Dartmouth chef brings 'East Coast flair' to Top Chef Canada

Nova Scotiafans of the show Top Chef Canadacouldsee a familiar face when it premieres April 1 on the Food Network Canada.

Rene Lavalle, the co-owner and chef at The Canteen on Portland and Little C Take-Out in Dartmouth, N.S., is the only competitor from Atlantic Canada competing this season.

"You know, it was really awesome,"Lavalletold CBC News of the experience. "I made some really amazing friends, [had] really tough competition.... I really walked away loving the experience."

Last June, someone messaged Lavallethrough Instagram to see if she would be interested in competing.

"It was something that I never really thought about, but you know what? Things have been going really well here at the two restaurants and I have a really amazing staffand why not?" she said.

Although filming has wrapped up on the show, Lavalleonly publicly announced she would be competing five days ago.

Lavallesaid there were some interesting challenges competing on the show, including tight time limits to complete challenges, working with a camera in her face and using unfamiliar equipment and ingredients.

But she saidit was worth it.

"If I had to do it again, I probably would," she said.

Lavallecouldn't get into specifics about what happens on the show, but said she was sure to represent Nova Scotia with some secret homegrown ingredients.

"Lots of East Coast flair ... as you watch as the show progress, you'll seeNova Scotia certainly is shownquite rampantly," she said.

Lavalleplans to watch the show's premierewith staff and friends "somewhere local on the Portland Street strip."