MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE Celebrates Belgium, Seattle and Outaouais!

Belgium’s Wallonia-Brussels region, Seattle, along with the wine growing regions of Washington and Oregon, and Quebec’s Outaouais region will be featured on the menus at the 13th edition of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE scheduled from Thursday, February 16 to Sunday, February 26, 2012. Each year, over 900,000 participants attend the festival that has become the largest culinary showcase in North America and one of the largest winter celebrations in Canada!

Come and take part in Montreal’s amazing midwinter party that has so much to offer as a Canadian winter get-away with spectacular dinners, food and wine tastings, culinary seminars and tours. In addition to the Gastronomy Program, MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE includes an arts and entertainment program, free outdoor activities geared to families, and the incredibly popular Nuit blanche à Montréal with over 180 events.

The Festival’s Gastronomy Program offers over 300 gourmet food and wine events

·        Honorary President’s Dinners: Chef Yves Mattagne, double-starred by the famed Guide Michelin and whose Restaurant Sea Grill has hugely contributed to the gastronomic renown of Brussels, creates a spectacular menu paired with wines at Toque! February 16, 17 & 18.

·        Air France Finest Tables: Chefs at more than 50 of Montreal’s best restaurants team with guest chefs from Belgium, Seattle and Quebec’s Outaouais region to present spectacular dinners paired with wine. February 16 to 26.

·        Wallonia-Brussels Convivial Meal: Michelin-starred Chef Nicolas Scheidt creates Belgium dishes featuring local and seasonal Quebec products along with Walloon chocolate maker François Deremiens at Marché Bonsecours. February 25.

·        Outaouais Region at Jean-Talon Market: Farmers and producers from the Outaouais region present their fine regional products with tastings and demonstrations at Montreal’s Jean Talon Market, the largest outdoor farmer’s market in N.A. February 18 & 19.

·        Jean-Talon Market Showcase Series: Ten culinary workshops featurie chefs from the Outaouais region who share their know-how and recipes inspired by their local products. February 18 & 19.

·        MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE Culinary Tours: A variety of five culinary tours of the city held over two weekends of the festival feature visits to specialty shops, markets and neigbourhoods. Tours include Microbreweries, maxi flavours; Tales and Tastes of Atwater Market; The Quartier des Spectacles; A Taste of Little Italy; Flavours and Aromas of Old Montréal. February 18 & 25.

·        Air France Culinary Workshops: Epicures take part in culinary workshops to hone their cooking techniques and prepare dishes to recreate at home featuring typical Belgian and Quebecois ingredients. February 16, 17, 18, 24 & 25.

·        Lunching Around the World: Several of Montreal’s international restaurants offer prix fixe lunches for $12.95. February 20 to 24.

·        Presenting: Quebec Chefs and Cheeses – Four chef finalists compete for the Grand Prize of $5,000. Dinner guests judge the chefs’ cheese creations at Fairmont, The Queen Elizabeth. February 18.

Belgium takes centre stage

As exciting as this Gastronomy Program is, the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE is so much more. This year’s Festival Arts Program will showcase the performing arts from theatre, dance, music to exhibitions, featuring the finest artists in their respective categories, including those of Seattle and Belgium. The Festival has conferred its honorary co-presidency upon a Belgian legend, Brussels harmonica legend Toots Thielemans. And he’s bringing friends, including Stromae, Été 67, My Little Cheap Dictaphone…

The Free Outdoor Celebration, now in the Quartier des Spectacles

The Free Outdoor Site of MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE once again invites Montrealers and tourists to revel in the winter wonders of the city with an impressive array of open-air activities for the whole family, including the famed free outdoor concerts. And this year, the Festival returns to present the bulk of its activities in the Quartier des Spectacles, where construction is now virtually completed.

And finally, what would the Festival be without its Nuit blanche à Montréal that returns bigger and better than ever on February 25, with hundreds of activities to have nighthawks flocking out to celebrate into the wee hours.

The Free Outdoor Site program will be announced on February 1, while the Nuit blanche program will be unveiled on February 7. The 13th edition of the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE will be held from Thursday, February 16 to Sunday, February 26, 2012. For all the info, please visit the Festival website, montrealenlumiere.com