Métiers d’art 2015: Food Art

Salon des métiers d’art de Montréal

Montreal Annual Arts and Crafts Show

December 11 - 20, 2015

This year, Salon des métiers d’art de Montréal (SMAM)  is celebrating its 60th anniversary. More than 420 professional exhibitors from many corners of Quebec, as well as other parts of Canada and even from France are participating and showcasing their one-of-the-kind creations. This is a very much anticipated Quebec arts and crafts show which takes place annually at Place Bonaventure just before the winter holiday season and offers an excellent opportunity for the visitors to acquire some unique holiday and Christmas presents.

All works of art at Salon des métiers d’art de Montréal are recognized as "fine crafts" in accordance with the norms and standards of Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec (CMAQ). This makes sure that every piece has been designed and made by artisans in full mastership of their craft. 

The visitors will find many practical yet very useful objects for the kitchen.

This year, the Food Court is the largest ever. Visitors will find many delicacies, and could spend a long time tasting all the food displayed.

The sausage lovers will find a wide variety to taste and to buy.

There are also alcoholic drinks to discover, like apple and pear ice wine, or honey, tomato, and other types of wine.

Many foods will delight people with a sweet tooth. Those who are more healthy minded would enjoy the cranberry stand. Others will be more excited about cookies or chocolates.

Click on images to enlarge them.

The admission is free. For more information in this years show, visit the Salon des métiers d’art de Montréal website.

La Grande Dégustation de Montréal, 2015

La Grande Dégustation de Montréal
5th Edition

November 5 -7, 2015

La Grande Dégustation de Montréal is back with its 5th editon showcasing a program full of sunshine and variety! With close to 1,500 products to discover and over 13,000 wine, beer and spirit lovers, La Grande Dégustation de Montréal is once again pulling out all the stops to feature its three-themed formula which has solidified the event’s reputation.

The Show is organized by the Associaton québécoise des agences de vins, bières et spiritueux (AQAVBS) and co-presented by the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ).

In 2015, the spotlight is on Spain, Grenache and bubblies from around the world, not to mention producers from 15 other countries, all here for the occasion! La Grande Dégustation de Montréal is part of Happy November, a month-long celebration of wine and gastronomy in Montreal.

Some speciality Spanish food products are offered for tasting.

The world famous wine list Le Palmarès de La Grande Dégustation de Montréal honours bubblies from around the world. Over a hundred products were tasted in the course of a professional competiton. A jury made up of wine experts and presided over by Guénaël Revel, a.k.a. Mr. Bubbles, performed a blind tasting of the products by category in order to shine a light on the best Spanish cavas, Italian proseccos, French crémants and other sparkling wines from the world of viniculture. Below is a group photo of the winners.

Here is the list of the winners of the Palmarès Bulles du monde de La Grande Dégustation de Montréal 2015:

CAVAS
These Spanish wines, mainly produced in the region of Penedès, Catalonia, are a favourite of wine lovers as they offer great quality for their price. The winners are:
1. SEGURA VIUDAS, Reserva Brut.
2. PERE VENTURA, Clos Amador, Cava Brut.
3. J. GARCIA CARRION, Jaume Serra Cristallino, Cava Brut.
4. FREIXENET Ellysia, Gran Cuvée Brut.
5. BODEGA MUGA, Casa Conde de Haro, Brut Vintage 2011

PROSECCO
Made from its namesake variety of grapes, these Italian bubblies are mainly produced in Venetia. The winners in this category are:
1. CANTINE, Riondo Millesimato Prosecco 2014.
2. LA GIOIOSA S.P.A., Prosecco D.O.C. Treviso Il Fresco Villa Sandi.
3. MARCELLO DEL MAJNO / MARCHESI MAZZEI, Prosecco Villa Marcello.
4. NINO FRANCO, Rustico Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G.
5. PALADIN, Prosecco Extra Dry 2014. 

CRÉMANTS
Crémant wines are made in Burgundy, Alsace, Luxembourg and several other regions of France, using different varieties of grapes. The winners as chosen by our judges: 
1. VITTEAUT-ALBERTI, Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs.
2. VEUVE AMBAL, Veuve Ambal Prestige, Crémant de Bourgogne. 
 3. LOUIS PICAMELOT, Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc Brut 2012.
4. CAVE VINICOLE WOLFBERGER, Crémant d’Alsace Brut.
5. SAGET LA PERRIÈRE, Barbule, Crémant de Loire Blanc Extra Brut. 


OTHER SPARKLING WINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Including New World wines and the traditional varieties, the winners in this category made quite an impression on our judges:
1. CA’DEL BOSCO, Franciacorta Cuvée Prestige (Italy).
2. MUMM NAPA VALLEY, Mumm Prestige Brut (California).
3. CARPINETO, Cuvée Brut Farnito, Vino Spumante di qualità (Italy).
4. ANTECH, Cuvée Émotion, Crémant de Limoux Rosé 2013 (France)
5. YELLOWGLEN, Vintage Perle Rosé 2009 (Australia).

CRÉMANTS REIGN SUPREME
The jury was asked to award five prizes in four categories of sparkling wines, and to highlight the category with the highest scoring average. Crémants ranked first with 85.31%. 

Click on images to enlarge them.

For more information, visit La Grande Dégustation de Montréal website.

Italian Wines - Italian Trade Commission

A Tasting of Wines from Italy

November 4, 2015

The Italian Trade Commission has held yesterday an annual event, The Tasting Of Wines from Italy. It was held at the MARCHÉ BONSECOURS' Salle de Ball (Ballroom), in Montreal's Old Port. It is a very popular event with the wine producers, wine specialists and distributors. Especially this year the attendance was overwhelmingly impressive.

The Italian Trade Commission is serving businesses and is an ambassadors of all that is Made in Italy. This event demonstrated that they did an great job to promote Italian wines in Quebec and Canada.

The event featured over 80 wine producers from all over Italy, so one had to choose and pick with discernment what to taste.

There was also plenty of food. 

Click on images to enlarge them.

For more information, visit the Italian Trade Comission Wine Tasting webpage.

Place Ville Marie Public Market

PLACE VILLE MARIE PUBLIC MARKET

A new public market opened on the Esplanade of Place Ville Marie in Montreal. The market offers a unique opportunity to the downtown crowd and the office highrise employees to experience firsthand a wide range of fresh, accessible and flavourful local products.

The market will be open rain or shine. In case of bad weather, the kiosks will be located under the quadrants adjacent to the Esplanade.

The dates on which the market is open this year: 

May 28

June 4 and 18

July 2, 16 and 30
August 13 and 27

September 10 and 24

The market is open from 11:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

There will also be cooking workshops featuring Québec cooks committed to sustainable living and cooking with fresh and local ingredients.

The cooking workshops are offered from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.

For more information, visit the Place Ville Marie Public Market webpage here.

Bakery Congress 2015 - Montreal

BAKERY CONGRESS 2015
TWO DAYS OF TRADE SHOW AND SEMINARS

May 31 - June 1, 2015

Cowering more than 43,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Montreal's Palais des congrès, the show is the place to see the bakery products, ingredients, machinery that produces them and ask questions and make business contacts. Basically, it is a gathering place with all the latest innovations, trends and marketing approaches.

This is a place to learn what is behind the baked goods on grocery stores' shelves, and what goes behind the scene to produce the daily bread and tasty treats.

For two days one has the opportunity to talk to people who truly understand the baking business, and to see the unlimited possibilities in ingredients, equipment, services, technology, baked goods (fresh, proof & bake, par-baked, freezer-to-oven, thaw & serve) and much more.

Bakery Congress 2015 provides attendees a perfect opportunity to source new products & services for their business, to connect with suppliers, and learn about the industry and trends. It is  also a great place to see, touch, taste, and feel the newest and greatest products.

For more information, visit the Bakery Congress 2015 website:
www.baking.ca

Wines of Rhône Valley

Wines of Rhône Valley
Montreal Wine Industry Annual Soccer Tournament

May 28, 2015

Today, Montreal wine industry held an annual soccer game followed by a barbecue. The event took place at the McGill University's Percival Molson's Memorial stadium. Throughout the day, Rhone Valley wines were offered to be tasted.

Fourteen Wine agents and importers participated in this Event. At first, qualifying games were being held, followed by a semifinal game, and than the final one. All games were only 30 minutes in duration.

FC Testothérhône team was declared a winner.

As for the wine tasting, 37 red and white wines produced in the Rhone Valley were offered to the participants. This was greatly appreciated by all.

At the end, an urban barbecue was offered to all.

And finally, the ice-cream...

This was indeed a very successful and enjoyable event.