With the return of Niagara College’s annual Signature Chef Series this March, guests will have a chance to sample the unique culinary delights from the East Coast of Canada.

The series, which is hosted by the Benchmark restaurant on the Daniel J. Patterson campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, kicks off its 2024 edition on March 16 with chef Timothy Charles from the award-winning Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland.

“The series provides a great opportunity to invite in our community to experience these chefs from places and famous operations that they might not get a chance to experience and enjoy the campus and our world-famous hospitality,” said Craig Youdale, dean of Niagara College’s culinary, tourism and beverage studies division.

The series first was held in 2014. This year’s series opener 

This year, guests will enjoy a seven-course journey through some of his signature dishes that feature traditional Newfoundland ingredients.

This will include salt fish croustade with bakeapple and parsley, snow crab toast with chanterelle, bone marrow, and crabapple, cod prepared with sunchoke, foie gras, chicories, a kelp creampuff, sea buckthorn tartlets and more.

“It’s always rewarding to be able to cook with culinary arts students,” Charles said. “Their budding passion for our craft is restoring.”

In addition to working alongside students for the dinner event, Charles will visit the college’s senior culinary students.

“It’s a chance for our students to connect with additional points of view from leading chefs working in the industry,” said Youdale.

“They will hear presentations about style, approach and philosophy from our visiting chefs as well as creating a networking opportunity for our students to connect to the industry leaders and also perhaps opportunities to work.”

Tickets are $175 plus taxes and fees and can be purchased via Eventbrite.