And who knew that Portugal tasted this good? Well, the secret
is out, now that the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS featured country has revealed its
rich culinary traditions and uncorked its vintner’s finest wines in
the Honorary President’s Dinners hosted by Fausto Airoldi,
Vítor Sobral’s Portuguese Convivial, and
all our Finest Tables, a runaway success welcoming the largest
Festival delegation ever. Our featured country, as well
as our featured city and region (New
Orleans and the Eastern Townships) brought their
delicious and unique flavours and aromas to our plates, to the delight of
an ever-growing community of Montreal foodies.
Start with the Festival of Quebec Cheeses in Complexe
Desjardins, breaking records with a 35% increase in sales! Next,
the salon des vins, in the same venue, showcasing the Great Wines
of Portugal. And people kept flocking out to taste Quebec cheeses,
notably on Saturday in the Hyatt Regency Montréal,
during the first-ever edition of Presenting: Quebec Chefs and Cheeses, which
hosted a healthy-and delicious!-contest between talented chefs! What a brilliant
concept: 400 guests tasting 16 incredible Quebec cheese-bashed
dishes prepared by 4 renowned Montreal chefs. A unique event, the contest
showcased the skills of our local chefs and crowned a winner in the young
and talented Sophie Ouellet, sous-chef in restaurant DNA, who was awarded
a $5000 prize offered by the Fédération des producteurs
de lait du Québec.
But without question, this year’s great surprise was the new Crossroads
of Flavour, also in Complexe Desjardins! It was an instant and unforeseen
success, presenting a delicious concept-a “village” devoted to
the inimitable flavours of our regional products and their creators. A gourmet
paradise that not only showcased sublime products-duck smoked meat, anyone?-but
also highlighted the great work done by our local producers.
Consult the
complete online program of the 11th edition
Download the PDF version of the program of the 11th edition