Honourable Robert Vessey, Minister of Tourism and Culture sends congratulations to PEI Chef Michael Smith for his well fought culinary effort against Bobby Flay on an episode of Iron Chef America.
“Michael is an award winning author, columnist, restaurant chef and our very own PEI culinary ambassador,” said Minister Vessey. “Anyone watching the Sunday evening airing would have heard Michael make mention of Prince Edward Island and PEI food ingredients several times. Wherever he makes an appearance, he is sure no one forgets where he comes from.”
Winner of the James Beard Award for Cooking Show Excellence, Smith is also host of Chef at Home, Chef at Large and The Inn Chef on Food Network Canada and in 26 other countries. His third cookbook, Chef at Home, is a hit across Canada.
Smith is the host of the PEI Fall Flavours festival and an active partner with the Department of Tourism and Culture to promote PEI as a great place to live and visit.
“My Department is very proud to partner with Michael to promote the culinary assets of Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Vessey. “Our theme for 2010 is the ‘Year of Culinary.’ With a newly established Culinary Alliance, we will continue to build Prince Edward Island experiences that increase awareness and exposure of Island products over the next few years.”
The Culinary Alliance is made up of several different stakeholders including: the Department of Agriculture; the Department of Tourism and Culture; the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development; and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, along with representatives from the PEI Seafood Processors Association, Tourism, PEI Potato Marketing Board, Culinary Institute of Canada, PEI Restaurant Association, PEI’s Chef Association, The Meetings and Convention Partnership, and various other members at large.
The goal of the Alliance is to position Prince Edward Island as a premium brand in tourism and food exports (lobster, potatoes, oysters and mussels). By finding unique ways to collaborate with stakeholders, the Alliance will work together to build the Prince Edward Island brand.