Omnivore World Tour: Your passport to fine dining

Omnivore in Paris, 2012
Photo by Dave De Belder
 
Some of Montreal’s best and brightest chefs, along with a selection of international chefs, will be on hand all weekend as part of the first Montreal edition of  the Omnivore World Tour at the Société des arts technologiques.

The weekend-long food fest will bring together cooks, fans and food lovers alike to watch some of the 18 master class cooking demonstrations, dine at some of the five Maudit Souper chef pairings at local restaurants and get ripped (and/or stuffed) at the Saturday night party where chefs will cook as DJs spin.

Created by food critic Luc Dubanchet in 2006, the six-year-old Omnivore festival is currently touring the world, with stops in Moscow, New York and Shanghai along the way.

The stellar Montreal lineup includes Montreal chefs Marc Cohen (Lawrence), Patrice Demers (Les 400 Coups), Marc-Andre Royal (Le St-Urbain), Martin Juneau (Pastaga), Derek Dammann (DNA and, soon, Maison Publique), Samuel Pinard (Salle à Manger), Gita Seaton (Nouveau Palais) the Grumman 78 crew of Marc-André Leclerc, Hilary McGown and Gaëlle Cerf and Toronto chef John Horne (Canoe). Michelle Marek and Seth Gabrielse of the SAT Foodlab will also host master classes.

There’s also a solid international contingency: From France, Grégory Marchand (Frenchie, Paris), Petter Nilsson (La Gazzetta, Paris), Jérôme Bigot (Les Grès, Lindry) and from Belgium, les frères Folmer (Couvert Couvert, Heverlee).

Although the cooking demos — which take place during the day Saturday through Monday — will be a great way to get to know each chef and their style of cuisine, my picks for the weekend’s festivities are definitely the collaboration dinners, or Maudit Soupers. If you can snag a table, I would definitely try and check out these three:

Friday, Aug. 17, Lawrence: Chef Marc Cohen welcomes chef Petter Nilsson into his kitchen for what will no doubt be a superb mix of anglo and franco flavors. Reservations: 514-503-1070

Sunday, Aug. 19, Nouveau Palais: Chef Gita Seaton and Canoe chef John Horne collaborate for a fabulous food party, as per the typical Nouveau Palais style. Reservations: 514-273-1180

Sunday, Aug. 19, Café Sardine: The team behind Café Sardine have generously lent their kitchen to chef Derek Dammann and his good friend and Omnivore veteran, chef Grégory Marchand for a four course food-off. Reservations: cafesardine@gmail.com ■

For tickets or more information, visit The SAT’s Omnivore page.