From the Vancouver Sun, published Thursday, November 15, 2007

Given celebrity chef Rob Feenie’s messy public split from his signature Vancouver restaurants, triathlete Simon Whitfield joked Wednesday that the duo might be serving “flaming meatballs” at that night’s Gold Medal Plates fundraiser.

Feenie and Whitfield, plus 11 other chef-athlete pairings, were part of a sold-out event at the Westin Bayshore that raises money Canadian Olympians and Paralympians.

Started in 2004 as a way to help the Canadian Olympic Committee while also promoting excellence in Canadian cuisine and wine, the dinners have so far raised $1.5 million.

On Wednesday afternoon, Stephen Leckie, founder and creative director of Gold Medal Plates, presented a cheque for $626,000, the total raised in 2006, to Chris Rudge, the COC’s chief executive officer.

The goal of the dinners, whose sponsors are GE and Epcor Canada, is to raise $3 million by 2010.

The tables for Wednesday night’s gathering went for anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000. The well-heeled diners were also able to bid on what were described as “unique, one-of-a-kind experiences” with selected athletes. Those included a four-day cycling and rare wine tour of the Napa Valley with Whitfield and a week-long cooking and cycling adventure in Provence with Olympic cycling gold medallist Lori-Anne Muenzer.

The athletes can get as involved as they want with their chef.

“I really got into it,” said kayaker David Ford of Chilliwack, who was paired two years ago with Tojo, an acclaimed sushi chef. “I met with him beforehand. He invited me to his restaurant. We had a great meal there, talked about what Olympians need from their food and what the Olympic ideal is.

“Tojo is unbelievable artist more than a chef, he puts a lot of craftsmanship into what he produces.”

The dishes are judged with gold, silver and bronze medals being awarded in each city.