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CULINARY ARTS ARE ON THE MENU AT THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE’S QUEBEC SCENE
4/4/2007
Ottawa, April 4, 2007 – Canada’s National Arts Centre (NAC) is pleased to announce the Culinary Arts segment of Quebec Scene, April 20 to May 5 in Ottawa Gatineau. This exuberant multidisciplinary celebration of Quebec culture will feature over 700 artists and 100 events.
Over the last decade, gastronomy has established itself as a key part of Quebec culture. Quebec chefs have built a solid national and international reputation for their skill in marrying traditional regional cuisine with new and creative influences from elsewhere. Quebec Scene serves up a delicious programme of events to highlight Quebec’s culinary artists, products and producers.
Daniel Vézina, owner and chef of Quebec City’s acclaimed Laurie Raphaël and food columnist for La Presse, will be your host at an elegant and exquisite dinner for 60. He’ll be at the National Arts Centre on Thursday, April 26 at 18:30 to prepare a sumptuous gourmet meal that reflects his ideal of a cuisine that’s contemporary, inclusive and diverse. The appetizers—ceviche of Princess scallops from the Magdalen Islands, sugar-shack style foie gras, and maple-lacquered smoked salmon with cucumber pickle - are just the introduction to a wonderful meal! Seating for this colourful and delicious event is limited to 60. The complete menu is available on the Quebec Scene website, www.quebecscene.ca.
Tickets: $100, on sale at the NAC Box Office (in person only), through Ticketmaster (at all Ticketmaster outlets or by ‘phone, 613 755 1111), or online at www.quebecscene.ca.
On Friday, May 4 at 18:30, Normand Laprise—chef at Toqué! in Montreal, hailed as one of North America’s finest restaurants— will reveal some of his culinary secrets. A fervent promoter of Quebec's regional food products and the artisans who supply them, Normand has inspired a whole generation of Quebec chefs. He’ll share a few culinary tips and tricks at a lecture presented in association with Ottawa's Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. And lest the audience feel peckish, the talk will be complemented by delectable canapés inspired by the menu at Toqué!
Tickets: $25, on sale at the NAC Box Office (in person only), through Ticketmaster (at all Ticketmaster outlets or by phone, 613 755 1111), online at www.quebecscene.ca, and at the door 1 hour before the lecture (Le Cordon Bleu, 453 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa).
For the duration of the festival, the NAC’s award-winning restaurant, Le Café, will offer a special menu featuring Quebec regional dishes and products. A few examples to whet your appetite: Scallops à l’unilatérale (from the menu of Chasse et Pêche, Montreal); millefeuille of pear and maple sabayon ice (Cuisine et dépendance, Montreal); cream of Jerusalem artichokes and duck liver pâté (L’Initiale, Quebec City); brown-sugar fudge pudding (Robin des Bois, Montreal); and haunch of Inuit caribou (Le Saint Amour, Quebec City). Come on a gastronomical tour of Quebec without ever leaving the table!
In addition, restaurants throughout the Ottawa Gatineau region are on board, with no fewer than 17 establishments offering special Quebec-themed menus showcasing the creativity of the province’s leading chefs and culinary artisans. From the “Quebec Scene burger” at The WORKS to the multi-course gourmet feast at L’Orée du Bois, there’s something to tempt every palate! A complete list of participating restaurants is available on the festival website, www.quebecscene.ca.
Last but not least, Loblaws and the Real Canadian Superstore have agreed to partner with Quebec Scene to present special Quebec-themed cooking classes at their in-store cooking schools. Chef Erick LePors will share his tricks and secrets for a special Quebec dinner.
Tickets are available by contacting local stores directly:
May 1 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Real Canadian Superstore in Orleans, 4270 Innes Road
May 2 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Loblaws, 1980 Blair Road, Gloucester
May 3 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Loblaws, 100 McArthur Road, Vanier
The National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledges support by Major Sponsor SAQ, Program Sponsors Enbridge and Gaz Metro, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Casino du Lac-Leamy, Bombardier and Alcan. Supporting sponsors are Canril Corporation, Interinvest, Galaxie:The CBC’s Continuous Music Network, the National Capital Commission and the Lord Elgin Hotel. Media partners include Official Broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada, Énergie, Rock Détente, Gesca Limitée, notably through La Presse and Le Droit, the National Post and the Ottawa Citizen. Government partners are the Government of Canada, the Government of Québec through the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts. The NAC Foundation also extends a warm thank you to the National Arts Centre Friends-Quebec, a committed group of individuals and corporations who understand the need to support arts and culture and especially Quebec artists, and particular thanks to Honorary Chairs Yves and Carol Fortier.
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For more information, please contact:
Chantal Dufresne
Communications Officer, Quebec Scene
commdufresne@videotron.ca
514.844.9554