Chef Christopher Hill From Taste Restaurant Group Saskatoon

As Canada’s top chefs pack to head to Kelowna to compete in the Canadian Culinary Championships, we’re learning a little bit about them before they compete. Here’s some Q and A from Saskatoon’s Chef Christopher Hill.

Tell us a little bit about your restaurant.

I am the Corporate Chef of Taste Restaurant Group.  We are a locally owned group currently operating 4 restaurants.

UNA pizza + wine UNA Pizza is a neighborhood restaurant serving Californian inspired, thin crust pizza with Mediterranean influenced food and flavors.

Bar Gusto Gusto means “to taste”, and as such we recommend sharing in order to taste a wider variety of menu items, though order and enjoy as you like. Our menu is entirely hand crafted with care and attention, each pasta made in house daily. We offer a modern interpretation of traditional Italian dishes produced with local ingredients.

Picaro Picaro means “rogue” in Spanish, which is how we have designed our space: creativity with food, drink, service, and atmosphere.  Our motto is Latin Local, with distinct flavors that are reminiscent of Mexico crafted with local ingredients. Our menu focuses on inauthentic, elevated tacos made right behind our bar

Cohen’s Beer Republic A gathering space for family and friends to enjoy quality comfort food and drink – pub meets bar meets restaurant meets lounge. We serve the food you love and crave with the quality of presentation and ingredients you can expect from Taste Restaurant Group.

Where do you eat in your city?

Saskatoon has a very young and vibrant culinary scene.  But two of my favorites are Hearth and Primal.

What would be your ideal food day?

Fishing in northern Saskatchewan and enjoying a lakeside fish fry.  Doesn’t get any fresher!

What ingredient do you always have on hand?

Butter.

What’s your go-to recipe when you’re eating at home?

Sunday morning bacon and eggs.

What cookbook are you most interested in lately?

Lately I have been reading Noma’s Guide to Fermentation.

Any hints on what dish you will be preparing for the Culinary Championships?

We will be preparing the same dish we did at the regional competition.

What beverage are you pairing with?

We are honored to be paired with Meyer Family Vineyards 2017 Pinot Noir

Who is coming with you?

I will be bringing two chefs that have worked with me for years.  Chef Steven Squier & Chef Alex Stephenson.  We also have a group of friends and family coming to cheer us on!

What, outside the competition itself, are you looking forward to experiencing in Kelowna?

Unfortunately, I will not have a lot of time this year to be tourist.  We fly out to Palm Springs after the competition for a short holiday.