ALGONQUIN PARK, ON--(Marketwired - February 29, 2016) - Kim and Marilyn Smith, owners of Bartlett Lodge (www.bartlettlodge.com), offer their heartfelt congratulations to Marc Lepine and his team, on their first-place finish at this year's prestigious Gold Metal Plates Canadian Culinary Championship, a two-day competition that took place in Kelowna, B.C. on February 6, 2016. For four years in the 1990's, Chef Lepine was Bartlett Lodge's Executive Chef and was instrumental in turning Bartlett Lodge into the fine-dining establishment it is today. Owner and chef of the famous Atelier Restaurant in Ottawa, Chef Lepine continues to influence Bartlett's kitchen to this day as Consulting Executive Chef.

"We are very happy for Chef Lepine and his team on their top-place finish. It is a well-deserved victory. Marc Lepine is a very talented chef. He is the recipient of many culinary awards and accolades, and with this latest win, he has become the only Canadian Chef ever to win the Gold Medal Plates twice. During Mark Lepine's time as Bartlett Lodge's Executive Chef, his talent and creativity helped to establish our reputation for unsurpassed dining and one of the best places to eat in Muskoka," says Kim Smith, owner of Bartlett Lodge.

Casually elegant, Bartlett's Algonquin Park fine dining room offers diners a daily menu that features a selection of delectable appetizers, entrees, and desserts, all artfully prepared utilizing the freshest, locally-sourced and sustainable ingredients whenever possible. Returning for his third season leading the Bartlett Lodge culinary team, David Fortune Jr., Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager, is currently working on new menu creations and establishing relationships with local providers of produce and meats in preparation for the opening of Bartlett's ninety-ninth season as an Algonquin Park resort.

"Executive Chef Fortune continues in the tradition of former Bartlett chefs by keeping the menu always fresh and exciting. He puts his own unique twist on classic dishes and uses local and sustainably-farmed ingredients as much as possible. Chef Fortune has a real talent for infusing traditional cuisine favorites with a modern élan, putting great care and imagination into everything he creates. We are very excited to see what delicious menus he comes up with for our guests dining pleasure this season," remarks Smith.

About Bartlett Lodge:
Offering a truly unique Algonquin Park vacation experience, Bartlett Lodge is a stylish, full-service resort located within Algonquin Provincial Park. Acclaimed for its commitment to the environment and famous for its outstanding cuisine, this award-winning Ontario resort in Muskoka is ideal for family vacations, romantic couple's getaways, weddings and group functions. Bartlett Lodge offers tastefully furnished lakefront cottage rentals, luxury canopy tent accommodations, and fine dining in a beautiful wilderness setting. For more information or to book a fabulous Algonquin Park lodge vacation, visit http://www.bartlettlodge.com or call toll-free 1-866-614-5355.