by Laurie McConnell, Webmaster
Chef Spencer Watts, of the Restaurant at Painted Boat, has been selected to be part of Team BC at the 23rd World Culinary Olympics to be held in Erfurt, Germany October 6-9 2012. Each region’s team is made up of five members, one back-up member, and one manager. Since 1998, TEAM BC has won one Silver and 4 Golds on the world stage – a highly impressive tally.
SPENCER WATTS FUNDRAISER
To help assist Chef Watts with the costs associated with participating, The Restaurant at Painted Boat is hosting a fundraiser dinner on September 4th at Painted Boat. All food and wine are being supported by Resort suppliers, and the resort’s staff are volunteering to support the cause. All proceeds will go directly to Chef Spencer Watts to cover his travel expenses.
Tickets are $100/pp and I think they will go fast – it’s a big deal to have the Sunshine Coast represented on the BC team on the global culinary stage!
The evening promises to be entertaining and food, of course, delicious.
The event begins at 6:00pm on the 4th at The Restaurant at Painted Boat. For reservations and ticket information call 604-883-3000.
Or donations can be made at the Royal Bank in Sechelt, account # 05010-5057641, Spencer Watts Culinary Olympics.
BIOGRAPHY SPENCER WATTS
Chef Watts has been at the helm of the Painted Boat destination restaurant for over three years, but this isn’t his first brush with fame. In 2006, Mr. Watts was one of 60 chefs competing in the ‘Eat Vancouver Master Chef Competition’ – and took the title. His Spence on the Coast restaurant in Vancouver, though only open for two years (I think due to a challenging location more than any other reason), was noted for its gutsy choices, beautiful presentation and one of the most beautiful restaurant interiors on the Coast, then or now.
His menus remain exciting and innovative in Pender Harbour, and are well worth the drive for any occasion – even if it’s just a beautiful day to drive to Madeira Park. Vichyssoise, crazy-different Dungeness Crab, smoked local Sturgeon, west coast Cioppino… delicious. Best of all for wine afficiandos, The Restaurant at Painted Boat is a part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts and so benefits from wine-sourcing by CRMR’s Wine Director, Brad Royale, and includes such notable wineries as La Grave, Church & State, Vincent Girardin, Las Brisas Verdejo, Pierre Gimonnet, Spinifex Granache, Elias Mora and even select reds & whites beautifully described in the wine menu.
Chef Watts has also played host to the main dinner for the Sunshine Coast Mushroom Festival, held every year in late October. I’ve been there when he has contemplated the foragers treasures post-foray, and tasted everything from Shaggy Manes to the ubiquitous Chanterelle to the heady Cauliflower mushroom – it makes the event for me.
Let’s all support Chef Spencer Watts and send a bit of the Sunshine Coast to Germany for 2012.
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