A popular West Coast chef who thrives on the edge is bringing her vibrantly positive energy to Top Chef Canada.
B次元官网网址淚 think they were looking for something unique and different,B次元官网网址� Chef Lisa Ahier said. B次元官网网址淚 have a very colourful past. IB次元官网网址檝e never seemed to like to walk the straight line. IB次元官网网址檓 always teetering to the edge.B次元官网网址�
Top Chef Canada is set to air its 11th season and Vancouver Island's Ahier is officially the oldest chef to ever compete on the show at 63.
B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 ever seen somebody go on Top Chef Canada thatB次元官网网址檚 my age, so it was a way to represent and show up for the senior demographic, have an adventure and who knows? I had just as good a chance to win as anybody,B次元官网网址� she said.
She said she was initially reluctant to apply for a spot on the show, but was encouraged by friends and family to give it a shot.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 kind of a stranger to competition. IB次元官网网址檓 more of a gal who likes to share with my neighbour rather than compete with my neighbour. So, itB次元官网网址檚 not something I really ever set my sights on personally, but a lot of folks egged me on, gave me encouragement and said, B次元官网网址榃hy wouldnB次元官网网址檛 you?,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hen my kids said, B次元官网网址榃hy wouldnB次元官网网址檛 you mom?B次元官网网址� And I couldnB次元官网网址檛 come up with a good reason, so I thought why not? WeB次元官网网址檝e got one life to live.B次元官网网址�
After putting her name forward, she was shocked when she was told she had been selected as one of the new seasonB次元官网网址檚 10 contestants.
B次元官网网址淗onestly, you could have knocked me over with a feather. I couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe it. I knew that I had the stamina, but would this network or production company feel like I could hang on, get through and compete like a 30 year old?,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚 was really in shock. It was a big shock, but then I thought, B次元官网网址極h my God. IB次元官网网址檓 so excited.B次元官网网址� Fear never came into itB次元官网网址 was just really excited for a new challenge.B次元官网网址�
Ahier has lived on Vancouver Island's West Coast for about 25 years, first in Ucluelet and then Tofino, and experienced love at first sight when she arrived.
B次元官网网址淭his is home and I knew it the first time I was driving on Sutton Pass. I knew IB次元官网网址檇 come home for the first time in my life. IB次元官网网址檝e lived so many times during my life and done so many different things in my career and this is the only place IB次元官网网址檝e ever felt home. TheyB次元官网网址檙e going to have to take me out of here kicking and screaming. I love it. I donB次元官网网址檛 even travel very much because why would I leave paradise?B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭here is just so much to love about the West Coast: the communities, the natural environment, obviously the abundance of beautiful food. This community gets it. WeB次元官网网址檙e not a fast food community. WeB次元官网网址檙e a community full of gardeners, fishermen, foragers; whatB次元官网网址檚 not to love? ItB次元官网网址檚 captured my heart and my soul. I really, really love this West Coast community and everything that the members of the community have done for the last 24 years to embrace me. I feel like I have been here for my entire life.B次元官网网址�
Top Chef CanadaB次元官网网址檚 11th season will kick off on Oct. 14 at 10 p.m. on Food Network Canada.
B次元官网网址淣ow it is time to usher in a new era, with 10 new skilled, creative, and boundary-pushing chefs ready to compete for the title of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Top Chef,B次元官网网址� read a media release announcing the new season.
B次元官网网址淭he chefs will be put to the test, facing off in grueling challenges where they must put their best plate forward or be sent packing. Viewers we be delighted to see that this season pays homage to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 diverse heritage and culinary scene. In the end, only one chef will emerge victorious, earning the grand prize and the coveted title of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Top Chef.B次元官网网址�
The season has already been filmed and Ahier declined to disclose any spoilers, but said her main goal throughout the competition was to be genuine and remain steadfast to her character.
B次元官网网址淥ne thing that was really important to me, and is in my every-single-day-life, is to stay completely 100 per cent true to who you are, what you do and at no time waver from that,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to make sure that I stayed humble because I think I am kind of a humble human, that I stayed positive, I love positive energy, that I didnB次元官网网址檛 try to self-sabotage and that I was really looking out for myself and my well-being.B次元官网网址�
She added that going through the experience was life-changing.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think I was ever ugly with anybody, I try not to be in life, and I think I came away from the experience really proud of myself for having the courage. Regardless of how I started and how I finished, I had the courage to get into the arena, not be in the cheap seats saying, B次元官网网址業 couldB次元官网网址檝e. I would have. If I did.B次元官网网址� I got in and I tried,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 always going to be a winner and thereB次元官网网址檚 always going to be a loser. ThatB次元官网网址檚 life and, experiencing life, youB次元官网网址檝e got to show up to be either one or the other and sometimes you fall in between, but theyB次元官网网址檙e all experiences. I really wanted to have this experience and I did and it actually meant 1,000 times more to me than I expected it to.B次元官网网址�
She hopes her participation on the show encourages viewers to pursue their dreams.
B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 trade the experience for anything in the world. If I can just be the encouragement or set a little bit of an example for those people that are at home wishing they could change their careers, wishing they had the courage to go out there and take that fencing class, or show up to the yoga that they donB次元官网网址檛 think theyB次元官网网址檙e flexible enough for, or whatever it is or how small or how big it is,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪how up for your life, do the best you can and be 100 per cent true to yourself and your life will become fuller and fuller.B次元官网网址�
Ahier had previously and she said she has never shied away from cameras.
B次元官网网址淚 never see a camera. I never have. IB次元官网网址檓 so engaged in what IB次元官网网址檓 doing. The host talking to me, the person asking the questions, whatever it is, I truly, truly forget the camera is there. I have the absolute opposite of stage fright,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he cameras are non-existent to me. IB次元官网网址檓 just trying to have the best time that I can in the situation that IB次元官网网址檝e been put in and fear isnB次元官网网址檛 part of that process for me. I embrace it.B次元官网网址�
She added though that watching herself on screen afterwards is a different story.
B次元官网网址淲hen I look at myself on film, IB次元官网网址檓 a bit mortified. But, while IB次元官网网址檓 doing it, IB次元官网网址檓 happy as a lark and I couldnB次元官网网址檛 care less,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淔ilm me all day long, but donB次元官网网址檛 make me watch.B次元官网网址�
She plans to overcome that reluctance over Thanksgiving as sheB次元官网网址檒l be watching the season opener with her son in the Okanagan with her mother and daughter joining them online.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to be with my family, my kids and my mother, watching the show,B次元官网网址� she said .
