Vladimir Putin himself wouldn’t have been out of place Thursday night at the Victoria Conference Centre, where on-to-Russia-with-love was the prevailing theme during the glitzy Gold Medal Plates fundraiser to support Canada’s Olympic athletes.
Volunteers garbed in traditional Russian clothing in honour of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi offered guests Iceberg vodka and caviar before 10 of B.C.’s top chefs competed in a culinary competition with an Olympic twist.
Brian Skinner of Vancouver’s The Acorn won the gold for his smoked king oyster mushrooms, braised shallots and mushroom jus, meaning he can now compete for the national title at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna next February.
Silver medallist was Darren Brown of Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, for his Kalua pork belly with lotus root poi, pineapple-maple mustard glaze, pork cracklings and garlic greens. The bronze medal went to Sonora Resort’s Terry Pichor, who wowed the jury headed by James Chatto with his foie gras-filled ravioli, butternut squash purée and Thiessen Farms duck.
Russ Courtnall, who was looking dapper in a blue pin-striped suit, had flown up from Los Angeles to join his brother Bruce, the chairman of the event marking Victoria’s debut as host city for the B.C. competition for the next three years.
“They don’t wear suits in L.A.,” quipped ex-NHLer Russ, well-aware he was more dressed up than usual.
Russ, who got involved with GMP when he hosted a charity event in L.A. with Wayne Gretzky three years ago, recalled suggesting to CEO Stephen Leckie he should consider Victoria as a potential successor to Vancouver as B.C.’s host city.
“I volunteered Bruce!” said Russ, happy to be back where they and their brother Geoff have raised so much money to increase mental health awareness.
“Russ had to show up. That was part of the deal,” laughed Bruce. “Three months later I ran into Jim Cuddy at a Blue Rodeo concert and he said, ‘I hear you’re chairing the Gold Medal Plates event.’ I said ‘Maybe.’ He said, ‘No, you’re hosting it.’ ”
The Blue Rodeo frontman, Barney Bentall, his son Dustin, Kendal Carson, Daniel Lapp and members of Spirit of the West later got the crowd dancing with entertainment augmented by a live auction of international trips with athletes and musicians.
Bruce said he was elated the sold-out event drew nearly 500 guests.
“I always said it was unique,” said Bruce. “We have so many Olympians who live here — past, present and hopefully some future ones.”
His mother, Kathy Newman, was clearly happy to be there.
“I haven’t seen Russ since May,” she said with mock disapproval. “But we’ll be going down to see them for Thanksgiving.”
Retired Olympic triathlon gold medallist Simon Whitfield, wearing a foot cast and hoisting a metal cane, stood out among a contingent of Olympians including Adam Kreek, the 2008 Olympic gold-medallist who emceed, and curling bronze medallist Julie Skinner.
“Soccer!” Whitfield said, anticipating the inevitable injury question. “I’m an intra-mural junkie!”
Whitfield, a longtime supporter, admitted he was under a new kind of pressure at this year’s event.
“When I came before I ate and drank what I wanted to but there’s pressure not to eat and drink as much tonight because I know tomorrow I’m not going to burn off 8,000 calories,” the affable athlete said with a grin.
It was the chefs who were under the most pressure, however.
“We have to be fabulous,” said Vista 18’s Garrett Schack, who “went out on a limb” by preparing a dessert paired with a Twisted Oak Scotch Ale from Phillips Brewing.
His creation? Sweet potato beignet with honey chocolate and brown butter ice cream. “Brown butter to me might as well be cologne. I love it.” said Schack.
