As a professional engineer, Stephen Childs knows how to get the most out of a space.

Walk into the compact, split-level condominium he shares in Vic West with wife, Jennifer, and 14-month-old daughter, Della, and the first thing one sees is pots and pans, hanging industrial-style on a ceiling-mounted rack.

An avid cook, Childs wanted to create more usable space on the counters.

He also hates major cleanup jobs.

B次元官网网址淲hen you cook, do you do the dishes after dinner or before?B次元官网网址� he asks the visitor, with a knowing smile.

That aversion to scraping dry, caked-on food from dinner dishes inspired him to create a dish he calls chipotle chili bites.

The success of his culinary creation, combined with a New YearB次元官网网址檚 Resolution to B次元官网网址減ut himself out there moreB次元官网网址� and try new experiences, saw Childs enter tryouts for Food Network CanadaB次元官网网址檚 amateur cooking show, , with his wife earlier this year in Vancouver.

ChildsB次元官网网址� flavourful dish combines chili with polenta, an Italian pudding which, when thickened with corn meal, hardens into a crust when cool.

B次元官网网址淚 thought, B次元官网网址榗hiliB次元官网网址檚 good, polentaB次元官网网址檚 good,B次元官网网址� I wonder how I could make this an edible dish in your hand?B次元官网网址� he recalls.

The two components are fairly straightforward, he says, but combined they make a unique dish that has taken on a life of its own in terms of its popularity with ChildsB次元官网网址� friends and co-workers.

Entering the competition together was a natural for the couple, who both love to cook, Jennifer says.

Her family has a tradition of cooking and baking. She and her sister, who was visiting from Banff, went to the 2011 tryouts on a whim, but missed the cut.

This tiome around Jennifer entered her decadent dessert, called moochalicious love cookie chocolate espresso shortbread. She made it past the first round, but saw her husbandB次元官网网址檚 creation earn him a spot on TV.

One of 21 national finalists filmed in seven different food categories, Stephen competed against a woman from Alberta and LadysmithB次元官网网址檚 Lyndsay Wells in the showB次元官网网址檚 Savoury Snacks episode, which airs at 8 p.m. PST next Wednesday, Oct. 24. The winner receives $25,000 and qualifies for the national finale, which offers $250,000 to the overall champion.

In true reality TV style, Childs was sworn to secrecy about the result of his episode, even to his wife.

B次元官网网址淎ll I know is that he came home with some blisters, so I know he worked hard,B次元官网网址� Jennifer says.

She harbours not even a friendly grudge against her husband B次元官网网址� she rates his chipotle chili bites a B次元官网网址�12B次元官网网址� on a scale of 1 to 10. B次元官网网址淭he whole process has solidified how important food is in our life,B次元官网网址� she says.

Stephen downplays his culinary prowess, noting that B次元官网网址渁nyone can do it.B次元官网网址� Asked what advice he might give aspiring entrants for next yearB次元官网网址檚 show, he says, B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 be intimidated by the kitchen. WhatB次元官网网址檚 the worst that can happen?B次元官网网址�

Food Network Canada is channel 30 (245 in HD) on Shaw, 143 (689 in HD) on Telus Optik TV.

editor@vicnews.com