L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon | A Culinary High Light of the Montréal en Lumière Festival
Nestled in the vibrant heart of the Montreal Casino, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon shines as a beacon of fine dining, especially during the dazzling days of the 2020 edition of the Montréal en Lumière High Lights Festival.
This year, the French gourmet restaurant welcomes an extraordinary talent, Michelin-starred chef Christophe Bellanca, for a three-night culinary extravaganza on February 27, 28, and 29, making it the best-kept secret of gastronomy aficionados.
Bellanca’s exceptional career path is the dream of any young chef. His know-how, determination, and constant pursuit of excellence pave the way for him to earn the respect and trust of the late Joël Robuchon –the most influential French chef of the post-nouvelle cuisine era– and be chosen to serve as his culinary director in the United States.
Responsible for preserving the legacy of Robuchon, while cultivating the evolution of his restaurants in New York, Miami, and Houston; Bellanca briefly returns to Montreal – in an Audi e-tron driven by executive chef Stéphane Galibert – to take our taste buds on a unique culinary journey.
As special guests to the first of the three Montréal en lumière menu evenings within the chic interiors of L’Atelier, we were greeted and treated with warmth by waiter Gérald Robitaille and sommelier Charles Claprood-Lemieux.
The duo served us an exceptional nine-course haute cuisine tasting, accompanied by seven exquisite wines, tailored to enhance the flavor of each dish.
The dinner commenced with Les Cuisses de Grenouille. We savored crispy frog legs complemented by black garlic aioli and a mache velouté, served alongside a parsnip espuma with three dots of blood orange reduction.
The meal continued with Le Caviar et le Crabe Royal, a dish that beautifully paired caviar with Alaskan King crab, enhanced by crustacean jelly and celery vanilla cream.
Next was La Truffe Noire, where black truffle was elegantly served with Parisian gnocchi, celeriac, and a mimolette tuile.
Presented on a Bernardaud dinner plate embellished by artists Prune Nourry and JR, Le Homard featured poached Maine lobster, bathed in a galanga broth and paired with green asparagus and black trumpet mushrooms, showcasing the depth of sea flavors.
Le Bar followed, presenting wild Atlantic black bass with shiitake chutney and razor clam, all enveloped in a curry emulsion.
A refreshing Le Trou Normand cleansed the palate, combining black truffle ice cream with Sicilian pistachio.
The meat course, Le Bœuf, impressed with its grilled Wagyu ribcap, served alongside harissa-glazed carrot and radicchio marmalade.
Dessert began with Le Gin ‘Dandy’, featuring a herbs sorbet and gin sabayon with hazelnut praline.
The final touch, Le Café, offered Arabica coffee Chantilly paired with caramel mousse and cashew, topped with a cocoa crumble.
I must really thank Marilyne Desrochers of Loto-Québec for inviting my special guest and I to experience a spectacular dinner provided by chefs Christophe Bellanca, Stéphane Galibert, Jean-Pierre Curtat and the entire team of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon — Montréal, where every food dish and wine glass served was a testament to culinary artistry and a cherished memory in the making.
About Montréal en Lumière at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
Location: 1 avenue du Casino, Montréal, QC H3C 4W7
Dates: February 27, 28 and 29
Hours: 6PM to 10PM
Price: $225, full-course dinner without wine pairing | $355, full-course dinner with wine pairing
Age: 18 and over
Reservations: 514-392-2781 or opentable.ca
UPDATE: (April 27, 2021) We are sad to read that L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon — Montréal has become the latest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Loto-Québec has reluctantly decided to end its contract with the group behind the restaurant, which had opened in December 2016 but had been temporarily closed since the first lockdown began in March 2020.
Uncredited photos provided by L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
NEXT: Sainte-Justine Ball 2020 | Spring Soirée at Windsor Station
