TORONTO – Robert Arniel has been named the recipient of the 2009 Edna award from Cuisine Canada for his contribution to regional cuisine.

For more than 23 years Arniel has been active in St. John’s culinary community, where he worked as a sous chef, executive chef and cooking instructor. He also founded Chef to Go in St. John’s in 1995, a company that provides catering and cooking classes that spotlight Newfoundland cuisine and ingredients sourced from local farms. Some of Arniel’s traditional dishes include: Newfoundland coldwater shrimp and crab dumplings, partridgeberry sorbet and Labrador caribou pistachio pate.

ST. JOHN’S – Co-founder of Second Cup, Frank O'Dea, recently discussed his transformation — from panhandling on Toronto’s cold streets to selling hot premium-roast java — during an address at the St. John’s Board of Trade.

Alcoholism led him to the streets but he soon conquered his demons. O’Dea co-founded Second Cup, which has become the largest chain of gourmet coffees and teas in Canada, and he also went on to help found successful non-profit organizations Street Kids International and War Child (Canada). "Without hope, we can have no vision," he said. "But vision is only a dream if we don't take action."