Following a forced three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the team behind The Chef Collective announced this week that its underground culinary battle series is finally ready to resume in Canada.

Kicking off in the city where the first battles began back in 2015, The Chef Collective Toronto battle will feature a black box-style cookoff between three talented Toronto-based chefs, The Heartbreak Chef Jerome Robinson, Top 30 Under 30 winner Sam Medeiros, and Top Chef Canada alum Imrun Texeira.

Returning to host the competition will be The Chef Collective founder Joe Friday and chef Devan Rajkumar, along with an esteemed judging panel comprised of Top Chef Canada winner Erica Karbelnick, grill master Robert Rainfort, Iron Chef Canada champion Paul Boehmer, and Canada’s premier Cheese Master Afrim Pristine.

“We’re thrilled to re-launch The Chef Collective battle series in Toronto this fall, and to continue providing a platform for chefs to showcase their incredible culinary talent,” said chef Friday. “Our high-octane series is a must-attend event for anyone who appreciates culinary art and enjoys a good battle.”

The Chef Collective Toronto battle will take place at Toronto’s Boehmer on Monday, October 17. Tickets can now be purchased online with $15 from every ticket sold going to support Habitat for Humanity Canada.