Have you ever met someone so young, accomplished, and talented that your own petty jealousies made you kinda want to dislike them, but you couldn’t because they are so darn nice? Well that’s what it was like meeting Anthony Sedlak, the winner of 2005 Superstar Chef Challenge.

I was on set last week of Anthony’s new show, The Main, which will air on Food Network Canada this fall. Each episode of The Main is based on one main ingredient, such as mushrooms, figs and clams, hence the name. The show has a Mediterranean flavour and a set that reminds me of Tyler’s Ultimate, which happens to be one of my favourite shows. The Main is brought to us by the same team behind Anna Olson’s Sugar, so you know it’s going to be good.

There’s a lot of buzz here at the Food Network HQ about Anthony Sedlak, and having met him, I can see why. The man once described as the “lovechild of Jamie Oliver and Anthony Bourdain” is charming, charismatic, and an accomplished chef.  Not to mention that he’s… well… cute, really cute. This Vancouver-native is Canada’s answer to England’s Jamie Oliver and America’s Dave Lieberman.

But more importantly, Anthony knows his way around the kitchen.  He’s been cooking since he was 13, did time at some top restaurants abroad, including La Trompette (one of Gordon Ramsay's favourite restaurants), and even managed to squeeze in culinary school.  Recently, Anthony, who headed The Observatory Restaurant in Vancouver, was hand-picked to represent Canada at the Hans Bueschken World Junior Chef Challenge in Auckland, New Zealand. He came in second. All this and he just turned 24. Impressive, no?

I’ve seen the first two episodes of The Main, and I can tell you, it’s good, really good. It’s a back-to-the basics, instructional cooking show with Anthony providing plenty of helpful chef’s tips.

His energy is infectious and his down-to-earth manner, endearing.  I think when The Main debuts in the fall, it’s going to be huge. To think he almost wasn't going to apply for Superstar Chef Challenge, if it wasn’t for his girlfriend’s persistence. I hope Anthony is ready for the ride.

A new season of Superstar Chef Challenge is coming to Food Network Canada in June.