2012 marks the fifteenth year for the Canadian Culinary Book Awards. In keeping with the shifting culinary landscape, the Awards Committee and the University of Guelph are proud to introduce a new name, a new logo, and revised award categories.

Taste Canada―The Food Writing Awards is an evolution of the former Canadian Culinary Book Awards.

The awards will continue to annually recognize excellence and creativity in food and beverage writing and publishing. The new branding will further celebrate Canadian culinary food culture, Canadian authors and publishers, while acknowledging and respecting the authority and history of the original Awards.

Taste Canada ― The Food Writing Awards is still managed by the same core staff, under the leadership of the new National Chair, Karen Gelbart, a Toronto media consultant with a long and distinguished career in broadcasting and journalism. Before taking on the role of Chair of Taste Canada, Karen held a senior executive position with Shaw Media, formerly Canwest Broadcasting, overseeing content for the company’s lifestyle specialty channels. In this role, Karen helped bring the Food Network to Canada in 2000 and then administered its explosive growth until 2010.

She says, “I was delighted to join the Awards Committee in re-imagining the awards for 2012.  We all share a common desire to encourage the development, use, and recognition of fine Canadian food and beverage books by instituting these timely changes. I look forward to a year of increased profile for food writing in Canada, and to further exciting developments.”

Remaining as a partner, the University of Guelph has for more than 140 years contributed to Canadian cuisine with programs in agriculture, food science, hospitality and tourism management, and other related fields. One copy of all nominated books will be donated to the University’s Canadian Culinary Book Collection.

Taste Canada―The Food Writing Awards invites all Canadian publishers to submit nominations to the 2012 Awards, formerly known as the Canadian Culinary Book Awards.  Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2012.

Designed to recognize excellence and creativity in food and beverage-writing and publishing, the awards also promote our Canadian culinary food culture while celebrating Canadian authors and publishers. The awards are presented annually to honour books published during the previous calendar year.  Revised awards categories, criteria, submission procedures, and entry forms are available online.

Karen Gelbart is available for comment and interview. To arrange an interview contact Debby de Groot, MDG & Associates | 416.363.1448 | debby@mdgassociates.com