Ottawa chef Yannick La Salle advances to 2027 Canadian Culinary Championship
La Salle, who cooks for the Supreme Court of Canada, won Monday's regional qualifier at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine on Elgin Street, beating four other top Ottawa chefs.
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Yannick La Salle, chef for the Supreme Court of Canada, won the Ottawa-area regional qualifier for the 2027 Canadian Culinary Championship on Monday night, advancing to the national competition in January.
The sold-out event at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine on Elgin Street featured five competing chefs who have all won previous editions of the Ottawa-based qualifier. La Salle's dish was chosen as best by a blind judging panel that scored entries on taste, presentation, texture, technique, beverage compatibility and wow factor, with a maximum of 100 points per dish.
Jason Sawision, chef-owner of Stofa on Wellington Street, finished second. Ian Carswell, chef-owner of Black Tartan Kitchen in Carleton Place, placed third. Lizardo Becerra, who owns Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine and Barrio in downtown Ottawa, and Joe Thottungal, owner of Coconut Lagoon and Thali, also competed. Thottungal won silver at the national level in 2017.
Six judges, including Marc Lepine of Atelier and Briana Kim of Antheia — both past winners of the Canadian Culinary Championship — evaluated the dishes blind, without knowing which chef prepared which plate.
La Salle won the national championship in 2019 while cooking at Les Fougères in Chelsea. He left that position in 2022 to become chef for the Supreme Court of Canada.
"It was an incredible evening filled with talent, passion, and, most importantly, great camaraderie from start to finish," La Salle said Tuesday morning. "I would like to congratulate all the participating chefs on their exceptional work."
The 2027 national championship will be held in Ottawa on January 29 and 30, marking the 20th anniversary of the competition. The format has changed to a two-chef team competition. La Salle will represent Ottawa as part of Marc Lepine's team.
"I'm incredibly excited for the national competition and being a part of chef Marc Lepine's team," La Salle said. "It won't be easy, but we're going to bring the heat and give it everything we've got."
Good to know
Who won the Ottawa regional qualifier for the 2027 Canadian Culinary Championship?
Yannick La Salle, chef for the Supreme Court of Canada, won the Ottawa-area regional qualifier on Monday, September 21, 2026, at Raphaël Peruvian Cuisine on Elgin Street.
When and where is the 2027 Canadian Culinary Championship?
The 2027 national championship will be held in Ottawa on January 29 and 30, 2027, marking the 20th anniversary of the competition.
What criteria did judges use to score the dishes?
The blind judging panel scored entries on taste, presentation, texture, technique, beverage compatibility, and wow factor, with a maximum of 100 points per dish.
How has the format of the national championship changed?
The format has changed to a two-chef team competition, and Yannick La Salle will represent Ottawa as part of Marc Lepine's team.
