Cree culinary student has recipe for success

Nemaska resident Katrina Orr, a first-year culinary management student at Canadore College in North Bay, took home top prize at the Decadence Gala’s Battle of Ontario February 22 along with team member William Arnaud. Arnaud and Orr, a mother of four, impressed the judges and gala participants with their dish of pan-seared Arctic char and a maple syrup brûlée with kimchi and bannock.

The Canadian Food and Wine Institute organized the contest, in which five pairs of students from colleges across Ontario had to win over five celebrity chef judges and the participants of the Decadence Gala. The panel judges’ votes counted for half of the score with participants giving the other half.

The final tally had the Canadore College team ahead by only three points. “I think the reason why a lot of people liked our dish was because it was very simple,” Orr explained. “It was basically bread, coleslaw, and fish.” Orr credits the simplicity of the dish because the lack of competing flavours made for a sumptuous meal.

This year’s panel included TV personalities Anna Olson, International pastry chef Richard Braunauer, author and entertainer Ted Reader and International Food Olympics award-winner chef John Cirillo. Along with their prize of a complete set of Le Creuset cookware and a Garland Canada Induction cook top, Arnaud and Orr received congratulations from Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin.

The fourth edition of Niagara College Canada’s Decadence Gala included the Battle of Ontario. The event brings together the many culinary institutes of Ontario for a weekend of family activities, competitions and, of course, decadent food focusing on ice wine and chocolate.

The success is a big boost to Orr’s studies at Canadore College. “It’s quite an achievement and it’s quite impressive to have on a resume, that’s for sure,” said Orr.

Her children were thrilled and cheered her return home by yelling, “You won first place!” Orr’s immediate goal is to complete her studies and begin working towards a red seal certification that recognizes 5,000 hours as a working apprentice.