The central focal point of EAT! Vancouver is, without a doubt, the Food Network Celebrity Cooking Stage where Food Network Canada's superstar Chuck Hughes, Larry Thomas and Chef Rob Feenie will dazzle the audience with their amazing talent, wit and humor.

Chef Rob Feenie
Vancouver’s own Iron Chef America Winner
Food Concept Architect for Cactus Club Restaurants
Host of New Classics With Chef Rob Feenie on Food Network Canada
Iron Chef America title winner in 2005

Cactus Club’s culinary vision is led by Canada’s only Iron Chef, Rob Feenie. Chef Feenie is part of the Cactus Club Test Kitchen, where he permanently resides as Food Concept Architect.
From France to North America, Chef Feenie is revered for his mastery of French cuisine. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside various world renowned Chefs including Emile Jung, Charlie Trotter and Jean-Georges Vongerichten to name a few. Chef Feenie has received the Relais Gourmand Designation and was awarded the Traditions et Qualite & AAA Five Diamond Award in 2003

In addition to publishing three cookbooks and starring in New Classics with Chef Rob Feenie on Food Network Canada for five seasons, he is most noted for claiming the lucrative Iron Chef title after defeating Chef Masaharu Morimoto on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. Today, Vancouverites affectionately refer to him as “Our Iron Chef”.

Inspired from his travels through Europe, Chef Feenie’s cooking personality can be clearly distinguished as French. France is revered to many as the “motherland of the culinary world” and classic French cooking techniques, ingredients and flavor profiles arguably build the foundation for the culinary industry.

All of Chef Feenie’s dishes are clean and simple in construction, allowing premium ingredients to take the lead role.

>> Read more on Rob Feenie

Larry Thomas
The Soup Nazi from Seinfeld

Larry Thomas is an actor most recognized for his Emmy nominated performance as "The Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld. Larry has been an actor for twenty-five years and is a veteran of dozens of Films, TV shows and hundreds of theatre performances. Recently Larry finished shooting the film, Postal, and was seen on Arrested Development, Hot Properties, Threshold, Scrubs and a Lexus commercial as a crazed pre-Bugsy visionary selling the idea of Vegas. As far as theatre goes, last year Larry completed a thirty-five city, one hundred and forty show production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple-Female Version starring Barbara Eden, and rumor has it that it's not over yet.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Larry has been many things including bailbondsman, bartender and brain surgeon (well not really brain surgeon but it rounded out the three b's. Actually you can add janitor to that list, just as important in some circles, let's face it). A father and mortgage payer, Larry is grateful for his family and career.

>> Read more on Larry Thomas

Chuck Hughes
Host of Food Network’s Chuck's Day Off

If there’s one thing Chuck Hughes has always loved to do, it's play with food. And whether his mother Francine likes it or not, she definitely had a thing or two to do with it. From the time her curious son insisted on being enrolled in a cooking class at the age of eight, it was clear he was crazy about the kitchen. And fifteen years later, when Chuck was on the fast-track to a successful but potentially passionless career in advertising, Mom was the one who suggested he turn his affair with food into a full-time relationship. So, it was off to culinary school at the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec. He quickly started working in some of Montreal’s hottest kitchens and hasn’t looked back since. Following stints at Globe, Tapeo and Time Supper Club, where he studied under the likes of Chefs David McMillan and Frederic Morin, Chuck knew it was time for the next step.

>> Read more on Chuck Hughes

Chef Emerie Brine (top) will be assisted by Darlene Tanaka (bottom) during Bernardin's presentation.

Chef Emerie Brine Come celebrate the arrival of spring and join Chef Emerie Brine, a certified red seal chef for over 20 years from Bernardin as he demonstrates his love of food and canning. During his demonstration, he will show you how to make an easy jelly that your entire family can make together and enjoy together. Learn how easy it is to make those luscious exotic jellies you see in high end boutiques for a fraction of the cost. Come celebrate the arrival of the canning season, and of course, taste the delectable jelly that Chef Emerie has already prepared for you to sample. For over 100 years, home canning has been an exclusive focus for Bernardin Ltd. Bernardin continues to be the trusted leader in home canning products. Home canning has always been the best way to preserve the natural goodness of our foods. Today home canning is even more attractive to Canadians because of there growing concern and interest in knowing the source of there food we eat. We see this thinking everyday in the healthy lifestyle concerns, organic produce, and the proliferation of farmer’s markets. It’s also evident in the popularity of the 100 mile diet and locally grown foods, the enhanced retail produce sections and the overwhelming popularity of home gardening. Stage times Friday: 2:30 and 7:30 Saturday: 11:30 and 4:30 Sunday: 12:15 and 3:15

Chef Ned Bell Ned Bell is one of Canada’s foremost culinary talents. Born in the Okanagan, British Columbia’s wine country, Bell has always had a passion for cooking and is steadfast in his vision and drive to create new, imaginative dishes with fresh, local ingredients. Bell began his career in Vancouver working under two local restaurant legends: first under the tutelage of Le Crocodile’s Michel Jacob and then as Sous Chef for Rob Feenie’s Lumiere restaurant. Ready to make his mark on the up-and-coming Calgary restaurant scene, the new millennium saw Bell moving west to cook up a storm at Murrieta’s Grill in Calgary, where his list of accomplishments included winning Where Magazine’s Rising Star and Best Overall awards. The vibrant, young chef is thrilled to return to his roots where he is excitedly living his dream of being both Executive Chef and an owner at Cabana Bar and Grille in Kelowna, BC. Bell’s talent and charisma continue to propel him forward. Since opening Cabana Bar and Grille, Bell has begun filming “It’s Just Food” for CTV, and has been voted one of Western Living’s Top 40 Foodies Under 40.