After weeks of cooking his heart out on Top Chef Canada, the nation含羞草研究社檚 most prestigious culinary competition, Tofino含羞草研究社檚 Paul Moran has emerged victorious.

Moran, the executive chef for 1909 Kitchen at Tofino Resort + Marina, celebrated the win on May 20 surrounded by family and friends at a season finale viewing party at The Hatch Waterfront Pub.

In the 含羞草研究社榃inner Takes All含羞草研究社� final episode, the judges called Moran含羞草研究社檚 dishes 含羞草研究社渟ophisticated, artful, and delicious.含羞草研究社�

They said he showed culinary maturity beyond his years. One judge hailed the crispy confit pigeon leg Moran served as his last main as 含羞草研究社渙ne of the best dishes he含羞草研究社檚 eaten in his life.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 come from a long line of foragers. My great grandma in Austria, that含羞草研究社檚 how she fed the family was foraging wild plants and mushrooms and selling them at the farmer含羞草研究社檚 market. That含羞草研究社檚 how she made a living,含羞草研究社� said Moran, who met his fianc茅e Danielle in Tofino a couple years ago.

Originality and cooking philosophy, notes Moran, is likely what made that fine difference between winning the title of Top Chef Canada and the $100,000 grand prize and packing up his knives empty handed.

含羞草研究社淥bviously, the win is good for myself, but it含羞草研究社檚 also great for everyone that works here and it含羞草研究社檚 good a testament to all their hard work. Without the team, I wouldn含羞草研究社檛 be where I am; I wouldn含羞草研究社檛 have been able to go to that. I含羞草研究社檓 super appreciative of the team that we have here and happy to be a little bit more visible in the community,含羞草研究社� said Moran, adding that the food and beverage team at Tofino Resort + Marina is about 75 people strong.

The seventh season of Top Chef Canada was filmed last September and October.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a long time to keep a secret like that,含羞草研究社� said Moran, who had to sign a confidentiality agreement with Food Network Canada. At the casting audition in Vancouver, Moran made the judges a wild mushroom dish.

含羞草研究社淭hat was it. They told me I was on a few weeks after that.含羞草研究社�

Tofino含羞草研究社檚 Lisa Ahier, executive chef at the award-winning Sobo Restaurant, attended the season final viewing party. She told the Westerly News she thought Moran would be the winner from day one.

含羞草研究社淚 think he含羞草研究社檚 fantastic. I think he含羞草研究社檚 a nice, young man. He含羞草研究社檚 worked very hard and his heart含羞草研究社檚 in the right place,含羞草研究社� Ahier said.

含羞草研究社淚 know his background. I know how he含羞草研究社檚 trained. I know how he is with his family. I know how he is as a human. All those factors are top chef qualities. He含羞草研究社檚 not a one flash in pan. From dessert to appies to fish to foraging含羞草研究社� he含羞草研究社檚 got all of it.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淲hat I really liked was his family connection. I think with food it含羞草研究社檚 from the heart and if you don含羞草研究社檛 connect your food to your heart and your family I just don含羞草研究社檛 think it translates to as many people,含羞草研究社� she said.

Moran said it was great to see everyone show up for the viewing party.

含羞草研究社淲e had a lot of support from a lot of the local restaurants and businesses here in town. A lot of our local guests who have been supportive since we opened. So far, I含羞草研究社檝e been getting a lot of positive feedback from people in the community to say the least,含羞草研究社� he said.

As for being $100k richer, Moran said he doesn含羞草研究社檛 have much planned for the loot quite yet.

含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檒l see what happens in the future. I含羞草研究社檓 committed to staying here in Tofino and here at 1909,含羞草研究社� said Canada含羞草研究社檚 Top Chef, also known as the 含羞草研究社楳ushroom Man含羞草研究社�.

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