Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Edmonton Gentlemen’s Dinner Club
Held at Sorrentino’s Downtown Location on January 13, 2020
On January 25, 2009 Steve Rose and Scott Montgomery met at the 89th Edmonton Robbie Burns supper. Steve was relatively new to Edmonton having moved here in August 2008 from Eastern Canada.
Steve asked Scott if he enjoyed cooking and working in the kitchen. Scott said “yes”. Steve then put forward an idea to create a social group of guys who would meet monthly to share a common passion for food and wine while developing their culinary skills.
In late spring 2009, Steve, Hugh McPhail and Richard Ford fleshed out plans for the idea. Hugh had prepared some legal documentation and all three plus Scott Montgomery started recruiting potential members.
EGDC’s first priority was to find a kitchen facility for a group of enthusiastic aspiring chefs. Scott had met Sorrentino’s Chef Chris Hrynyk at a charity auction. Scott told him about the planned club and he agreed to meet together with Steve Rose. Chris showed them Sorrentino’s catering kitchen and introduced them to a somewhat skeptical, but open-minded Carmelo Rago. Carmelo agreed to allow the club to use the Sorrentino’s Café catering kitchen and dining room on a trial basis.
The inaugural dinner was held October 9, 2009 with printed menu labeled “Cooking Class”. It was decidecly Italian with Chef Chris Hrynyk acting as the club’s first Mentor Chef.
Edmonton enjoys a rich and varied culinary scene with some of the best chef’s in Canada. In the 10 years of its history the EGDC has been fortunate to have had most of these artists as coaches for its monthly events.
Over the years the membership has varied with some members moving on and new one’s taking their place. Names from the original founding group of 16 who are still active in the Club today include Hugh McPhail, Stewart Roth, Richard Banasch, Peter Daly, Tom Orysiuk, and Scott Montgomery.
A decade after its formation, the Edmonton Gentlemen’s Dinner Club is alive and well!
