Renoir en Rose

For the second year in a row, Sofitel Hotel’s magnificent house restaurant was the scene for Renoir en Rose, a benefit supporting Leucan and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. Gathering some of Montreal’s favorite chefs from restaurants around the city, the benefit is a gastronomic kaleidoscope of epic proportions. Spread out over a whopping 4-hour period and animated by the ever-charming Natalie Richard (Much Music, Huffington Post, natalierichard.com and more), guests dined on a menu that brought together 6 different chefs, each offering a special addition to the enviable menu. The evening also featured a silent auction and a ticket raffle with proceeds going to the charities supported. We kicked the evening off with a collection of appetizers from Frederic St-Aubin from Club 375C. Including smoked, sturgeon, tempura and maple, foie gras, apple and cider vinegar goat cheese and squash and spices. This was followed up by more delectable bites from Stéphan Remon from Mon traiteur. His dish included a Mont d’Or cheese and yellow wine tartlet, winter truffle Sole served hot and cold with vermouth, Oscietra caviar and chervil urchins with lemon confit, tomato syrup and buckwheat tile. We washed all that down with a couple of chilled glasses of Moët et Chandon. Not a bad start to the evening. With our appetites piqued, we moved on to the next course. Simon Mathis from La Famille served up a tangy raw salmon served with marinated carrots, cheese with vinegar and pumpkin seeds. Though the seeds were a bit unnecessary but did a little crunch to the plate. Nick de Palma, Mark Lanaro and Ashley Thornton from Inferno were next up and they brought out a dish of squid ink and crab capelletis, salted cod with white wine, lemongrass, parsnips and chervil. Last but not least for the main dishes, Jonathan Lapierre and Olivier Perret from Renoir treated us to revisited Squab served on a crisp and flaky pastry in truffle oil. It was a flavourful end to a great meal. For our dessert (because we can’t forget dessert), Nicolas Duterte from Cacao Barry whipped up a snack bar with praline and some mojito and basil sweets. Renoir en rose is a great event that supports a wonderful cause. We were ecstatic to be part of a night filled with delicious food and limitless philanthropy. Thanks to the staff at Renoir and the Sofitel for always being such great hosts.

Photo credit: David Major-Lapierre

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