Toronto chef hoping to win Pasta World Championship title

The 2019 Barilla Pasta World Championship is happening in Paristhis week,and one Toronto chef ishoping his dish has what it takes to win it all.

Chef Kshitiz Sethi of Paese Ristorantein North Yorkwill be representing Canada atthe competition with histwist on spaghetti con le sardea Sicilian pasta dish that traditionally includessardines and anchovies.

"I was trying to put together something multicultural, I knew I would be representing Canada,"Sethitold CBC News.

He says he adds some non-traditional ingredients tothe dish, likelemon, spices and fennel pollens.Saffron and sultana raisins give his version a multicultural twist, said Sethi, who comes from aPunjabi background.

"It's a traditional Sicilian dish withmy take on it each ingredient comes from a different culture,"Sethisaid.

Sethifirst learned about the competition when his managerapproached him with the opportunity. "I ended up sending my bio and my story with my recipe and luckily I was selected," he said.

Sethihad to firstcompete in a round with four other chefs before moving on to the competition in Paris. He says he was happy after winning that first round, adding,"I am really excited, I've never been to Paris ... I'm going to try a lot of food there."

While he is excited to compete, Sethisayshe didn't expect to get this kind ofexposure so early in his career. "I always thought that I would do really good in cooking but this has come really early ... I have been cookingtwo years."

Sethialso gainedexperience helping his father in his bakery when he was a teenager, which is wherehe discovered his interest in the food business.

"I saw there was opportunity ... but I was lacking a lotin terms of experience and skills.That's when I decided,let me first learn," he said.

With the help of his sister, Sethi decided to enrol in George Brown College to expand his culinary skills. "I would say this has been the best decision so far in terms of cooking ... I've got to experience a lot," he said.

He hopes to one day have his own restaurant.

"I am really happy and proud that I got a chance to represent Canada in Paris."