Thea VanHerwaarden of the Comox Valley is among 12 returning cooks vying for the title of MasterChef Canada, which kicks off another season on ValentineB次元官网网址檚 Day.

The seventh season of the reality television series offers a second chance to win $100,000.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 super exciting,B次元官网网址� said VanHerwaarden, now a Vancouver resident, who finished in the runner-up position in MasterChef 2017. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really eager to win this time.B次元官网网址�

Since 2017, the B次元官网网址楺ueen of FlavourB次元官网网址� has appeared on Canadian and American television shows, and launched a personal brand called Th茅asty, under which she develops recipes for companies, creates video content and conducts private dinners.

She also spoke at an Emerging Leaders conference in Miami in 2019.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very fortunate as IB次元官网网址檓 able to speak at a number of conferences, about pursuing your passions, especially if youB次元官网网址檙e in the corporate world. Just how you can hone in on that, and pursue your dreams and make something of it.B次元官网网址�

VanHerwaarden gained an appreciation of food at an early age, sampling cuisine from various cultures as she and her family travelled the world.

B次元官网网址淚 was nine when I had my first cow tongue in Costa Rica,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e used to spend our summers in Italy, so Italian food has a special place in my heart.B次元官网网址�

As does Mexican B次元官网网址� likely inherited from her father who grew up in Arizona, close to the Mexican border.

B次元官网网址淲hen he came to Comox, he brought his B次元官网网址橳ex-MexB次元官网网址� style of food to Comox. We ate that way every week.B次元官网网址�

But pasta is her go-to, specialty dish.

B次元官网网址淚 think I make fresh pastas two or three times a week. ItB次元官网网址檚 like my de-stressor at the end of the day.B次元官网网址�

VanHerwaarden developed her cooking skills after sustaining a broken back in 2006. Homebound, she spent a great deal of time in the kitchen. Then she met Season 2 winner David Jorge, who encouraged her to apply for MasterChef. Her NB次元官网网址檇uja ricotta tortellini proved to be a hit in Season 4.

Tune in Sunday to find out what VanHerwaarden and the other cooks are tasked to create in the kitchen.

B次元官网网址淵ou never know what youB次元官网网址檙e going to get,B次元官网网址� she said.

MasterChef Canada: Back to Win airs Sunday, Feb. 14 on CTV. There are 12 episodes.

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