Lobster Roll Challenge
July 9th at 6 PM
Event on Festival grounds
Entry fee applicable
Are you a fan of cooking competitions such as the TV shows Masterchef and Chopped? Let's determine once and for all who has the best lobster roll in a friendly battle of the Maritimes! Chefs will prepare their lobster roll, which will then be judged by a panel of municipal representatives and elected officials.
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​With participation from the municipalities of Barrington NS, Cap-Acadie, Charlottetown, Dieppe, Moncton, Shediac, and Summerside PEI.
City of Dieppe
The Judge
Paul Gaudet
Conseiller quartier 5
Councillor Gaudet is a member of the following committees:
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Permanent council committee on public strategies and policies;
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Greater Moncton Literacy Advisory Committee;
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Greater Moncton Santa Claus Parade Committee;
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Dieppe expansion.
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Originally from Memramcook, he has been an electrical inspector for public safety in the province of New Brunswick for eight years. He also had a 27-year career as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
Mr. Gaudet coached minor hockey in Dieppe for six years. He holds an industrial electrician certificate from the NBCC Moncton campus.
Paul and his wife Lissa are the proud parents of Jérémie."
The Chef
Jorden Holden
Executive Chef at Atelier Tony
Having grown up with a pastry chef father who operated a patisserie out of the family home just a few feet from his childhood bedroom, Jordan really does have food & hospitality in his blood.
When he was 18, Jordan dropped out of school and took up as a rookie line cook at Tony’s Bistro, preferring the comradeship and hustle of the kitchen to the stuffy halls of university. After working his way up the ranks on the line and honing his classical European technique, Jordan took over as head chef of the 75-seat French restaurant at just 23 years old.
Jordan opened Atelier Tony in Dieppe in 2020 as the Executive Chef, and continues to oversee teams at Boulangerie Tony and Tony’s Bistro.
He cooks a mean Beef Wellington every Christmas.
City of Charlottetown
The Judge
Doug Dumais
Culture and Economic Coordinator for the City of Charlottetown
Doug Dumais is the Culture and Economic Coordinator for the City of Charlottetown. Born in Belleville, Ontario, Doug moved to PEI from Montreal in 2020. He has a master's degree in Art History from Concordia University and has worked at the Ottawa Art Gallery and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Doug is also a practicing artist and photographer.
The Chef
Jane Crawford
Executive Chef at Abbiocco
Chef Jane Crawford has over two decades of culinary experience. She has worked all over the world completing culinary programs in Denver, Italy, and France. She brought her fun loving attitude to Prince Edward Island in 2008. She helped open Hopyard in 2016 and Abbiocco in 2022 where she is currently the Executive Chef. You can find Chef Jane's personality in all her food focusing on being playful, creative and fun!
City of Summerside
The Judge
Dan Kutcher
Mayor of the City of Summerside
Dan Kutcher was elected Mayor of the City of Summerside on November 7, 2022. He is a father and husband, lawyer, entrepreneur, volunteer, and former political advisor.
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Mayor Kutcher is an active volunteer with numerous community groups and for his service received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal for his community volunteering.
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Prior to entering politics, Mayor Kutcher practiced law with the firm Cox and Palmer in St. John’s Newfoundland and Summerside PEI. He also previously established and operated South Central Kitchen & Provisions, a successful restaurant in Summerside. He has served as a political advisor to the Minister of Industry (Canada) and Premier of Ontario and served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Environment (Ontario).
Mayor Kutcher and his wife Dr. April MacPhee, Department Head of Pediatrics at the Prince County Hospital in Summerside, have two busy kids, Ayrton and Emilia.
The Chef
Robert Pendergast
Summerside Lobster Carnival Chef
Chef Robert Pendergast is a lover and promoter of PEI lobster. Since 2017 he has served as the Summerside Lobster Carnival Chef pairing PEI lobster with other Island produced foods for great tasting culinary dishes.
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The fully bilingual chef, who is also a storyteller and musician, was born and raised on PEI. He started his culinary career in Montreal in 1990, spending five years exposed to great cuisine before moving on to work in Western Europe, and across Canada. Pursuing his career back on PEI, Chef Pendergast works hard to connect chefs, and cooks, with Island suppliers to promote and celebrate the food Island.
Barrington
The Judge
Eddie Nickerson
Warden for the municipality of Barrington
Warden Eddie Nickerson is a lifelong resident of the Municipality of Barrington, Nova Scotia – the Lobster Capital of Canada. He currently resides in the community of South Side with his wife, Tina, and their two daughters.
Professionally, Eddie serves as the General Manager of Boston Lobster Canada, a prominent lobster holding facility located in Newellton and a member of the Champlain Seafood Family of Companies, along with Downeast Cape Bald Packers in Cap-Pélé. His role underscores his extensive knowledge and involvement in the local fishing industry, a cornerstone of the local economy. Currently in his third term as Warden, Eddie has shown unwavering dedication to enhancing the quality of life for all residents in the municipality. He is a proactive leader who encourages community engagement, urging residents to share their ideas and contribute to the municipality's progress. Eddie's commitment to supporting the fishing industry and nurturing small businesses reflects his understanding of their vital roles in the community's success and prosperity.
Eddie's palate is finely tuned to the nuances of top-quality lobster. Rumor has it, Eddie can "shell out" expert opinions with a single bite, making him the perfect judge for this delicious competition.
The Chef
Wendell MacKay
Chef at Capt Kats
Meet Wendell McKay, the culinary heart and soul of Capt Kats Restaurant! Wendell joined our team in March 2019 and has been serving up deliciousness ever since. With a humble start at Dan’s Ice Cream Shop, he’s proven that passion and dedication can outshine formal training.
Wendell’s talent shone brightly in 2020 when he and his team won the Best Cold Lobster Roll on the South Shore award! Wendell can quickly adjust to changes and challenges in a fast-paced environment and ensures every dish meets high standards of quality and presentation. These qualities not only enhance Wendell's effectiveness as a chef but also his role as a respected and inspiring leader at Capt Kats Restaurant. His kind nature and reliability make him a fantastic kitchen manager, and his innovative dishes keep our customers coming back for more.
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Come by and taste the magic that Wendell brings to every meal. You won’t be disappointed!
Moncton
The Judge
Paulette Thériault
Deputy Mayor/Councillor, Ward 1
Paulette Thériault is serving her fourth term as City Councillor for Ward 1. She brings a background in and passion for the development of arts, culture and heritage in the city.
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In 1999, Paulette founded the Northrop Frye International Literary Festival, and also served as its founding director. In 2005, the Festival was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Dialogue Award.
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In serving as the Director of the Aberdeen Cultural Centre, Paulette oversaw the strategic plan to establish and refurbish the heritage property that now houses the Centre. She also spearheaded the Art Park Project for the 1999 Sommet de la Francophonie, which resulted in the creation of the park adjacent to the Aberdeen Cultural Centre.
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Paulette has championed important issues including the City’s cultural plans as well as the implementation of Moncton’s first Arts, Culture and Heritage Board. She has also served on numerous boards and committees and was appointed deputy mayor in 2010 and in 2013. She is a current member of the National Trust for Canada’s Board of Governors.
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Councillor Thériault is a recipient of the Capitol Theatre’s Proscenium Award, the NB Excellence Award in the arts, the Canada Council for the Arts Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal and the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the Government of France.
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Councillor Theriault has attended many institutions and training programs in various fields of arts Management some of which include The Banff Center of Arts Management, l'Université du Québec et Paris VIII.
She worked with Canada World Youth, the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the status of Women and Status of Women Canada.
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Paulette is the proud mother of Renée and Joffre and grandmother to Camille, Justin and Dominic. She is also the life companion of Honoré Bourque. When she is not working for her constituents, she enjoys spending time with her family, painting, photography and gourmet cooking.
The Chef
Adam Lund
Executive Chef at the Moncton Coliseum/Legends Restaurant
Originally from Canoe Cove Prince Edward Island, Chef Adam Lund is now the Executive Chef at the Moncton Coliseum/Legends Restaurant for the City of Moncton. He was inspired early on in life by exposures with friends and family to multicultural cuisine, including East Coast traditional, Middle Eastern and Lebanese. When finished his classical training at the Canadian Culinary Institute in PEI, Adam moved to Alberta to enhance his skills at the world-renowned Chateau Lake Louise. After his time there, Chef Adam moved on to New Orleans to study cajun creole cuisine at the famous W Hotel, cooking for the likes of Snoop Dog, Robert De Niro and Mariah Carey. The rich traditions and food culture of this unique part of the world has continued to influence his style to this day.
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After a soul-searching backpack trip across Canada, a strong family connection led Adam back east and gave him an opportunity to settle down into family life with his now new wife and 2 beautiful step-daughters. He worked as the catering chef at the Tide and Boar Restaurant in Moncton, which was featured in MacLean’s Magazine as “Top 50” in Canada. This led to his current position, working with his friend and fellow chef Matt Pennell. Together they organize and execute food for a multitude of events from 2000+ plated dinners to intimate casual parties, and everything in between. Adams culinary style can be summed up as a fusion of his travels, family, friends and the fellow chefs he surrounds himself with. As his Dad always says, “a day you don’t learn something new is a day wasted”.
Cap-Acadie
The Judge
Susan Cormier
Councilor for the Regional Town of Cap-Acadie
Susan Cormier is originally from Shediac but currently resides in Cormier-Village in the greater Cap-Acadie area.
She served as a councilor and deputy mayor of the Rural Community of Beaubassin-East from 2016 to 2022. Since 2022, she has been a city councilor for the Regional Municipality of Cap-Acadie.
From 2014 to 2018, Susan was the program director of the Shediac Lobster Festival, where she played a crucial role in organizing and managing this event.
Susan is extremely happy to have the chance to be a judge for the first annual Lobster Roll Challenge, an activity within the programming for the 75th anniversary of the Shediac Lobster Festival.
The Chef
Mathieu Hébert
Entrepreneur and President at Lolex Sales Agency Inc.
Entrepreneur and President: Lolex Sales Agency Inc.
I have lived in the Cap-Acadie region with my wife and 2 children for several years.
I have been a lover of good food and cooking for a very long time. My life experiences have allowed me to enrich my curiosity and my culinary knowledge, to the great pleasure of my family and friends.
My pleasure is to use local products and integrate them, in my own way, into Italian, Asian, Cajun, etc. dishes.
I proudly agree to represent my region of Cap-Acadie in the Lobster Roll challenge, hoping to come away with fun and enriching experiences."
Shediac
The Judge
Ctp. Ron Cormier
Former Owner and Operator of Shediac Bay Cruise & Lobsterman
No event in Shediac is complete without the profound stories of a veteran lobster fisherman! Captain Ron adds a rich maritime perspective to any event. With decades of experience navigating the waters of Shediac Bay and beyond, Ron brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge and captivating stories to the table. As the former owner of Shediac Bay Cruises, Ron has played a pivotal role in showcasing the beauty and heritage of the region to visitors from around the world.
Additionally, his background as a seasoned lobsterman offers unique insights into the challenges and triumphs of this vital industry, which lies at the heart of Shediac's identity as the "Lobster Capital of the World." Ron’s deep connection to the sea and his passion for sharing its wonders make him an ideal candidate in representing our beautiful Town in the Lobster Roll challenge as our experienced judge. With his engaging demeanor and authentic storytelling, Ron promises to leave a lasting impression on attendees.
The Chef
Lucas Michel
Pâtissier Chocalitier at Adorable Chocolat
Chef Lucas Michel, a distinguished chocolatier, has been delighting the community of Shediac with his exquisite creations at Adorable Chocolat for the past six years. With a deep passion for both chocolate and culinary innovation, Lucas has become a beloved figure, known for his artistic flair and dedication to quality.
Lucas has expanded his culinary repertoire beyond sweets, crafting a unique and delectable croissant lobster roll that has captivated our taste buds. His innovative take on this classic dish has earned him the honor of representing Shediac in the upcoming Lobster Roll Competition. Lucas's commitment to excellence and creativity continues to bring joy and pride to the community, showcasing the best of Shediac's culinary talent.
Special guest judge
The Judge
The Hon. Margaret Johnson
Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries
Margaret Johnson was elected to the 60th Legislative Assembly on September 14th, 2020, representing Carleton-Victoria. She was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries on September 29th, 2020. She's an active member of her community and a lifelong teacher.