who will be featured. From 6-10 p.m. on January 12, participants will have the important task of choosing which dishes are the best, judging based not only on taste, but also presentation and aroma. For $20, attendees will be given five tasting cards so they can pick and choose which bites to try. Foodies should get the tickets while they're still available!

Giving back to Ottawa
As with many events in the Ottawa area, much of the proceeds go toward a good cause, and Taboo Eats' My Neighbourhood Bites will include stands where visitors can donate non-perishable food items to the Ottawa Food Bank. Following the event, a cookbook will be made from the winning dishes and proceeds from the sales will also go to the Food Bank.