2023 Awards Judges

Taste Canada Awards Jury

The Taste Canada Awards’ jury is comprised of volunteers from Canada’s culinary profession. Appointed by an independent selection committee, each judge abides by our Conflict of Interest Policy. Taste Canada Awards’ Board of Directors, staff, contractors, Advisory Board members, Category Coordinators, Selection Committee, sponsors, donors and spokespersons have no influence on the judging results, and in no way determine the award winners. For more information, visit Process & Policies.

Thank you to our judges from across the country, who provided their time and professional expertise to pour over the books, test away in their kitchens and exercise their taste buds to tackle the very difficult task of selecting the shortlist and award winners. Thank you, as well, the Category Coordinators who kept everything on track.

Category Coordinators/Coordonnateurs de catégorie

Barbara Barnes, Edmonton, AB: Barbara Barnes is a long time Edmonton-based professional home economist. Her specialization is food and nutrition. Barbara has extensive experience in recipe development, testing and writing. She is a former ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen manager. During the pandemic, Barbara kept in touch with her family and friends writing a weekly email food newsletter, a practise she continues. In 2021, she received the AHEA Fellow Award for her accomplishments in Home Economics.

Daphna Rabinovitch, Toronto, ON: Daphna has been involved in the food industry for over 35 years as a pastry chef, Test Kitchen Director for Canadian Living Magazine, co-host of the television show Canadian Living Cooks, and as a freelance writer, product and recipe developer. She has won two Taste Canada Awards, one for Canadian Living Cooks, Step by Step Cookbook and a gold for her latest cookbook, The Baker In Me.

Deborah Youden, St. John’s, NL: Deborah is a home economist and consultant who works with businesses engaged in international trade. She also delights in harvesting Newfoundland delicacies from the land and the sea. 

Karen Barnaby, Vancouver, BC: Chef, cookbook author, syndicated food columnist, and cooking instructor, Karen currently works as a product development consultant, food photographer and recipe developer. She is honored to be a part of the ever-changing landscape of food, and food writing, and loves discovering something new. 

Mary Ann Binnie, London, ON: A food-centric home economist who grew up on a dairy farm, Mary Ann has worked her entire career in agriculture, promoting wholesome, nutrient-rich foods, and is an active member of various Home Economics associations.

Patricia Masbourian, Montréal, QC: Patricia is the owner of Chez Nino, which is located in the Jean-Talon Market in Montreal and specializes in local and imported fruits and vegetables. Patricia also believes in the Slow Food movement and philosophy and promotes farm-to-table cuisine. She has been a judge and coordinator for many years with the Taste Canada Awards.

Judges/Juges

Alison Kent, Etobicoke, ON: An active and enthusiastic contributor to Canada’s food scene for more years than she’d care to count, Alison is equal parts food content creator, recipe developer, cookbook author, food editor and Red Seal-certified Chef. You can find her, albeit intermittently, on Instagram @Alicatchef.

Angie Quaale, Langley, BC: Angie is a champion for ALL things local. She is a chef, a cookbook author (Eating Local in the Fraser Valley, Random House 2018) and an entrepreneur. Angie lives in Langley, BC and has owned Well Seasoned Gourmet Foods Inc. since 2004. She is the Past President of the BC chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, has served as the Chair of Tourism Langley, Past-Chair and a founding board member of the Langley Community Farmers Market. If you’re looking to connect with Angie, please email her at askachef@wellseasoned.ca

Debra Mudryk, Edmonton, AB: Debra is a professional home economist who started her career as a District Home Economist with Alberta Agriculture. She has also worked as an Adult Educator with Consumer Education Project focusing on cooking and life skills, answered calls on the AB Food Safety Information Line and then spent 23 years as a home economist with ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen. Gardening and preserving food are some of her many hobbies.

Fina Scroppo, Maple, ON: Fina is an award-winning journalist, editor, and author of The Healthy Italian cookbook. Over the past 25 years, she has enjoyed working with some of the most successful cookbook authors, celebrity chefs, nutrition experts and media personalities to produce books and special-interest publications. Follow her on Instagram @thehealthyitalian

Heat Laliberte, Burnaby, BC: Heat is an Indigenous Red Seal Certified Chef. Originally from Saskatchewan, he made his way west and has worked in Vancouver’s best hotel, restaurant and catering companies for the last 18 years. He is currently Chef Consultant to the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre’s Catering Program and Chef for Vancouver’s favourite Food Truck Crack On! Follow him on Instagram @onearrowyvr.

Ian Bell, Abbotsford, BC

Jane Ruddick PhD, West Vancouver, BC: Jane is president of J.R. Food Consultants advising food producers and culinarians for many years. She is coach of Canada’s National Junior Culinary Team and is Provincial Bailli for British Columbia for the prestigious Chaine des Rotisseurs.

Jennifer Schell Lirag, Kelowna, BC: Jennifer Schell Lirag is a highly acclaimed, international award-winning food and wine author, columnist, photojournalist and champion of BC’s local food, wine and farm community for almost two decades. Jennifer’s bestselling new book The BC Wine Lover’s Cookbook published by Appetite by Random House continues the celebratory theme set in her first three award-winning cookbooks: The Butcher, The Baker, The Wine & Cheese Maker. Born and raised on an apple orchard in East Kelowna Jennifer and her books were the first to spotlight the amazing community of people behind the food, drink and farming community of the Okanagan. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, her Website, and YouTube.

Joanne Leese, Toronto, ON: Joanne’s professional experience includes working as pastry chef, offering demonstrations at major food exhibitions/shows and coordinating of one of Toronto’s most comprehensive cooking schools: The LCBO. Joanne has also worked with many of Canada’s most widely read food authors, doing recipe development and testing.

Jordan Hocking, Vancouver, BC: Jordan is the owner and founder of Sriracha Revolver Hot Sauce Inc. Cooking and eating makes Jordan feel like an artist and she loves the way food gathers community and family together. Jordan started her company in 2017 in hopes of inspiring other chefs at home to be creative, and eat well. Jordan is a Plains Cree (Paskwâwiyiniwak) food entrepreneur who is delighted by the innovative food community of which she is very grateful to be a part. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Lea Lehmann, Hébertville, QC 

Marie Edmond, St. Thomas, ON: A passion for all food from around the world, Marie relishes in trying new recipes and of course eating them! With an academic background in food and nutrition, Marie enjoys her role as a Senior Operations Team Leader at Maple Leaf Foods.

Marie-Josée Demers, Sherbrooke, QC: Marie-Josée est diplômée en cuisine du Centre de formation professionnelle du 24 juin de Sherbrooke dans les années 90. Très active dans le domaine de la restauration depuis 30 ans et riche d’un grand bagage d’expériences, elle est revenue enseigner son savoir à l’école où elle avait étudié. Elle partage ses compétences, son savoir et ses dernières découvertes, en contaminant tous ceux qui la côtoient. Vous la trouverez certainement un livre à la main ou dans un boisé près de chez vous en pleine cueillette de plantes sauvages, qui serviront à des projets futurs.

Marie-Josée Fortier, Montreal, QC

Moira Sanders, Mount Albert, ON: Author of the award-winning Harrow Fair Cookbook and Kitchen Table Cookbook, Moira has worked in the business of food for more than 25 years, including professional kitchens from Vancouver to France. Presently Moira cooks part-time for George Weston Limited in Toronto and she works at the East Gwillimbury Public Library. Her co-workers know that she can usually be found near the cookbook collection! Find her on Instagram @moira_sanders.

Nathalie Labelle, Laval, QC : Rédactrice, pigiste et blogueuse, Nathalie peaufine sa formation en cuisine au gré de ses voyages. Elle a terminé une formation en Gestion des pratiques socio-culturelles de la gastronomie, spécialité tourisme.  Ses voyages, ses formations en pâtisserie et en cuisine l’ont amenée à collaborer avec plusieurs magazines tel que Moi & Compagnie, Les Idées de ma maison et Coup de Pouce. Vous pouvez la suivre sur son blogue : www.itinerairesgourmands.com, @lamoureuse.desdesserts

Noelle Chorney, Saskatoon, SK: Noelle owns Tall Order Communications, specializing in content creation for multiple media — and her passion is food. She is the leader of Slow Food Saskatoon, Saskatoon’s head judge for the Canadian Culinary Championships and Managing Editor for The Gardener and Co-op Table Magazine.

Renée Boucher, Montréal, QC : Œuvrant dans le milieu de là restauration depuis plus de 30 ans, Renée a acquis et donné aux suivants son connaissances et sa passion pour le métier.  Directrice des services alimentaires dans résidence pour personnes autonome, chef propriétaire d’une boutique traiteur, chef exécutive et formatrice pour le programme sceaux-rouge, apprentissage en milieu de travail.

Renée Grégoire, Montréal, QC : Après l’obtention d’un bac en design graphique, Renée a occupé divers postes de création dans le milieu de l’édition et du magazine. Après son passage au magazine ELLE Québec, elle se spécialise en conception d’image de marque mais surtout en éditions sur mesure. De 2006 à 2016, elle travaille plus particulièrement, à la direction artistique des magazines Cellier et Tchin Tchin de la SAQ. Forte de son expertise et de ses rencontres dans le milieu du vin et de la gastronomie, elle fonde en 2017, lasphereculinaire.ca qui s’articule autour du plaisir de voyager par la cuisine.

Sean Bromilow, Richmond, BC: Sean is a food, science, and education writer behind the website Diversivore.com, which was awarded best individual blog in 2017 by Taste Canada and in 2021 by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. He loves to examine the intersections between biodiversity, food culture and culinary education. He lives in Richmond, British Columbia with his wife and three very hungry kids. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Stephanie Lavigne, Sherbrooke, QC : Diplômée en cuisine au Centre de formation 24 juin à Sherbrooke au début des années 2000, elle a exploré plusieurs domaines de l’alimentation dont l’enseignement au même centre qui l’a formé et le partage de sa passion au travers les ateliers de La Tablée des Chefs. Depuis, la cuisine est toujours demeurée sa principale passion et son besoin de jumelée alimentation et santé est devenue une quête.

Suzanne Sorgi, Evain, QC : Suzanne est épouse, maman et grand-maman de plusieurs petites enfants. Elle travail dans le domaine de la comptabilité depuis plusieurs années. Sa passion est de nourrir sa grande famille avec des repas, santé, nourrissait et très diversifies. De descendance Québécoise et Italien, elle adore expérimenter des recettes de sa famille, mais tout autant decouvir toutes les types de cuisine. Elle et son conjoint, Jacques, cuisine toujours ensemble et il prefere oser du nouveau a chaque répas. Une passionnée de bon repas et une grande tablée. 

Sylvain Arès, Montréal, QC : Conseiller volontaire pour Catalyste+. 40 années d’expérience diverses dans plusieurs milieux du secteur de l’alimentation provinciale, nationale et internationale. Dernièrement, Expert cuisine aux olympiades de la formation professionnelle au Québec et membre du comité technique national en cuisine pour Skills Canada à Winnipeg 2023.

Virginie Beauchamp, Victoria, BC : Virginie Beauchamp est une femme passionnée ! Elle a œuvré dans le milieu évènementiel et a eu sa propre entreprise de conciergerie à Montréal. Habitant maintenant à Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique, elle sillonne la ville à la découverte de bonnes adresses gourmandes. Elle est chroniqueuse gastronomique et partage son carnet de bonnes adresses à Radio Canada Vancouver à l’émission Panorama et dans certains journaux locaux. Virginie a aussi collaboré avec l’équipe du magazine Montréalais Caribou et a animé plusieurs circuits gourmands. Instagram @viebeauchamp

Virginie Landry, Montréal, QC : Journaliste dont les sujets de prédilection sont l’alimentation, le tourisme et la culture, Virginie rédige pour plusieurs publications, dont le magazine Caribou, le journal Le Devoir ainsi que de nombreuses plateformes numériques.  

Wendi Hiebert, Kitchener, ON: As a professional home economist, Wendi has developed and edited countless recipes for websites and publications, including cookbooks. Her food-focused career has included working as the Food and Nutrition Specialist for Egg Farmers of Ontario, a food and recipe columnist for several newspapers, an Extension Home Economist with Manitoba Agriculture and a Family Studies teacher.

**Please note that some judges prefer to remain anonymous.

Judges’ Selection Committee/Comité de sélection des juges

Karen Barnaby
Barbara Barnes
Patricia Masbourian