Local Chef Claims Gold

Brandon, MB – May 20, 2025 — Brandon chef Casey Naherniak has secured first place at the Grill Masters finals in Toronto, a North American culinary competition hosted by The Keg Steakhouse + Bar.

The competition unfolded over three rounds, beginning with in-store events at individual Keg locations, advancing to regional competitions, and culminating in the finals, which took place in Toronto on May 13. Twelve chefs from across Canada and the United States went head-to-head in the final showdown. Naherniak, who works at The Keg in Brandon, emerged as the top chef, finishing ahead of Leonie from Toronto, who placed third, and Erwin from St. John’s, Newfoundland, who took second.

Her winning dish, Forest & Field, was a deeply personal creation that combined local Manitoba flavors with her own culinary passions. It featured a coffee-crusted elk filet, cooked sous-vide and seared to perfection, paired with birch syrup chocolate whipped butter, tart lingonberry compote, and drunken red wine cherries. On the side were crisp potato pavé, crunchy golden beet chips, and sautéed wild morel mushrooms and spring peas. A touch of crème fraîche, smoked sea salt, pea shoots, and homegrown flowers completed the dish — all served on hand-made wooden plates to tie back to her roots.

“I am very excited to share the dish I created. It is quite personal to me — it’s called Forest and the Field, inspired by where I came from,” Naherniak shared during the presentation. “Growing up on a farm in the prairies, surrounded by open fields and dense forest. As a kid I foraged morel mushrooms, ate peas straight out of the garden, and developed a love for the land that still guides me today. This dish reflects that connection, right down to the hand-made wooden plates.”

After the competition, she also took to social media to express how much the experience meant to her.
“This dish wasn’t just a representation of Manitoba — it was a reflection of me,” she posted. “It featured the local flavors I grew up with, my love for wild meats, foraging, and gardening. It was inspired by my childhood, my passion, and everything that’s shaped me as a chef.”

Casey’s journey began in Russell, Manitoba, where she grew up surrounded by open fields and forests, sparking her early interest in local ingredients. A 2020 graduate of Brandon Culinary School, she’s been working in professional kitchens ever since, bringing that same sense of place and curiosity to every dish she creates.
This year’s Grill Masters finals were judged by a panel of four, with The Keg’s senior leadership — including the Vice President of Product, directors of food and beverage, and product managers — in attendance to witness the chefs’ creativity and precision firsthand.

From growing up in the Prairies to winning top honours on a North American culinary stage, Casey’s achievement is a testament to hard work, passion, and staying connected to your roots. Brandon and Manitoba couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishment — and we can’t wait to see where her culinary adventures take her next.

Competitive chefs competitng for the best dish in the kitchen