Galerie F

It’s no secret that I love most things French. In fact it’s entirely possible I might have been French (and definitely Parisian) in one or more of my former lives. My modest apartment in Montreal is stocked with imported French seasonings, empty tin Fauchon and Mariage Frères boxes, sparingly burned Diptyque candles, books from Louis Vuitton, Hermès and at least 3 miniature Eiffel Towers. When I learned that the fabulous Hotel Sofitel was inaugurating Galerie F on its mezzanine I jumped at the chance to go and be one of the first to see their exhibit on iconic products from France.

The idea for Galerie F was born from an obsession with French savoir-faire. Canadians consume products made in France on a daily basis without necessarily knowing where in France they come from. It was this realization that prompted Armelle Tardy-Joubert, director of Atout France in Canada to not only put France’s most powerful ambassadors on display, but the regions of France as well. From Alsace to the Rhône Alps, Galerie F covers the entirety of France.

Each product featured at the gallery was vigorously researched and each is represented by no less than a photo, an element of the product, the brand, the date the product was created, the town and region in which the product was born and a text written by someone famous who also loves or loved the product.

This undertaking was made possible by major partners such as Air France, Sofitel Hotels, Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, the Embassy of France in Canada and the French Foreign Trade Advisors in Canada. Throughout the evening we sipped on cocktails and champagne, made of course in France and were treated to gourmet macarons and other delectable treats.

For a fan of anything French, like myself, this exhibit is a must see. It runs until July 2nd here in Montreal before moving on to Ottawa and beyond. An identical exhibit will be set up on the 4^th floor of les Galeries Lafayette in Paris and will from August 4^th to the 30^th.

Photo credit: David Major-Lapierre