Calgary chef tapped to create Canada 150 feast at prestigious New York City restaurant

A Calgary chef is the only Canadian chosen to create a feast in a special series this summer at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City, create a feast honouring Canada's 150thanniversary by the prestigious

Brandon Thordarson, executive chef at Moxie's, says it's a huge honour for him to work with the James Beard House.

TheJames Beard Foundationis aNew York City-based national non-profitculinary artsorganization named in honor ofJames Beard, a prolific food writer, teacher, and cookbook author, who was also known as the "Dean of American Cookery."

The dinner is part of the "Dinners at theBeardHouse" series to be held in July, with 10chefs chosen to showcase their talents over separate nights.

"As a chef, it's a bit of a confirmation of your success," Thordarson told The Homestretch on Wednesday.

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"It's going to feel good to give back. It's an honour to be asked to cook there."

Thordarson says it all started when Moxie's recently opened a location in Dallasand there was lots of networking.

"Next thing you know, got the call from James Beard and it's been go, go, go every since," he said with a smile.

Thordarson has lived in Calgary for about five years but has worked across Canada, so coming up with a Canadian-themed menu was second nature.

"At the end of the day I just went back to my roots. Being a Canadian boy, working across Canada for a Canadian restaurant group, it was kind of an easy thing to come up with," he said.

Narrowing it down hardest part

"It was easy to come up with about 10 to 12 dishes, it was hard to pick the four or five that we are going down there with. That was the hardest part, narrowing it down."

Thordarson says he's got a little something for everyone on tap.

"We are doing some albacore tuna dish where I am putting it in a can and served sort of nioise-style with this edible soil. It's a fun play on a tuna dish. We are doing a chilled asparagus soup with some crab and lobster bisque in it. We have a meat and potato dish. We are doing some Rocky Mountain dry-aged Alberta beef. We are going to serve that with some pressed potatoes," he explained.

"The pice de rsistance, my favourite savory course, I am doing a take on my mom's Shake 'n Bake that I used to eat as a kid, with a little mashed potato, pea puree and some carrots. We are finishing it off with a pressed apple flan and then a little smoked bacon and maple syrup ice cream to finish off the night."

Each of the dishes is then paired with Canadian wine and beer selections.

He says, for him, the goal of the July 12 event is to give New Yorkers a little slice of the best Canada has to offer.

"Our supply of food is just endless so it was actually easy and fun to write this menu. The menu just screams Canadiana for sure, as well as screams me."

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With files from The Homestretch