100 passionate créatifs on the 2010 Route de l'érable

MONTREAL, March 5 /CNW Telbec/ - The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (FPAQ) is pleased to present the 100 Créatifs de l'érable who line the 2010 Route de l'érable, with 20 new faces joining the exclusive club this year.

The Créatifs are chosen carefully, and deserve their place on the Route de l'érable because of their imagination and expertise. Coming from all four corners of Quebec and accredited by the Federation, the Créatifs de l'érable are known for their original and inventive use of maple products all year round.

Their tasty dishes and delicacies can be found in restaurants, cafés and bistros, pastry shops and bakeries, ice cream shops, chocolatiers and candy makers, charcuterie shops, hotels and inns, caterers and fine food shops, all of them displaying the Créatif's distinctive logo: an amber drop which draws its inspiration from the little decorative touch which culinary artists add when plating their maple-based dishes.

An outstanding ambassador for the Route de l'érable

Since 2008, the Route de l'érable has been proud to rely on prestigious ambassadors to promote our products abroad as well as at home. This year, Philippe Bernachon, grandson of the famous Paul Bocuse, joins his predecessors Roland Del Monte (2008), pastry chef, chocolatier and ice cream maker from the Cote d'Azur and now based in Montreal; Joseph Viola (2009), chef from Lyon; and Hiroshi Yamaguchi (2009), the Japanese restaurateur-hotelier.

Representing the third generation of respected Lyon chocolatiers, Philippe Bernachon is one of those rare French artisan chocolatiers who loves the challenges of the cocoa community. The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers and its Créatifs are delighted to welcome our new ambassador for the Route de l'érable.

About the Créatifs de l'érable

To find out more about the Créatifs de l'érable, the FPAQ invites all maple lovers to visit their brand new, updated and improved web site after the 4th March - at www.laroutedelerable.ca. There you will find the 100 Créatifs listed by region, an individual page for each of them (individuals and companies), select video interviews, as well as some of their delicious recipes.

A leaflet is also available on all the participants of the 2010 Route de l'érable, at Quebec and Montreal Tourist Information Centres. You can also receive a copy by calling 450 679-7021 or download it at www.laroutedelerable.ca.

About the FPAQ

The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers was founded in 1966 with the mission of defending and promoting the economic, social and moral interests of its 7,400 maple businesses. These men and women are working together to collectively market their products. The quality of their work and their products has made Quebec the producer of close to 80% of today's global maple syrup output.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Micheline Vallée, [phone], [email protected]