We recently won 2nd prize in the recent National Post Vegas Uncork’d contest.  It was for myself and a guest to attend a cooking class presented by Richard Chen, the head chef of Wing Lei, the only Chinese restaurant in North America to receive a Michelin Star.  The class took place at the flagship LCBO store in Toronto.  I was very excited as I knew the food and wine would be excellent.

I got the release forms.  They said the prize was worth $2000.  I thought, this is going to be good, but there is no way it is worth that much!  In Canada, we do not have to pay taxes on any prizes of any kind; lottery, sweepstakes, or contest, so I signed the release forms and faxed them back.  Had I been an American, I believe I would have turned the prize down as I would not want to pay the income tax on this particular prize.

There were ten winners, their guests, some sponsors, and the media in attendance.  Chef Chen showed us how he created each menu item.  Afterward, the sommelier came out and described each wine we were being served.

The menu consisted of Smoked Salmon & Daikon Salad, Pork Pot Stickers, Lobster Won Ton Soup, Shui Mai, Peppercorn Beef Tenderloin, and Seared Pork Loin with Sweet & Sour Sauce.

The wine list consisted of Mionetto “Il Prosecco”, Quinta Azevedo Vino Verde 2007, and Gos Jumilla 2007.

I did look up on the Wing Lei menu what Chef Chen and his team cooked for us that evening.  Had Craig and I eaten at the restaurant in Las Vegas, the food would have cost us $250.  I am estimating, had we ordered the three bottles of wine they also served us, it would have been another $250-$300.

The evening was wonderful but was the prize worth $2000.  Craig says yes! and I say no.

Decide for yourself before you sign the release forms if the prize is really worth what the sponsor feels it is worth.