Montréal En Lumière takes place February 16 to March 5, 2023, under the theme Discover the best of Montreal in winter! While some 40 Montréal restaurants and venues will be welcoming international and local chefs and producers, I wish to commend the team at the Marriott Château Champlain for giving the media an advance preview of the special menu at the still relatively new and very swank Lloyd Restaurant.
It all began for the iconic Marathon Souvlaki in 1978 with a small restaurant on Notre Dame Street in Chomedey, Laval, containing five tables and focusing mainly on takeout and delivery.
The Labonté de la pomme family, based in Oka, Quebec is pleased to present its non-alcoholic apple sparklers to brighten up your celebrations, whether served plain or in fabulous mocktails & cocktails.
Besides the regular apple sparkling flavor, the Rosé Apple & Morello Cherry sparkling edition sounds superb. Catherine Belanger, the administrative assistant for the company and a former St. Hubert store manager, says it has the taste of a bubbly glass of champagne.
The Labonté premium non-alcoholic sparkling ciders are handcrafted with finesse and bottled directly at the estate and presented in an elegant engraved bottle that makes it an ideal gift. It sounds like a great way to make your happy hour sparkle! Celebrate with their festive ciders perfect for any occasion and for the whole family.
Whether it’s to add happiness to your breakfast, cocktail bites, or your gourmet tables, you can discover their rainbow of local products such as their vanilla pear butter or one of their orchard jellies such as the apple & maple jelly and the spicy apple jelly. A discovery by the senses! Products are sold individually or in gift packages.
Labonté de la pomme’s non-alcoholic ciders and fine products are available at the estate’s boutique, on their online store and at some 20 new points of sale that now collaborate with the Labonté de la pomme family.
Labonté is a family-owned epicurean business that produces fine products. In the spring you can enjoy their sugar shack experience and by late summer it is family apple-picking time. You can visit their Oka headquarters year-round.
Log on to www.labontedelapomme.ca
Mike Cohen, born and raised in Côte Saint-Luc, has long been active in the community as a volunteer, journalist, and consultant. He profiles restaurants in Montreal and beyond.
mikecohen.ca
Pizza has always been one of my favorite dishes, so when I was driving along Sources Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux recently and spotted a storefront at Centennial Plaza with the name “Salvatore,” I was naturally curious. Was this a new take-out place?
Upon some quick research, I was surprised to learn that this is a growing chain in Quebec, with 61 Pizza Salvatoré franchises and counting. Thus far there are a handful of locations in and near the Greater Montreal area, including Dollard, St. Leonard, Laval, Repentigny, Terrebonne and Mascouche, as well as the South Shore. They have expanded to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with Ontario (London) next on their radar screen.
I have been curious about Saint Houblon for several years now, often passing by their Côte des Neiges area location. When I saw them listed on MTLàTABLE a few months back there was no question this was high on my list.
MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, presented in collaboration with Scotiabank, is thrilled to announce that the 24th edition of the festival will be held from February 16 to March 5, 2023, under the theme Discover the best of Montreal in winter!
Once again this year, festival-goers will be able to skate on the magnificent Ice Skating Loop high above Place des Festivals, bask in the glow light installations, ride the Grande roue and take advantage of tons of free activities during spring break. It will also mark the 20th anniversary of Nuit blanche, with multiple shows happening in venues throughout the Quartier des spectacles. In short, we’ll be pulling out all the stops to help you rediscover our beautiful and dynamic downtown!
The Gastronomy programming, presented by ScotiaWealth Management returns to share its legendary hospitality once again. Some 40 Montréalrestaurants and venues will be welcoming international and local chefs and producers, while downtown will be buzzing with gourmet activities. The theme of this joyous and welcoming 24th edition says it all: Montréal is inviting you over!
“This edition of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE promises to strengthen the four pillars of its mission: to celebrate gastronomy, present new shows and unite crowds with such inclusive and participative winter activities as ice skating. We have everything it takes to prove that Montréal offers a warm welcome, even in the heart of winter.” – Jacques Primeau, Festival General Manager
Air France Finest Tables
Invite a chef, a wine grower or a producer from here or abroad, pair them with one of the city’s restaurants and let this special mix work its magic in kitchens and venues city-wide: that’s the hugely successful recipe behind the Air France Finest Tables, which is back better than ever this year. In 2023, Montréal welcomes France, Canada, Italia, Belgium, Switzerland and Scandinavia: more than 30 chefs, including a dozen chefs from northern Europe, will be here to dazzle us with their creativity. Among them are Benoit Neusy (Michelin star chef, restaurant l’Impératif au Domaine d’Arondeau, France) at La Chronique, Romain Meder (Michelin star chef, Domaine de Primard, Guainville, France) at Mastard, Ina Niiniketo (Sikke’s, Helskinki) at Ratafia, and Lionel Lévy (Michelin star chef, InterContinental Marseille) at Osco! Wine growers, such as Julien Labet, who will be welcomed by Menu Extra, and Laurent Cazottes at Chez Victoire, will also be joining in the festivities. In addition to traditional tasting menus, the Air France Finest Tables will feature other palate-popping experiences, such as exclusive lunches, brunches, 5 à 7 (happy hours), not to mention delicious confections in partnership with Cacao Barry and Esprits libres, a rare treat for those with a sweet tooth out there.
Here is the list of participating restaurants:
Au Petit Extra | Auberge Saint-Gabriel | Bar George | Barroco
Beaufort Bistro | Beaver Hall | Bivouac | Blanc Bec (ITHQ)
Cabaret L’Enfer | Chez Victoire | État-Major | Ferreira Café
foiegwa | FOXY | Galaxie Brasserie | Hélicoptère | Ikanos
Kamùy | La Chronique | Le Mousso | Le Virunga | Lloyd
Maison Boulud | Mastard | Menu Extra | Monarque
Monème | Mon Lapin | Okeya Kyujiro | Osco! | Pastel
Ratafia | Renoir (Sofitel Montréal) | Restaurant de l’ITHQ
Restaurant h3 | Rosélys (Hôtel Reine Élizabeth) | Rose Ross
Terrasse Nordheimer | Toqué!
Consult the Air France Finest Tables program here
Couette & Gastronomie Packages
While tourists from here and afar spend summers exploring the many regions of Québec, in winter it’s a different story as the city turns into a pulsing hub with the one-of-a-kind urban experiences of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE. Once again this year, visitors will love the popular Couette & Gastronomie Packages. Hotels and restaurants will be taking part to whet everyone’s appetites with gourmet tasting experiences indoors. A dozen or so hotels will be welcoming you with arms wide open, including:
Auberge du Vieux-Port (and its Taverne Gaspar restaurant)
DoubleTree by Hilton Montréal | Embassy Suites by Hilton
Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth | Hôtel Monville
Hôtel William Gray (and its Maggie Oakes restaurant)
L’Intercontinental Montréal | Le Petit Hôtel
Lofts du Vieux-Port
Discover all details of Couette & Gastronomie Packages
Spring Break Family Package
For the first time ever, the festival will offer an exclusive package at the Monville and Double Tree hotels during spring break. It will include:
Special Events
Les Apéros MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE, presented by Vins Côtes du Rhône and hosted by Michelle Bouffard in the charming setting of L’Arrière-Scène in Esplanade Tranquille, will take place from February 16 to 26.
Then, a conference on culinary identity, in partnership with the Société du réseau ÉCONOMUSÉE (February 23), will round out the menu. Tickets for these special events will be on sale soon at montrealenlumiere.com.
There will also be À table avec Jean-Paul Riopelle presented by Air France, whose 100th birthday we celebrate this year. A unique menu will be crafted to reflect this unifying and collaborative painter. This exceptional gourmet event will take place on February 22 at Toqué restaurant, near the artwork La Joute at Place Jean-Paul Riopelle. Reservations will be open from January 22, 2023 via Toqué! restaurant.
Quartier Gourmand
The Quartier Gourmand, the cherry on top, will take place for the first time in the hall of Place des Arts (Espace culturel Georges-Émile Lapalme), a spot that allows it to fully embrace its mission of democratizing Québec terroir products. Over the course of two weekends (February 18-19, and 25-26, from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.), this special site will offer over 20 free activities, including conferences, tastings as well as culinary demonstrations and workshops.
Of these 20 free workshops, four captivating and appetizing workshops will be hosted by Mordu, Radio-Canada’s gourmet platform at 3:45 p.m. The day of Saturday, February 18 will be dedicated to emerging Québec products, as Jérémie Jean-Baptiste hosts the first workshop on Asian vegetables with Stéphanie Wang from the company Le Rizen. On Sunday, February 19 top honours will be given to chocolate and pastries as Loounie gives a workshop on vegan pastries. On Saturday, February 25, Indigenous cuisine will be in the spotlight when Amine Laabi introduces us to Indigenous culinary traditions alongside Anora Lia Collier and his mother. Sustainable foods are the headliners of Sunday, February 19, as Geneviève O’Gleman shares unique and easy ideas on how to transform food headed for the garbage into tasty gourmet dishes.
“Scotiabank places arts and culture at the heart of its community engagement in Quebec, as we know that the artistic and business communities uplift and enrich each other. Our partnership with MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE allows us to support storytellers that greatly contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of Montreal. We are also proud to be associated with their gastronomic programming, which features a diverse range of chefs from various cultures.”
In 1992 Vicky Arghiriu and Ihab Kolta were a newly married couple working for competing companies, Bell Mobility and Rogers. That did not sit well with their superiors and they were let go. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Family members encouraged them to start their own business. So, when they learned that a small restaurant called Deli Connaisseur at Alexis Nihon Plaza was for sale they took the leap into an entirely new venture.
MTLàTABLE will present exceptional dining experiences in over 100 restaurants showcasing the city’s culinary diversity and talent.
The event, which returns to its original format, offers diners the choice of 3- or 4-course table d’hôte dinner menus at fixed prices of $35, $45, $55, or $75. Foodies can take advantage of this culinary feast to discover new eateries or simply reconnect with their favourite restaurants. From classic to creative dishes, gourmets are in for a treat with the wide range of cuisines featured on the menus. Now that the highly anticipated list of 114 participating restaurants has been revealed, you can go to mtlatable.com and start booking your next culinary experiences!
“Montréal is home to a treasure trove of talented chefs, and we’ve been saying this from the beginning: the city has everything it takes to become North America’s culinary capital,” says Yves Lalumière, President and CEO, Tourisme Montréal “ For Tourisme Montréal, organizing an event that showcases the variety and quality of Montréal’s restaurants made perfect sense. And it gives visitors an excellent opportunity to discover the city and its iconic tables. MTLàTABLE is being celebrated in over 15 neighbourhoods.”
Dishing up terroir products and diversity
This year’s participating restaurants will shine the spotlight on the richness and diversity of Québec products. Divided into four price categories, the restaurants will dazzle your palate with one-of-a-kind table d’hôte menus. Vegan menus will be offered too! Simply choose a filter on the MTLàTABLE website to locate vegan restaurants.
$35 menus
You can choose from 14 of Montréal’s most iconic restaurants, including Bevo, Bistro Ste-Cath, Brasseurs de Montréal, Taverne Gaspar, La Classe, Saint-Houblon (Saint-Denis, Côte-des-Neiges and Little Italy), Kali Bistro, Estaminet, Mercato Comunale, Pullman winebar, Tsukuyomi Ramen Bishop and Venice MTL (Old Montréal).
$45 menus
Discovery awaits at these 38 restaurants: Aux quartiers belle gueule, Babacool, Bar MajesThé, Bar Minéral, Bar Waverly, Bistrot la Fabrique, Café Le Petit Flore, Caribou gourmand, Cerise Café Buvette, Chez Devi, Coba Sushi, Darna Bistroquet, Galaxie Brasserie, Il Bazzali, Jacopo, Kwizinn, La Cale Pub Zéro Déchet, Le Richmond, Le Rose-Marie, Virunga, Restaurant Cabotins, Les Enfants Terribles (Cantine), Madre sur Fleury, Méchant Boeuf Bar et Brasserie, Moleskine, NELLI Café + Vin nature, Osco! Brasserie Provençale, Osteria MKT, Pincette Lobster Bar, Plein Sud, Bivouac, Rose des Sables, Mignon, Rose Ross, Taza Flores, Vieux- Port Steakhouse, Restaurant Rita and Roseline.
$55 menus
This category offers a choice of 45 restaurants: Aldea MTL, Alexandre et fils, Bagatelle Bistro, Bonaparte, Brasserie 701, Brasserie Bernard, Brasserie Milton, Chez Victoire, Fiorella, Fiorellino (Laurier, Notre- Dame), Gaston, Greasy Spoon, Ibérica, IBERICOS Taverne à Tapas, Joséphine, Kitchen Galerie, Kyo Bar Japonais, La Bêtise (Saint-Hubert and Verdun), Le Boulevardier, Magnolia, Le Valois, Les Canailles, Les Cavistes Bar à vin, Les Enfants Terribles (Bernard and Île-des-Soeurs), Maggie Oakes, Meson, Modavie, Monème, Monsieur B, Pastaga, Restaurant ChuChai, Restaurant de l’ITHQ, Restaurant gaZette, Restaurant H3, La Raclette, Le Square, Restaurant Tbsp, Saiko Bistrot Izakaya, Santos, Tapeo Bar à Tapas, Trattoria Gio, Vandale par le Speakeasy.
$75 menus
Choose from among these 17 restaurants: Chez Delmo, Chez Lévêque, Deville Dinerbar, Ikanos, Labo Culinaire Foodlab, L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Lawrence, Les Enfants Terribles (Place Ville-Marie), Lloyd, Loam, Perles et Paddock, Ratafia, Renoir, Restaurant Beau Mont, Restaurant Jérôme Ferrer, Restaurant Kamuy and Seasalt & Ceviche Bar.
MTLàTABLE is an initiative by Tourisme Montréal that invites people to celebrate Montréal’s gourmet dining scene. From November 3 to 13, the 10th edition of this gourmet get-together showcases delicious prix fixe menus at $35, $45, $55, and $75. To learn more about MTLàTABLE, visit https://mtlatable.mtl.org/en. MTLàTABLE would like to thank its Grand Partner the National Bank, its major partner Les Vins du Rioja as well as the Association Restauration Québec.
You can share your gourmet discoveries and experiences with the hashtag #MTLaTABLE @mtlatable. See complete programming and book a table at www.mtlatable.com
La Molisana is renowned for its fine Italian cuisine. This includes homemade pasta, veal, seafood and authentic pizza baked in their splendid wood oven. 40 years later the restaurant thrives.
Next spring, Restaurant Calzone will celebrate 25 years of successful operations in Kirkland. This is a family-run business, with Tony Spinelli, his son Mike and son-in-law Shayne Fuller at the helm.
For its 9th edition, Montreal Vegan Festival returns to the Palais des Congrès. On Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th, 2022, the festival for all food lovers will be back in downtown Montreal. For two days, foodies from all walks of life are invited to experience the vegan lifestyle and discover vegan cuisine. There will be kiosks, cooking demonstrations and conferences in both French and English – and everyone is welcome.
Seasoned vegans, novices, or those who are simply curious to find out more, will be invited to reflect on the social and environmental impact of the food they eat. This year, Afro-veganism sports nutrition and animal rights issues will be in the spotlight. The mission of the Montreal Vegan Festival is to inspire people and accompany them on their journey towards a cruelty-free world!
A popular figure in the vegan food scene, Loounie is a self-taught culinary creator. Passionate about food, this former health professional first made a name for herself through her blog Loounie cuisine. She is best known for inventing magic tofu, a favourite of vegans and omnivores alike! Caroline may be something of a strange bird in the Quebec media landscape (her surname, Huard, is French for loon after all), but she has definitely found her niche. Since publishing two cookbooks with KO Editions, in 2019 and 2021, this activist for conscientious eating – yet who distances herself from toxic diet culture – has taken the media by storm! She is a frequent participant in the TV show Moi j’mange on Télé Québec and is a columnist for Radio Canada’s Mordu platform, for which she also records the podcast À plat ventre. The festival is delighted to have this committed foodie on board as an ambassador.
The Little Italy and Plateau Mont-Royal restaurant specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine has chosen the festival to present its new range of ready-to-eat foods! Festivalgoers will be the first to try these deliciously prepared dishes, concocted by Sham!
For a number of years now, veganism has been growing in popularity. More and more people are rallying to the cause, helping to protect our planet and the animals that inhabit it. Although food and health are always at the heart of the discourse, people join the movement for all kinds of reasons. The Montreal Vegan Festival is a gathering place, bringing together members of the community around ethical, social and ecological issues. It is also a place where newcomers are welcome, and where they can learn about and, above all, enjoy the festival!
There are some fantastic new features in store for visitors this year. Always more committed than ever, the festival is now zero waste! In the 2022 edition, all materials, plates and utensils will be compostable.
In an effort to support local businesses, the festival is launching its dining discount card! After two challenging years, the festival is committed to helping local restaurant owners. For $5, the card will entitle its holder to exclusive discounts at a selection of Montreal-based vegan restaurants for a period of 15 days. This is a great opportunity to try new dishes and discover new places while encouraging the local economy! Experts and enthusiasts will share their knowledge with the public in 45-minute sessions. Our French and English guest speakers will answer questions from the audience to initiate a public debate.
Afro-veganism is a movement that draws connections between the fight against racism and the oppression of animals, while revalorizing ingredients from Afro-Caribbean cultures. Joe G. Thomas is the founder of Black Vegans of Toronto and Atiba Farm in Ontario. He holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University and is the author of the book Let Food Be Your Medicine Today: Live Healthy and Strong on Plant-Based Whole Foods. He has been promoting plant-based living and food self-sufficiency among Afro-descendant communities in Canada for thirty years. During the conference, he will give us a firsthand account of over 40 years of a plant-based lifestyle and the growth and development of Afro-Veganism in Canada.
Jimmy and his wife Mélanie founded the gardens of La Ferme de l’Aube in Boileau. Since 2014, they have been growing flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits without the use of any pesticides or animal fertilizers. In Jimmy’s presentation, he will take us on a voyage of discovery through dedication, ingenuity, research and science and show what is not only possible but necessary, for gardeners and farmers, in settings from urban backyards to the rural farmyard, for all floral and faunal beings to thrive on our collective planet.
Chloé Surprenant (FR)
Chloé Surprenant is a Montreal-based criminal lawyer and animal rights specialist. She became involved in animal rights activism during her studies. She is specifically interested in the protection of animals exploited on farms under Canadian law. Her talk will focus on the status of animals under Canadian law and what limits, if any, are placed on farmers who exploit these animals.
Myriam Bahaffou is a doctoral student in feminist studies and philosophy. She is interested in interspecies connections from an ecofeminist and decolonial perspective, and advocates in various ecofeminist spaces and collectives for an intersectional understanding of climate justice issues. She signed the entry “Écoféminisme radical” in Feu! Abécédaire des féminismes présents, coordinated by Elsa Dorlin, and will publish Des paillettes sur le compost : écoféminismes au quotidien at Passager Clandestin in October 2022. In her talk, she will revisit the vegan ecofeminist positions theorized in the 1980s, to draw veganism that is rooted in the reality of the most marginalized groups, far from the paradigm of “inclusivity.”
Science popularizer Sébastien Moro is the co-author of the comic book Les cerveaux de la ferme published in 2021 by La Plage. He will be presenting the work as part of a discussion on animal intelligence and emotions. While we are used to observing the behaviours of pets, farm animals are rarely the focus of human attention. This illustrated scientific essay uses humour to dispel the widespread misconception that these animals are not as intelligent or sensitive as their domestic cousins. The author invites us to discover the incredible emotional intelligence and complex social relationships of farm animals.
Vegan chefs are highly talented and they will have the opportunity to prove it at the Montreal Vegan Festival. Come discover mouth-watering recipes that you can reproduce at home to dazzle your friends and family!
A vegan for nine years and an accomplished mother, Sara Girard shares her simple and delicious recipes on her blog Ma cuisine de tous les jours. She is also the author of the book One pot végane, published by Broquet. Eating healthy couldn’t be easier with Sara!
Angèle created the Instagram page @Veganmontreal in 2016, with the aim of sharing her growing passion for plant-based cuisine. Being also a lawyer and new mother, Angèle focuses on recipes that are accessible to everyone: easy, nutritious and delicious! Come and meet her on October 8 at the Palais des congrès to find out more.
Xavier, an athlete, and Nicolas, a sports nutritionist, go back a long way. They are the co-authors of the cookbook Recettes véganes pour gens actifs and the creators of the blog Gourmand Gourmand. Passionate about sports and cooking, they help their readers improve their physical performance—and satisfy their taste buds! During the festival, the two friends will turn into competitors as they battle it out in a culinary challenge, all in the spirit of good sportsmanship!
The festival spokesperson will show us how to prepare one of her delicious original recipes.
This self-employed and self-taught chef revisits the West African cuisine of her childhood. At the wheel of her food truck, Evy shares comforting plant-based dishes that highlight her West African heritage.
Marc-Olivier and Jermy are the owners of Vegâteau, a dessert shop located on the Plateau Mont-Royal, where they serve their exquisite sweet creations. In addition to being vegan and gluten-free, all their baked goods are made with sustainable ingredients. The couple’s mission is simple: to make the world a better place, one scrumptious treat at a time!
tpropdc.ticketpro.ca/en/pages/fvm2022
Blandino is a neighbourhood Italian-inspired seasonal brasserie using fresh market produce with local inspiration. This staple Midtown restaurant is named and pays homage to Carmelo Blandino.
I dropped by the new Wellington Bagel Sandwicherie recently. Chef Derek Curzi and his team offer the best gourmet sandwiches on the block, such as mouthwatering porchetta, Montreal smoked meat, the famous Wellington beef, crispy chicken cutlet, tender juicy chicken parmigiana, their iconic Chicago all-beef hot dog, freshly baked in-house pastries and always hot out of the oven bagels.
“Copper Branch is the largest vegan restaurant brand in the world, and we are happy to welcome it into the Foodtastic Family,” said Peter Mammas, President, and CEO of Foodtastic. “We look forward to working with all our new franchisees and emerging through this pandemic with a revitalized leader in the plant-powered restaurant space. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of acquiring quality Canadian brands with growth potential.”
With news that General Mills will no longer be able to continue making Liberté cream cheese, bagel lovers, in particular, have gone into a bit of… Read More »In the wake of the discontinuation of Liberté cream cheese, Dizz’s Bagel and Deli to the rescue
