Molecular cuisine at Pullman: Chef Alejandro Digillo of La Vinería de Gualterio Bolívar in Buenos Aires has worked with the godfather of cutting-edge contemporary cuisine Ferran Adria. Chef Digillo has received several honours for his trendy yet unpretentious local and seasonal cuisine that focuses on applying new techniques in the kitchen. Expect some showmanship and a little bit of the theatrical when he takes over the Pullman kitchen during this year’s fest. February 26-27, 2013, Pullman, 3424 Parc, (514) 288-7779

Lunch around the world: What better way to spend your lunch hour then to travel around the world in search of exotic flavours? From February 25 to March 1, take your taste buds – and your coworkers – on a whirlwind culinary trip. All 6 of these restaurants will be offering 3-course lunch menus for $14.95. Any of these spots would be wonderful but my personal favourites are Byblos and Rumi. February 25 to March 1, 2013, Various locations

Festival of Quebec cheeses: This free activity is a must for all cheese lovers. It’s a great opportunity to discover more than 60 Quebec-made cheeses and meet some of the cheesemakers who will all be gathered at Complexe Desjardins for a 4-day cheese extravaganza. Quebec cheeses have come a long way in the past 20 years and they now rival some of the best imported cheeses. Go on the hunt for your new favourite cheese, learn how to distinguish regional qualities and discover everything you always wanted to know about the intricate process of cheese making from the masters themselves. February 20-23, 2013, Complexe Desjardins, 150 Sainte-Catherine West, (514) 281-1870

Sweet Sucre at Auberge Saint-Gabriel: Sucre is one of the hottest restaurants in Buenos Aires right now and we are lucky to have its chef Hugo Macchia at Montreal en lumière this year. Chef Macchia has worked in some of the world’s best kitchens, including 3-Michelin starred Mugaritz in Spain. He will be a guest chef at Auberge Saint Gabriel where he should be in his element thanks to the similarities between his native and adoptive restaurants, mainly the large cellar and roaster set in a welcoming, hip ambiance. February 21-22, 2013, Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel, 426 Saint-Gabriel, (514) 878-3561

Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean at the Jean-Talon Market: The Jean-Talon market mezzanine will play host to a makeshift bazaar that will welcome 12 producers and food processors from the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Discover these welcoming producers, exchange recipes and ideas and discuss their unique products, from dairy products and meats to spices, preserves, jams and regional specialties. February 23-24, 2013, Jean-Talon Market (Mezzanine level, 2^nd floor), 7070 Henri-Julien, (514) 277-1588

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Every year, the festival has a theme—last year’s event was centered around women in the kitchen, and the programme featured special guest star Anne-Sophie Pic, the highest-rated female French chef, as well as a raft of other exciting invited guests.

This year, the emphasis in the kitchens will be on the cuisine of Belgium (specifically Brussels and the Wallonia region), with several events pointing to the unique melting pot of this Northern European country (hint: it’s not just waffles and frites). The whole festival will also culminate with a star-studded homage to Belgium’s most famous export, singer Jacques Brel. Quebecers have a special affinity with Belgians and this year’s honourary president is Yves Mattagne, who will be hosted by Normand Laprise of Toqué!, one of Montreal’s best restaurants.

There will also be a spotlight on the wines of the Pacific Northwest, specifically Washington and Oregon, and an accompanying emphasis on chefs and cuisine of Seattle, as well as featured events from Quebec’s Outaouais region.

Culinary tours: You won’t want to pass up a culinary tour of the city dedicated to one of life’s best things: Beer. The microbrewery tour will visit several of the city’s best brew pubs and breweries, and also includes some munchies so you can keep with the program. There is also a tour of Atwater market, the historic marketplace on the city’s south side, as well as walking tours of the Quartier des Spectacles, Little Italy and the Old Port- this last one includes a tasting of macaroons at local favourites Europea.

Jean-Talon Market: Montreal’s biggest market will host a series of events showcasing the best in Quebec terroir. Farm-to-table demos and chef workshops featuring the best of the province’s Outaouais region, including Chocomotive and Fromagerie Montebello.

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THE DETAILS

Montreal High Lights Festival, February 16-26, 2012

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Brunch: The traditional Easter luncheon consists of a smoked Quebec ham after church, while the family gathers round the table. And while a delicious, naturally-raised smoked ham is available in many forms at Porcmeilleur in Jean-Talon Market, these days many families prefer to sit down for brunch in a restaurant, especially since the city has many Easter brunches in store.

The Mount Stephen Club, a historic club in downtown Montreal, has a traditional brunch buffet that includes a live band and Easter-egg activities for kids. Another option is Le Montrealais bistro (pictured above) in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel, whose weekly Sunday brunch gets gussied up for Easter Sunday.

For kids: Easter-egg hunts + farms: What says Easter more than fuzzy animals that are yours for the petting at local malls? The Easter Farm is a fond tradition in Montreal, and you can head on down to Place Versailles or several other local malls to coo at baby sheep, goats, ducks, geese and other poultry.  The eco option is the Outdoor Eco-Easter egg hunt at the Ecomuseum in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, at the Western end of the Island of Montreal.

Chocolate: Of course, sometimes it’s easier to just EAT chocolate than to hunt for it. Easter is an opportunity for local chocolatiers to go nuts decorating praline eggs such as the ones from Premiere Moisson, a local bakery chain that also carries an extensive seasonal candy collection, including the best housemade Easter eggs filled with hazelnut praline. They also have inventively painted chocolate animals such as bunnies, squirrels and even roosters. Another favourite is La Maison du Cakao, a tiny Plateau-Mont-Royal chocolatier run by a 23-year-old pastry chef who makes especially cute Easter baskets. Chocolats Privilege, in Jean-Talon Market, is a favourite for their unusual chocolate animals, including owls and squirrels. Adults as well as children anticipate each year’s batch of new dark and milk chocolate easter-animal figurines at Chocolatiere Genevieve Grandbois: this year’s include frogs, ducks and, of course, bunnies. She also offers a trio of eggs with grown-up flavours including a maple croquant and a caramel-fleur-de-sel mix.

Guest Blogger: Melora Koepke

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