Congratulations to Red River College alum Michael Dacquisto (Culinary Arts, 1996), who took top prize at last night’s Gold Medal Plates gala at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

The annual event, held in partnerhsip with the Canadian Olympic Committee, marks the ultimate celebration of Canadian excellence in food, wine, athletic achievement and entertainment.

Dacquisto, head chef at the Kenaston Avenue restaurant of the same name, faced stiff competition from a number of the city’s premier chefs, among them fellow RRC grads Cameron Huley (12 Resto Bar), Adam Donnelly (Segovia Tapas Bar), Terry Gereta (Mise, Haute Prairie Cuisine), and Osten Rice (Wasabi Sabi).

Huley (Commercial Cooking, 1997; Apprenticeship Cooking, 1999) won the event’s silver medal, while bronze went to Sydney’s at the Forks chef Michael Schafer. Having won the gold medal, Dacquisto now moves on to the Canadian Culinary Championships in Kelowna, B.C., in February, where he’ll compete against chefs from all over the country.