From a media release:
TORONTO’S CARL HEINRICH WINS THE TITLE OF CANADA’S TOP CHEF
Following 12 weeks of grueling challenges and heated kitchen battles, Toronto-based Chef Carl Heinrich (formerly of Marben) is the winner of the second season of Top Chef Canada.
Monday night’s season finale on Food Network Canada saw the native of Sooke, BC, claim top honours in the ultimate test of skill and creativity by defeating 15 of Canada’s brightest culinary talents. Heinrich receives the grand prize of $100,000 courtesy of SpongeTowels and a GE Monogram Kitchen valued at over $30,000, in addition to claiming the sought-after title of Canada’s Top Chef.
Heinrich competed against Toronto’s Chef David Chrystian (Victor Restaurant), Ottawa’s Chef Jonathan Korecki (Sidedoor Contemporary Kitchen and Bar) and Vancouver’s Chef Trevor Bird (newly-opened Fable) in a surprise final challenge that saw three previously eliminated competitors given the chance to cook themselves back into the finale. Chrystian won his way back into the competition, joining Heinrich, Korecki and Bird in a final challenge in front of special guest judge and renowned master of contemporary Indian cuisine, Chef Vikram Vij (Vij’s Restaurant in Vancouver).
Heinrich most recently served as Executive Chef at Marben, before leaving in February 2012 to work on his soon-to-open restaurant in downtown Toronto. After completing his studies at Stratford Chef School in Stratford, Ontario, Heinrich went on to train under some of the world’s most renowned chefs including Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse.