MasterChef Canada or MasterChef Toronto?

Production is underway on the inaugural season of MasterChef Canada. CTV reports that the domestic version of the successful BBC export will debut in 2014 with a trifecta of Toronto chefs: Michael Bonacini, Claudio Aprile and Alvin Leung. This may be just as well, as the show's format and hype seem particularly well-suited to Canada's media capital. Still, one has to wonder if any chefs from Montreal, Quebec, or the rest of the country for that matter, were ever considered for the plum gig. There were certainly no shortage of contenders from la belle province; not when you consider the immense popularity of food shows hosted by Montreal chefs, from Martin Picard to Chuck Hughes.

Interestingly, the Canadian Press' Lois Abraham describes MasterChef Canada as the "Canadian version of the Gordon Ramsay hit". In truth, Fox's MasterChef is a clone of MasterChef Australia, a cultural phenomenon and the most popular television show Down Under. CTV can only hope for similar results.

Despite the provenance of the judges, amateur cooks from Montreal will presumably get a chance to participate in MasterChef Canada at a future open casting call. The first one, naturally, was held in Toronto last month.
· Production begins on 'MasterChef Canada' [The Gazette]
· 'MasterChef Canada' Auditions [HuffPost Canada]
· MasterChef Canada [Official Site]
· All Food TV Coverage on Eater Montreal [Eater MTL]