Program Overview
This year, we'll have the great pleasure of welcoming Brussels and Wallonia
as our featured regions. Naturally complementary, both Belgian regions offer conviviality,
a warm welcome, a gourmet palate and savoir-faire. Brussels, a city-region open
to the world, is a crossroads of gastronomic influences as diverse as they are rewarding;
Wallonia, resplendent with rivers, forests full of game and vast orchards, presents
a culinary palette rich in quality regional products.
All year long, Brussels will bustle to a gourmet beat, under the banner of Brusselicious
2012. At the same time and through to 2013, La Wallonie des Saveurs will invite
you to discover its mouth-watering products. As a prelude to this festive year,
the two regions will unveil the many facets of their local gastronomy via a gallery
of chefs, from the most renowned culinary ambassadors, including our honorary president
Yves Mattagne, to the youngest and most promising rising talents. And the cherry
on the sundae: the delegation is bringing in two amazing artisan chocolatiers.
Your gourmet journey of discovery continues with Seattle, our featured city. Poised
between urban and natural, the Washington state port city benefits from its proximity
to water, with a resulting abundance of fresh fish and seafood in its dishes. The
presence of farms and artisanal producers in the surrounding area encourages local,
seasonal and even organic cuisine, as evidenced by the menus of the restaurants
headed by our six visiting chefs.
And let's not forget wine production! The states of Washington and Oregon will
be represented at some of our Finest Tables by passionate vintners eager to share
the fruits of their labour with Festival fans.
Closer to home, the Outaouais region takes the spotlight in the Jean-Talon Market,
with culinary demonstrations, tastings of products offered by producers and processors,
along with the presence of some of the finest Outaouais culinary artists working
in the kitchens of our Montreal chefs.
And to crown the entire affair, still more delectable special activities! The traditional
Honorary President's Dinner, the Wallonia-Brussels Convivial in Marché
Bonsecours Market, tasting seminars hosted by UQÀM, Air France culinary workshops, Presenting: Quebec Chefs and Cheeses—with you, festival fans, voting on the finest
creations—and finally, the highly-anticipated return of Ratatouille, a
cinema-brunch so successful last year that it has inspired a new gourmet event,
this time focusing on Chocolat, by Lasse Hallström. Lights, camera,
satisfaction!