Alexandre Grenier, Ascot Corner, QC 

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

Athéna F. Paradis, Sherbrooke, QC 

Camille Brunelle, Québec, QC

Eric Verpeaslt, Blainville QC

Gabby Peyton, St. John’s, NL: Gabby is an award-winning author, food writer and culinary historian based in St. John’s, NL. Her work on travel, dining and culinary history has appeared in The Globe and Mail, Canadian Geographic, and EnRoute Magazine. Gabby’s first book, Where We Ate:  A Field Guide to Canada's Restaurants, Past and Present, is a bestseller and chronicles the history of Canadian dining through the stories of 150 restaurants nationwide. Follow on Instagram. 

Gaetan Tessier, Boileau, QC ; Gaetan Tessier, chef et chocolatier consultant, Lauréat Renaud Cyr 2004, membre coordonnateur de la compétition meilleur apprenti cuisinier du Québec pour la Société des chefs, cuisiniers et pâtissiers du Québec, membre des Disciples d’Escoffier du Canada, mentor en éducation professionnelle pour l’Université de Sherbrooke, évaluateur de porte folio en formation professionnelle pour l’UQAR , a enseigné en Cuisine durant 35 ans, chef invité à enseigné dans 8 lycées en Finlande.On retrouve ses diplômes au Québec, au Canada, en France , à Bangkok et dansa 3 étoiles Michelin à New York. Il a entrainé nombre de jeune apprenti pour des compétitions et possède à son actif plus de 25 médailles et trophées, pigiste pour Radio Canada Ottawa.

Imrun Texeira, Oakville, ON: Chef Imrun Texeira is a Red Seal Certified Chef with over 17 years of experience, trained in world-renowned kitchens including three Michelin-starred Noma in Copenhagen. He has appeared on Top Chef Canada and Chopped Canada, and has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 and a Restaurants Canada Leader Award recipient. Imrun is redefining modern Canadian cuisine through innovation, storytelling and purpose. As Chief Ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project, he advocates for mental health, well-being, and sustainability in the culinary industry. A speaker, content creator, and host of 'Kitchen Rags to Riches', he continues to inspire the next generation of culinary leaders. 

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 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.

Jordan Hocking, Vancouver, BC: Jordan is a passionate home cook, world traveller, and proud member of Sweetgrass First Nation (Treaty 6 territory). As the founder of Sriracha Revolver Hot Sauce, she blends global flavours with Cree values of feasting, nourishment and community connection. For over eight years, Jordan has used hot sauce as a vehicle for cultural expression, healing and grassroots giving. Through her work, she continues to carve space for Indigenous food entrepreneurs and celebrate the power of food as ceremony. Follow Sriracha Revolver on Instagram @sriracharevoler 

Karen Hogg, Toronto, ON: Food is Karen's love language. Growing up she spent summers on family farms in southern Saskatchewan where she developed a deep appreciation of farm-to-table. Surrounded by a family of incredible home cooks inspired Karen, and today she loves sharing her creations with family and friends. She devours cookbooks, reading them cover to cover like novels, imagining and savouring the dishes — even if she doesn't always make them. Her passion for food and cookbooks led her to Taste Canada where she volunteered since 2023 at the Awards Gala and Cooks the Books events.

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-serge Blais, Québec, QC :

Meredith Youngson, Hamilton, ON:

Michel Giguere, Montréal, QC : Infatigable et insatiable explorateur d'événements gourmets et de spécialités locales, Michel se fait un devoir de tester régulièrement de nouvelles façons de faire en cuisine. À l'affut de curiosités et d'expériences gustatives inédites, il n'aime rien de plus que de faire partager ses trouvailles à ceux qui l'entourent.

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.

Nicole-Ann Poitras, Burnaby, BC: Nicole-Ann has been involved in the food service and hospitality industry for more than 20 years in various roles mainly concentrating on marketing and event production. Nicole-Ann lives in Burnaby, BC and owns Purple Chili Consulting, where she works with brands across many sectors. She is a member of the BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier, is passionate about mentoring students at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, her alma mater, and is a past board member of FarmFolk CityFolk and the HR MacMillan Space Centre. Follow Nicole-Ann on Instagram:  @nicoleann_poitras

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.

Raquel Fox, Toronto, ON: Chef and TV Expert, Raquel Fox is the award-winning author of Dining in Paradise, also celebrated in 2019 at Canada’s Table (Fort York). As a Foodland Ontario spokesperson and recipe developer, she’s an avid locavore and proprietor of Island Gurl Foods available in mainstream supermarkets throughout Canada. Winner of 2022 Canadian Top 25 Immigrant Award, and 2023 Waterfront Culinary Arts Award for outstanding women. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @islandgurlfoods

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.

Samira Zarghami, Toronto, ON: Samira Zarghami is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and sustainability advocate with over 30 years of experience dedicated to harmonizing human and planetary health. Passionate about food in every sense, she believes every plate should be colourful, nourishing and kind to the earth. Her work blends science, technology, and heart—making healthy eating simple, intuitive and joyful. Since 2022, Samira has volunteered with Taste Canada, celebrating chefs and authors who bring food and culture into Canadian homes. Guided by her belief in nourishing people and the planet through science, soil, and soul, she inspires a future of mindful, joyful eating.

Sarah Carrier, Sherbrooke, QC :

Sonia Lizotte, L’Épiphanie, QC : Sonia est la fondatrice de l’Escouade culinaire. Comptant près de 20 ans d’expérience dans le domaine de l’alimentation, elle dirige avec passion cette entreprise florissante ! Sonia Lizotte travaille avec plus de 30 entreprises alimentaires en développement de recettes, photos culinaires et contenus de réseaux sociaux. Elle se spécialise particulièrement dans la mise en valeur des produits tant par ses recettes uniques que par son stylisme culinaire personnalisé. Mme Lizotte a neufs livres de recettes à son actif. Elle compte aussi plus de 20 livres de recettes en stylisme culinaire et accessoires. Sonia Lizotte se réalise aussi pleinement dans son rôle de coaching d’auteur.

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.

Timothée Kételle, Saint Bruno de Montarville, QC :

Virginie Beauchamp, Montréal, QC : Virginie Beauchamp est une femme passionnée ! Elle a œuvré dans le milieu évènementiel et a eu sa propre entreprise de conciergerie à Montréal. 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.  

Zoe Currelly, Salt Spring Island, B.C. As a trained chef, Zoe has had a varied career from cooking in remote mining camps and film sets, creating and selling a small food company, to recipe development and marketing. Currently managing a specialty food shop on Salt Spring Island, Zoe can mostly be found in the kitchen or gathering the nerve for an ocean cold plunge.

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