A sold-out crowd from the NC community and beyond recently gathered for A Chef’s Journey dinner event with Craig Youdale at Benchmark.
The Dean of NC’s Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies division was the featured chef for the November 28 event – the first of a newly launched signature dinner series celebrating NC’s academic chefs who curate a multi-course meal along with an evening experience to reflect their personal journeys. Youdale conveyed his story through thoughtfully curated menu of food and beverage selections, as well as storytelling, visuals, and other surprises revealed throughout the evening.
The event marked the debut of the College’s Student Experience Scholarship Fund which is raising money to help support students in the division by accepting donations in lieu of tips at Benchmark and other events (view New scholarship fund is on the menu for NC Culinary, Tourism and Beverage students.)
“I thought the evening was a great success! The most important part is we raised over $2,500 in our auction for the new scholarship and it was a great launch of the new fund,” said Youdale.
“We also got to celebrate Chef Justin Downes as a proud NC grad who got to also share his own journey that brought him to Niagara College.”
The evening was filled with meaningful highlights for Youdale. His mother Bev Connell travelled from Ottawa to be a part of the event.
“She grew up in the region and used to come to Niagara as a little girl growing up in Hamilton in the 1940s and Niagara-on-the-Lake has a special place in her heart,” said Youdale.
Craig Youdale stands with his wife, Kathie, and mother Bev Connell.
He was also happy to have his mentor and chef professor in college attend the dinner, Chef Daniel Esposito who has now retired in Niagara and is a part-time Chef Professor at the College, which Youdale called, “a full circle moment” in his career.
While the event focused on his personal and professional journey as a chef, Youdale was grateful for the participation of his team of students and staff in his division and at Benchmark.
“I could never have done this without our team. Starting with Chef Justin [Downes] and Victor [Oliveira] in Benchmark, my sommelier for the evening Professor Peter Rod, and including Chef Anthony [Greco], Dollar [Thakar], Xiao [Chen], Abegail [Enriquez] and all the NC staff that pitched in to make it a success …. our team is awesome,” he said.
“I cannot wait to see what the other chefs do at their dinners and will be exciting to hopefully be part of their own story!”
Upcoming events
A Chef’s Journey dinner series will continue in 2025, featuring the College’s academic chefs alongside featured alumni and a team of students. Featured chefs will include:
- Olaf Mertens on January 23;
- Michael Olson, along with his wife, celebrity chef Anna Olson, on February 13;
- Frank Dodd on March 20;
- Erin Circelli and Isa Mottiar on April 3;
- Riley Bennett on April 24;
- Scott Baechler on May 8; and
- Oscar Turchi on May 22.
Each event will celebrate alumni from NC’s Culinary Tourism and Beverage Studies division who join forces with the academic chefs and their teams to share their own pathways of success and inspire students. The events will be supported by students and staff from the College’s Benchmark team led by Victor Oliveira and Chef Justin Downes.
Events will include a welcome reception with beverages and light snacks, a chef’s presentation of storytelling, photos and videos highlighting their journeys, and more.
A Chef’s Journey events will be held at Benchmark restaurant, located at NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake:
Tickets are now available for seven upcoming A Chef’s Journey events lined up for 2025, (while supplies last) via Eventbrite: eventbrite.ca/e/a-chefs-journey-celebrating-students-tickets-1092764741759?aff=oddtdtcreator.
