Win two tickets: “Lunch with Lynn” at NAIT Ernest’s Restaurant, March 13
Food Network celebrity chef Lynn Crawford will be in Edmonton for NAIT’s Chef in Residence program March 10-14. Yeah! I adore her and have been hoping for this announcement for a few years now! Chef Lynn will be the first woman to be honoured with this opportunity since the Hokanson Chef in Residence program started in 2009 with Canadian celebrity chef Rob Feenie. That one I missed. The chef in residence program, now in its sixth year, provides students in the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts with a rare opportunity to learn firsthand from the best chefs in North America.
David Adjey made his mark in the city in 2010 and I had the opportunity to be treated to an exclusive evening with him alongside a select number of other local food bloggers and writers. I even had the courage to make and take one of his signature recipes to that event for him to critique. Susur Lee was there in 2011 and made a big impression on the students through his intense focus and generous spirit. Massimo Capra’s large personality filled NAIT kitchens in 2012 and Chris Cosentino challenged the students in 2013. He is the second Chef in Residence I missed. Believe me, I would have been there if I could have been! The program is made possible as a result of a generous donation from John and Susan Hokanson. The kitchens behind Ernest’s were built with a donation from the Hokanson’s. This contribution has significantly impacted the culinary progam at NAIT an elevated it to world class status and certainly an esteemed choice in Canada.
Chef Lynn will be preparing a three-course luncheon “Lunch with Lynn” at Ernest’s Restaurant on March 13 from 11:30-1:30 with the students at NAIT as a culmination of her time with them. And, dear readers, you have the opportunity to win 2 tickets to attend! This is the kind of give-away that warms my soul. Each Chef in Residence event I have attended has been unforgettable.
I was thrilled to announce that Chef Crawford will be presenting at Christmas in November in 2014, and equally thrilled to make this announcement
and am certain there will be tingles of excitement throughout our entire food community.
“The Hokanson Chef in Residence Program continues to give Culinary Arts students and faculty the opportunity to experience the talents and philosophies of our visiting chefs,” said Perry Michetti, associate dean of the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. “Having Lynn Crawford as our 2014 Hokanson Chef in Residence is simply brilliant! She brings an incredible amount of knowledge, experience and passion.”
“I’m honoured to be part of the Hokanson Chef in Residence program and spend a week working directly with NAIT students and learning from the experience,” said Crawford. “I look forward to sharing my experiences and philosophies with these up-and-coming chefs.”
How to Win the Pair of Tickets to Celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford NAIT luncheon March 13
The Deets:
- arrangements will be made for luncheon ticket pick-up immediately after the winner is announced March 5th, 2014
- contest will close at 6 pm March 4th, 2014 (you would think I was giving away a car with all of this information!)
- the winner will be announced via e-mail March 5th, 2014, and I will attach the name to the bottom of this post with congratulations at that same time for all to see
- all of the names will go in a hat (this is the way we do it at our house) and my husband will draw the winner; each name will go in for each entry as outlined below
- yes, you can enter your name more than once (read below)
To enter the contest, you must do #1 or #2; the other ideas are opportunities for extra entries:
- Write a comment on this post that includes one of the following (if you respond to all three in three separate comments, you get three entries):
- a favorite Lynn Crawford memory from her many TV appearances
- a favourite Lynn Crawford recipe, if you have tried one, and a link to it, if you have it
- any knowledge or experience you have with the NAIT culinary program which could include eating at Ernest’s, attending an event there, or being a culinary student
- OR write a comment about why you want to win the tickets for this luncheon and who you will bring (if you do both #1 and #2 you will be entered for each comment)
- Follow me on Twitter: has to be a new follow to count, sorry
- Tweet the contest and include @acanadianfoodie in the tweet so I can count it as an entry in the draw; you can tweet daily (each tweet counts as an entry into the draw): sample tweet (you can use) here: WIN 2 tickets @CHEF_LYNN
#naitfood “Lunch with Lynn” @acanadianfoodie DON’T miss out!#NAIT students cook!#yegfood http://wp.me/p2OMxc-eM3 - Like my Facebook page: (and I am talking the page, not this post) has to be a new “like” to count, sorry
- You can also get an extra entry if you share the link to this post and this contest on your own personal Facebook page and include “Valerie McKinney Rodgers Lugonja” in that post with the link
NOTE: please make sure you leave an e-mail with your comment below so that I can reach you to let you know if you are the winner!
That’s an opportunity for A LOT of entries. I hope you take advantage of this opportunity as I KNOW this prize is definitely worth it.
Want to buy tickets?
Instead of going through all this nonsense to win them?
No problem!
A limited number of tickets to Lunch with Lynn can also be purchased starting March 3 at 9 a.m. Tickets must be purchased in person at Ernest’s and are $75 each.
Please note: closing date for this contest has been changed from March 4 to March 1 to accommodate purchase of tickets
if you don’t win!
We’ve tried Lynn’s Bacon Onion Jam recipe! It’s so good in sandwiches!
#1 – Point 2 – I’ve attended NAIT’s amazing Toque Demagny competition at Ernest’s but have never been able to get tickets to any of the Chef in Residence luncheons!
3. I’m a new follower on Twitter!
@AEWomacks
4. I’m a new follower on Facebook!
Bonus: I follow NAIT on Twitter!
I have always enjoyed Chef Lynn’s ‘Pitchin In’ but this year’s Christmas special made me laugh and brought a tear to my eye. The close relationship she developed with her guests was clear to see as was their affection for her. The dinner (with those amazing ingredients from across the country), at least on television, looked like one of those magic evenings that happen only once
I am right with you, there, Ruth! Loved her Christmas special, and now particularly enjoy watching the episodes of those that attended it, a second time!
🙂
Valerie
Loved seeing Chef Lynn go skydiving down to the cooking stations on Top Chef.
I started my new career in Culinary Arts at NAIT with a passion for cooking and a bringing people together with food only to find the art of passion. It only gets greater with each visit. NAIT imparts the passion for passion in the art of food preparation. Great job NAIT!
With you all the way, Tom!
🙂
Valerie
A long while ago my wife and I had a smoked tomato soup at Ernest’s that we still talk about!
They do make some pretty good soups! Love some of their cheeses!
🙂
Valerie
I would love to attend this event with my husband-would love to write about my experience and him-I am sure he would like to take some photos-but mostly-meet her in person-he loves food and he used to watch her every day on FoodTV (and March 27th is his Birthday so thought it would be lovely gift).Thank you!!!
Ania,
Wonderful to hear from you! This counts as one ticket in the draw. Good luck!
🙂
Valerie
Hi Valerie,
We love Pitchin’ In – can’t say that I enjoyed one episode any more than another. Lynn is so willing to put herself out there – doing anything. I really admire her for that.
Me too!
V
I have a few connections to the culinary program at NAIT – I have dined at Ernest’s for lunch and dinner – though certainly not as often as I would like. My husband and I attended a fabulous class on Italian Wines that culminated in a dinner that was paired with Italian wines – it was superb. My daughter took culinary arts for a year at NAIT and then, of course, I have attended Eat Alberta at NAIT for the last two years. All of my experiences and connections to the NAIT culinary program have been excellent. I have to admit that as an Edmontonian I am very proud of the program and the students that graduate from the program.
Good for you, Gail!
Of course, your attending Eat Alberta was my personal favourite. 🙂
V
Okay – last comment. I want to win tickets to have lunch with Lynn Crawford for a couple of reasons. First, I have no doubt that the food would be delicious and very memorable. More importantly though, I expect that lunch with Lynn would be entertaining as well as informative. If I win, my guest at lunch will be my daughter, Brianna. She would be over the moon to meet Lynn (or at least get this close to Lynn).
I can completely relate to your daughter’s desire to meet or see Lynn “in the flesh”, as I share that passion. I am completely mesmerized by her.
🙂
Valerie
Every single episode of Pitchin’ In is full of gems. It’s extremely hard to narrow it down to a single memory but one of my favorite moments was when she hosted Christmas dinner with some previous farmers she had visited over the past. It was so wonderful to see everyone interact and have a lovely time with complete strangers. But the best part of her Pitchin’ In show is when she goes out of her element and tries her hand at harvesting the product. Hilarity always ensues!
I attended NAIT in the Culinary Arts program in 2008 and have dined at Ernest’s since then. I learned so many valuable skills that I still use to this day. However, my most valued knowledge is how to cut an onion properly. It seems simple but it has saved me a lot of tears and time over the years!
I would be ecstatic to attend a lunch with Lynn Crawford. She is so real and genuine on her show. Not to mention her food is always exquisite! A friend of mine from the culinary program had a chance to meet her in Toronto and told me she was just as friendly and welcoming in real life as she is on her show. She is a beautiful human being who creates beautiful food. If I won I would take either my mom Gail or my aunt who both find her as delightful as I do!
Hey, Brianna –
I think I may know your mom Gail! 🙂 What a lovely write up. I didn’t know that she had a daughter in culinary arts!
Theoretically – you were to enter these three comments three times for three entries. I think you have misunderstood that, so I am giving you three entries for this comment and hope that my comment telling others this will remind them to enter each answer separately. Wonderful to “meet” you and Good Luck!
🙂
Valerie
Loved watching Ched Lynn on master chef, her relaxed attitude, personality and wit make her fun to watch!
her cidar glazed pork chops are amazing, just gotta make sure dont overcook the pork chops!
http://houseandhome.com/food/recipes/cider-glazed-pork-chops-recipe
I have been lucky enough to grab tickets to the xmas buffet tickets, words cant even describe all the amazing treats you find there!
these tickets would be an awesome adventure for me and my BF, we both love experiencing new and interesting tastes!
did #1,2,4,6 and extras… heres fingers crossed!:)
Yeah, Laura!
🙂
V
We’ve enjoyed The Celiac Association suppers at Ernest’s, it would be great to enjoy Chef Lynn’s influence!!
I don’t watched many of Chef Lynn’s tv program so I cannot comment but been to her restaurant RubyWatchco in Toronto. Beautiful food! She actually cooks there and brought food to our table!
Now you have me green with envy, Lesley!
🙂
V
If you are in Toronto, definitely check it out. I loved that the menu changes daily.
Another reason why I would like to win these tickets, see what Chef Lynn create with our local ingredients.
Here is a chedder cheese biscuit recipe, she serves the same ones at her restaurant. So good!
http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/cheddar-cheese-biscuits/10437/
Thank you so much! I did an entire biscuit until with my students at school – biscuits, cheese biscuits, play with your food and add your own ingredients biscuits, strawberry shortcake.
Must try Lynn’s!
🙂
Valerie
Favourite NAIT Culinary School experience – taking a pasta class there! Gave me the basics and confidence to make pasta from scratch often.
One more comment! If I win, I will take Steve with me. Love to taste + experience Chef Lynn’s collaboration with the talented NAIT students.
Today, your comments appears, Lesley. Odd. 0dd. Odd.
Just these two.
🙂
V
I’m a new follower on twitter (@JamieThie)
Bonus: I follow NAIT on twitter
1.-1. One of my favourite episodes of Lynn Crawford’s Pitchin’ In is when she goes to work on a cranberry bog and has to try to pull in the net.
1.-2. I love the Lemongrass and Coconut Mussels recipe (http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/lemongrass-and-coconut-mussels-on-basmati-rice/11646/)
1.-3. I was fortunate enough to get invited to Ernest’s as a thank you meal for helping with NAIT’s 50th anniversary gala event, it was an incredible meal and I would love the opportunity to return!
2. I’d love to win tickets because it would be a really nice (long!) lunch break away from the office and give me the opportunity to experience food from one of Canada’s top chefs, whom I greatly admire. If I won tickets I’d bring my coworker with me!
Good luck, Jamie!
🙂
V
I loved watching Lynn on Top Chef Masters! She managed to dig deep and get quite far in the competition. And she was hilarious too!
Honestly, I was actually shocked and seriously disappointed she didn’t go farther in that competition. Good luck, Anna!
🙂
Valerie
I would love to win the tickets since I’ve always wanted to meet Lynn and taste her delicious food. I would take my husband as he’s just as much as a foodie as I am 🙂
I used to laugh hysterically during Pitchin In and always wished I could try her food like the folks in the episodes. I would love tickets as I have a birthday around that time!
Maki
I remember you have a birthday around that time! I have just added the information about how to buy tickets at the bottom of the post.. but good luck!
🙂
Valerie
I love the hilarious moments on Pitchin In and her ability to laugh at herself… there’s too many examples to recount. If I win, I’d bring along my boyfriend for lunch.. the lunch actually falls on my bday so that would make it extra awesome to meet her in person!!
Holy Cow! Your birthday! Good luck, Janny! Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too! 🙂
Valerie
Oh man. This is a great contest! I love watching Chef Lynn on everything. She’s so wonderful! I still remember the first day I saw her on Pitchin In. We were at my inlaws getting some of our wedding stuff together when we stumbled upon Pitchin In. It was the Lobster episode. I was so blown away with our sincere and caring she was. She truly cares about the people, how they get their food, what goes into it. Her love of people and food has made me want to learn more about where my food comes from
I would love to win these tickets to give my wife a fun night out with her favourite celebrity chef. We had our first son in June and we haven’t been able to do much since being on one income. This would be the icing on the cake!
I’ve also liked and followed the NAIT on FB and Twitter! (and I already follow you on both)
My email is gregcooper@gmail.com
Good Luck, Greg!
You already have 4 tickets in the draw! Thank you, also for already reading A Canadian Foodie!
🙂
Valerie
Also, I noticed a bit of an issue with the sample tweet you included. On twitter, when you start a tweet with “@”, that means only your followers who also follow the person you’re tweeting to will see the tweet. So, if I were to tweet @CHEF_LYNN #naitfood… only my followers who also follow chef lynn will see it. A great way to circumvent that would be to put a period “.” in front of the “@”… so that would be .@CHEF_LYNN #naitfood WIN 2 tickets…
That will help expand the reach of this contest.
Greg – I had no idea – changing that right now!!
🙂
Valerie
THANK YOU
I haven’t had cable for awhile now, and so all of my fave Lynn Crawford memories are from Restaurant Makeover. I always thought she was very patient and kind to the restaurant owners. I have, however seen a few episodes of Pitchin’ In, and I think the show is pretty sweet. My fave episode was the pig one 🙂
Good Luck, Jodie!
Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too! 🙂
Valerie
I love her personality on all her Pitchin In shows (and she was hilarious in her Christmas special), but I really loved Chef Lynn’s stint on Top Chef Masters. She was the humor on that show and she made things fun for the audience and the other contestants.
Good luck, Kristina!
You already have 8 entries in the draw! Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too! 🙂
Valerie
If I win tickets, I want to take my sister. It’s her birthday around that time, and we both love Chef Lynn 🙂
I love eating at Ernests.
I followed you on Twitter, liked you on Facebook, tweeted the sample tweet, Like NAIT on Facebook, Follow NAIT on twitter.
My favorite memory of lynn crawford from Pitchin, is the shrimp episode where the crew had a giant bag of shrimp and Lynn had to shovel them away.
Was that the spot prawn episode, Nicole? That was the one, I think… the first time I ever heard of Spot Prawns – and now they are everywhere – and I adore them!
Good Luck! Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too!
🙂
Valerie
My favorite Lynn Crawford Recipe is
http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/corn-pudding-with-blackberries-and-caramel-corn/13260/
I have enjoyed the friday buffets at NAIT. Being an employee, I get the privalge of going very easily for lunch and the food the students make is amazing!!!!!
I would love to meet Lynn Crawford, shake her hand, and ask if she can be my personal cook :).
Hi Valerie!
To answer #2, I’d love to win tickets to this “Lunch with Lynn” because my 12yo daughter is a huge fan, and I think it would be a great experience for her.
Any 12 year old would love their momsey 1000 times more if she went to Lunch with Lynn!
GOOD LUCK, Shauna! Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too!
🙂
Valerie
P.S. I follow you and NAIT on Twitter and on Facebook, and I have tweeted and created a status update with your full name included.
1) My experience with Naits culinary program has been great. I am a Junior League of Edmonton member and they help us run a Kids in the Kitchen program every year helping iner city kids learn about eating healthy!
2) I would love to take my mom to lunch … she LOVES Lynn (so do I). It would be a great gift 🙂
3) Also, new like on FB and Twitter.
Alexandra,
Good luck!!! …. and as I have said: Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too!
🙂
Valerie
I always loved cooking, years ago I used to watch Mona Brun and Julia Child on their cooking shows when I was home sick from school. My Grand Mother on my Mothers side was an excellent cook and baker and I learned a lot from her. I went on to take commercial cooking in High School and then back in 1987 I attended a two year Cooking program at NAIT which I graduated with honours. After a few years of working out in the industry I went on to take the one year Diploma Course at “Le Cordon Bleu, London Limited” in London, England. Since then I have worked in Shanghai and London as well as Canada. I first knew of Lynn from “Restaurant Makeover” and I was taken with her excellent and friendly way of teaching and speaking to people not too mention her wonderful simple yet elegant and fresh methods of food preparation. I see Lynn Crawford and a modern day Canadian Julia Child. The NAIT culinary program was wonderful when I attended 27 years ago, however it has improved by leaps and bounds and it makes me wish that I had been born 27 years later so I could attend the two year program now. I was already following NAIT on Facebook however I liked it now and I also Tweeted out your sentence on Twitter to help promote the event. If I am chosen to win one of these tickets I would make the effort to be among the first people waiting to try and by at least one more on the morning of March 3rd so that I could take my Mother along.
Kenneth.
Welcome to A Canadian Foodie! Hope you stick around and read some of the recipes and goings on here, too! Where are you cooking now? What an incredible story… good luck to you!
🙂
Valerie
I don’t have a specific favorite memory of Lynn in her many TV appearances, other than her laugh. She is obviously a woman who loves to do what she does!
Good luck, Michelle!
🙂
Valerie
Michelle!
Love that comment!
🙂
Valerie
I have so many favourite moments of Lynn Crawford on Pitchin’ In like the time a little lamb jumped up on her as a bunch of them were running by & scared her. I also loved her Christmas special & seeing her cooking at home.
I just “liked” you on Facebook.
I “like” Nait on Facebook.
I follow on NAIT on FB and Twitter
Loved Lynn’s Pitchin In Christmas special. It was great to see her bring back people seen on other episodes and how they came together to prepare a wonderful looking meal.
As a NAIT alumni, I had the opportunity to enjoy many meals prepared by the culinary students. I especially enjoyed the single opportunity to dine at Ernest’s Restaurant. The food was top notch and I look forward to having a chance to enjoy it again!
If I’m lucky enough to win a pair of tickets for this amazing luncheon, I will bring my husband. He’s the chef in our house and quite the foodie!
Love, love, love Chef Lynn Crawford. She is the quintessential, pied piper for the ‘Farm to Table’ movement and she has been doing it before it was cool! I adore her zest for food and her respect for the producer and home cook. She completely understands that food is about taste, family and tradition. I honestly cry when watching her gather everyone at the table to showcase their food as she truly honors their plight, determination and dedication.
I picked up a few tips when she visited a farm out west about making perogies – what a time saver!
As for my NAIT experience, I have taken numerous cake decorating courses at NAIT as they are the best instructors.
Who would I bring? My husband as he thinks she is hilarious and someone that he could sit down and enjoy beer and wings with.
I follow you on twitter and off to add you to Facebook! Thank you for this opportunity!
Jo-Ann
Good luck, Jo-Ann!
🙂
V