I call them “kitchen ninjas” because they are the top Canadian culinary talent – 8 of the country’s best chefs are arriving in Kelowna for their final showdown when one will be given the title of Champion at Gold Medal Plates. It’s the biggest cooking competition in Canada, linked with the Olympics since it’s a fundraiser for Canada’s athletes. The competition draws stars from all walks: star chefs competing and judging, star food media, star athletes (past gold medal-winning Olympic athletes), and star entertainers. Best of all, for the next five years the competition will hold its final gastronomic showdown right here in Kelowna. If you’re coming in from out-of-town for the event, here are some accommodation deals you can check out.

Taking place on February 18 and 19, Gold Medal Plates and the Canadian Culinary Championships will feature the chefs from across the country who won the first round of Gold Medal Plates competitions in their respective cities. Get to know the competing chefs for 2011. The title of culinary champion will be decided on after three grueling competitions taking place Friday evening, Saturday morning, and the final gala evening on Saturday night. Tickets are still available for the Saturday night gala.

Along with the intrepid chefs, a star-studded cast of athletes and entertainers will also bring pizzazz to the events. Performers Colin James and Barney Bentall will headline the entertainment on Saturday evening. Gold medalist Adam Kreek will hand out the top prize to the winning chef while audiences will get to vie for glittering auction items like trips hosted by Olympians and performers such as the “World’s Greatest Pub Crawl to the Yorkshire Dales” with gold medal Olympian Jon Montgomery and comedian Ron James or and “Wining and Dining in Napa” with gold medal Olympians Catriona Le May Doan and Jenn Heil and performer Colin James.

It is gearing up to be an intense weekend of mad ingredient shopping, feverish recipe planning, cut-throat wine pairing, and ingenious flavor creation. For one victorious chef, this Kelowna win will be a springboard for an illustrious career. For the lucky spectators who have their tickets to the events, it promises to be a weekend of superb tastes and inspiring stories. For Kelowna, this is another ringing endorsement from national culinary heavy-weights that believe in this area as an emerging foodie gem. And with our own star chefs cooking in this city, our incredible Kelowna wineries and our wealth of fresh produce and specialty farms, the evidence is certainly already in place to support them.