Save the Dates:

September 12th, 2022, Ontario’s Finest Butcher Elimination Round at Halenda’s in Mississauga

October 14th, 2022,  Ontario’s Finest Butcher Finale at Niagara Falls COnvention Centre during the 2022 Meat Expo

Congratulations Paul Gentile of Metro – you are Ontario’s Finest Butcher 2021!

After battling it out against 16 of Ontario’s best butchers,  Paul Gentile from Metro came out on top. Congratulations Paul, you have claimed the title of Ontario’s Finest Butcher!!

Notable Mention to our 2021 Finalists

Doug Easterbrook of Townsend Butchers

Doug is currently at meat cutter at Townsend Butchers in Simcoe. He has completed the Ontario Apprenticeship Program for meat cutters. He has also attended the Seaway Valley Meat Cutting Institute in Cornwall, ON. Next year, Doug will be competing in the World Butcher Challenge in the Young Butcher Category.

Christopher McNutt of Halenda’s Meats

Christopher currently works as a Meat Manager at Halenda’s, Oshawa. He has been working at Halenda’s Meats for 14 years and brings with him 14 years meat cutting experience. He completed a Retail Meat Cutting apprenticeship program.

Paul Gentile of Metro Ontario

Paul currently works in Toronto as a Meat Specialist for Metro. He started his career working in the meat department at  the age of 14 as a clean up clerk, he then progressed to meat wrapper,  meat cutter, manager and now Specialist. He gained experience by working in many of the different markets of Ontario and learning the traditional butcherways.

Ricardo Sousa of Pavao Meats-Salsicharia Pavao

Ricardo works in Toronto as a  Manager at Pavao Meats and Deli. He completed most of his apprenticeship in Portugal, with old school butchers and completed it in Canada. Working at Pavao meats, allowed him to refine his cuts and knowledge, giving him the opportunity of putting together the best of two very different ways of butchering.

Thank you to our esteemed judges for your contribution to making this year’s competition a success: 

• John Baker of Ontario Beef
• Troy Spicer of Fanshawe College
• Tim Sylander and Graham Dalziel of ViscoFan
• Damian Goriup of Florence Meats.

Ontario’s Finest Butcher competitors begin by showcasing their technical knowledge and knife skills in an Elimination Round and the top four will proceed to the finals being held the week of September 28th, 2021. Our finalists will participate in a 30 minute live-streamed competition to show-off their charming and creative selves, thinking quick on their feet, and adding value to an undisclosed protein. The winner will be announced LIVE following the competition.

The winner will not only walk away with excellent bragging rights but also this amazing prize package valued at over $2300:
• Big Green Egg MiniMax Ultimate Kit
• Mercer Culinary knife set
• Custom made knife courtesy of Dolan Foods
• Yeti Prize Package
• Black Chef’s Jacket courtesy Ontario Beef
• Ecoboard Resurfacing Package

Each of our finalists will receive a prize pack valued at $800:
• Mercer Culinary knife set
• Custom made knife courtesy of Dolan Foods
• White Chefs Jacket courtesy of Ontario Beef