Menu Extra Beyond the Plate Francis Blais
Food & Drink

Menu Extra x Beyond the Plate: How Francis Blais flipped the script on chef life and high-end dining

by Heidi Small

The Top Chef Canada winner also told us about how he fell in love with food, teased his next restaurant project and walked us through a Menu Extra block party.

I met Francis Blais during the pandemic and fell head over heels for his larger than life personality and high-wattage energy. The former Mousso chef cofounded Menu Extra in 2020, specializing in gourmet multi-course catering and high-end ready-made meals.

With so many changes and challenges in a chef’s career comes growth and maturation. I have enjoyed watching Chef evolve. Bravery, balls and his fiery desire motivate like no other; this episode exudes all that Blais embodies in both his bold moves in the kitchen and his career trajectory. He told us about his Top Chef Canada win in 2021, his next restaurant project and more, walking us through prep for a delicious block party along the way.

Menu Extra x Beyond the Plate: How Francis Blais flipped the script on chef life and high-end dining

Produced and Hosted by Heidi Small

Filmed and Directed by Ezra Soiferman

Street Festival filming by Liv Ruckenstein

Edited by Teagan Lance

Graphic Design & Logo by Alex Chocron

Beyond the Plate by Heidi Small is an experience brought to you by Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove.

For more on the food and drink scene in Montreal, please visit the Food & Drink section.

Posted in Food & Drink

by Heidi Small

Contributor
Born and raised in Montreal, Heidi is a champion of the local restaurant scene with a background working in the film industry, in politics and in fundraising for brain cancer research. Heidi spent a year and a half as columnist at the Gazette writing and hosting her popular “Beyond the Plate” column and 15-episode YouTube series. The culinary aficionado later served up her scrumptious, up-close-and-personal monthly portraits to the delight of tens of thousands of hungry Montrealers as well as foodies far afield on the website of celebrated magazine Canada’s 100 Best. Next, Small was part of our city’s CTV television lineup where her beloved Beyond the Plate chef series was seen monthly, giving our Montreal chefs much needed love and shine during and after the harrowing COVID period. With some 35 episodes already out in the world, in 2024 Beyond the Plate has begun a brand new chapter in collaboration with Montreal media outlet Cult MTL and numerous prestigious corporate sponsors. With the thriving series Heidi continues her role as a spokesperson and passionate leader in the city's celebrated restaurant community.