Kootenay Granite Stone Soup chefs announced at live event

Secret challenge revealed and live draws for first-round match-ups

What:  2nd Annual Kootenay Granite Stone Soup Challenge kick-off press conference
When:  Tuesday, February 2, 2 p.m.
Where:  Kootenay Granite, 2373 Cranbrook St N, Cranbrook, BC V1C 3T3
Who: Competing chefs, Cranbrook and District Community Foundation, Salvation Army, Kootenay Granite and other event sponsors.

CRANBROOK – The 2nd annual Kootenay Granite Stone Soup Challenge kicks off Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 2 p.m. with a press conference announcing this year’s eight competing chefs from elite restaurants in Cranbrook and Kimberley. There will also be a live draw to decide initial chef match-ups, and an epic secret twist announced for the first round of competition – not even the chefs know what is in store for them. Chef competitions begins Feb 16.

In head-to-head elimination rounds, the local top chefs will put their culinary creativity to the test in the soup kitchen at the Salvation Army in Cranbrook, each preparing a daily soup using only the donated ingredients on hand. They will serve lunch to Salvation Army clients, who will vote on their favourite soup. The winner will move on to the next round while their culinary opponent is eliminated from the challenge.

The two chef finalists will face-off at an exciting luncheon fundraiser on Wednesday, March 2, noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort. Proceeds support the Cranbrook and District Community Foundation (CDCF) general endowment fund, which provides annual grants to non-profit organizations in the community, as well as the Salvation Army in their efforts to build a 24/7 shelter in Cranbrook for homeless men, women, and families throughout the East Kootenay.

The press conference is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to come down and show support for the talented chefs in our region and the homeless shelter project. Light snacks and refreshments will be offered.

Rusty and Graham

Last year’s first round of competition fueled friendly fire between friends and colleagues Chef Rusty Cox of the The Heidout Restaruant and Brewhouse and Chef Graham Barnes of Max’s Place. Will the two culinary geniuses meet again this year?

Stone Soup Final 2015

Last year Chef Shelby Schiller (centre) of BJ’s Diner and Creekside Pub in Kimberley reigned supreme, winning the final event with a family soup passed recipe through the generations. This year’s final event will be March 2.