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Recipe to Riches celebrates the best of Canadian home chefs

Home cooks across Canada are competing in the second season of hit Food Network Canada show, Recipe to Riches. Finalist Jennifer Innis sits down for a Q and A about her experience on the Canadian show.


Food Network Canada hit show Recipe Riches is in full swing in their second season. Auditions were held across Canada and at the Vancouver auditions last February, home cook Jennifer Innis wowed the judges with her Chicken Cornish Pastie recipe. Jennifer was selected as one of the top three home chefs to compete in Toronto on the show in the Savoury Snack category. Each weekly winner has their recipe available of store shelves in Loblaw's and Superstore's across Canada. Jennifer recently sat down with a V.O. reporter to share her fun Recipe to Riches story.

Jennifer Innis

Q: What made you apply for the show?

A: Since I don’t have cable, and had actually never seen Recipe to Riches before, I first found out about the show through my mom (an accomplished and published chef). She had mentioned the show when Season one was first on, so I told her to keep me posted if it ever was auditioning again. I didn’t think I’d actually do it, but something in my gut told me I should give it a shot! So, I did a quick “cram” session and watched all the episodes online, took notes, and then contacted Crystal Peach ( she was third place in Cakes last season) to find out what her experience was like, and what I could maybe expect.

Q: How did you come up with the recipe?

A: I came up with the recipe by utilizing the odds and ends in my fridge! Just like I mentioned in my bio, we live on a pretty tight budget, and so I hate letting food go to waste. I took a bit of this, a bit of that, and while I was mixing it up, thought, “Well, NOW how am I gonna serve this?” That’s when I remembered I had some leftover frozen pastry, and voilá! You’ve got yourself a pastie!

Q: What was the best part of the whole process of your experience with the show?

A: In all honesty, the best part of the whole process was the friends I made, throughout the whole process. Obviously, it’s pretty cool to cross something like, “Be on a Reality/Cooking show” off my bucket list, but there’s something about people coming together in stressful (yet fun!) situations. One common interest can spark lifelong friendships!

Q: What was the hardest part about the entire filming experience?

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