Hailing from Vancouver, the adorable Dana McIntyre was visiting Yorkville's Williams-Sonoma store yesterday, for the Superstar Chef Challenge Promo.

Winner of the 2005 challenge, the passionate McIntyre and fact-ready 2006 champion, Anthony Sedlak, competed in a friendly cook-off. They had 60 minutes to make the W-S' "Gnocchi Al Gorgonzola Con Radicchio" recipe as well as another dish with a surprise ingredient - which was polenta.

Both put up a great fight, filling the store with wonderful aromas and making my mouth salivate for the whole hour.

After the show, I got a chance chat with McIntyre to discuss her passion for food, eating in Toronto and her future plans.

Although never seeing herself leaving Vancouver, she admires Toronto's knack for culinary progression. "Toronto is more trendy. More forward. It is so great to see all the ethnicities in this city." She loves how eating is an adventure in hogtown and how Torontonians can "get more of everything."

Currently featured on the Food Network's family show, Just One Bite, McIntyre is also in town to put forward a new cooking show that will capture the growing young foodie community. "The concept is more edgy. It will be a university-style show," she excitedly tells me.

After our casual talk, she quickly starts talking about food in Toronto again. On her list of restaurants to visit: Lee and Batifole.

PS. Both McIntyre and Sedlak tied for the challenge promo.