2nd edition of TASTE MTL: More than 125 participating restaurants and 11 days of culinary festivities

MONTRÉAL, Sept. 26, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Attention, foodies: starting today, TASTE MTL opens its book for reservations. A Tourisme Montréal initiative, presented by the Produits d'érable du Québec, in collaboration with the SAQ, the second edition of Montréal Restaurant Week promises to be thrilling! From November 1 to 11, more than 125 restaurants across the city will feature tantalizing table-d'hôte menus: $19, $29 and $39 and a $19 late-night menu. From cozy neighbourhood bistros to chic restaurants to trendy eateries, TASTE MTL is a delicious invitation to come celebrate the best of Montréal's gastronomy.

Montréal's friendliness and wealth of culinary tradition has made it an exciting gourmet destination with a world-class reputation. TASTE MTL, moreover, shines the spotlight on the variety and originality that characterize Montréal cuisine. In other words, a combination of rustic and refined, that focuses on the abundance of local products and its chefs' boundless creativity.

"Montréal has the most restaurants per inhabitant of all North American cities. Its locally-influenced gastronomy is unique and getting global attention," affirms Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. "TASTE MTL was born of our desire to make Montréal gastronomy more accessible and to celebrate the pleasures of good eating."

This year, La Fédération des producteurs acéricoles du Québec joins the event and challenges our chefs to come up with the most creative way to incorporate maple products into their recipes—and not just in desserts. Diners can look forward to pleasant surprises and unexpected pairings on the menus of participating restaurants, which will no doubt spark ideas for recipes to try at home.

Visit www.mtlatable.com to reserve your table now!
Share your experiences and foodie finds by using the hashtag #TASTEMTL

Business streets join in the celebration
The dullest month of the year is never dreary with TASTE MTL kicking it off! The event, which ties in with the festivities of Joyeux Novembre, presented by the SAQ, offers an array of activities and events celebrating the love of good food in many of the city's neighbourhoods.

The sound of opera on Saint-Denis Street
November 1 to 11

Participating restaurants welcome the singers of the Opéra de Montréal, accompanied by a pianist. A pair of tickets for the Opéra will be drawn in different restaurants visited.

The restaurants on Mont-Royal Avenue welcome you by candlelight
November 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10

Six restaurants on Mont-Royal Avenue—Restaurant Plein Sud, Pizzeria Roméo, Misto, Bistro Bien-Venue, Chez Victoire and Wakamono—invite you to enjoy a cozy and comforting ambiance while tasting their specialties by candlelight.

Also, on Sunday, November 3 and 10, the Avenue will enhance its candlelight dinners by teaming up with the Festival de Musique de Chambre de Montréal. Musical groups will jazz up your meal with short, classic jazz performances.

An illuminating art installation at Place Gérald-Godin
November 1^st, 2, 8 and 9

To add a touch of magic to the moment, a luminous art installation composed of hundreds of glass-cupped candles arranged on the ground in a scintillating mosaic, will be installed at Place Gérald-Godin (in front of Métro Mont-Royal).

Culinary tours
To complement your restaurant experiences, TASTE MTL offers you the chance to whet your appetite with culinary tours.

VDM Global presents four new walking tours: Accompanied by a foodie guide and his/her appetizing anecdotes, you'll learn more about the city's different neighbourhoods and can take advantage of an ultra-friendly happy hour formula.

Circuits proposed:

• Stroll in Old Montréal
• Cocktails between the Red Light District and the core of Montréal
• Happy hour in Mile End
• Happy hour in Saint-Henri's underground neighbourhood
  
  
  

Workshop on Vegan Montréal organized by Round Table Tours: This sensory experience is far from an ordinary visit, and more an immersion in the creation, production, innovation and philosophy of vegan eating. Experience the avant-garde universe of vegan Montréal, which is all about commitment, wellness and healthy living.

How about spending the night… in Montréal?
After an evening of gourmet celebrating, there's nothing like relaxing in the comfort of a hotel to start the next day fresh again! New this year: Tourisme Montréal is teaming up with its hotel partners to offer a TASTE MTL Accommodation Package starting at $69.

To take advantage of these special prices, book your stay in a participating hotel between November 1 and 11, 2013.

About TASTE MTL
A Tourisme Montréal initiative, TASTE MTL is an invitation to an 11-day celebration of the best of Montréal's gastronomy. From November 1 to 11, the second edition of this culinary rendezvous will showcase delicious fixed-price menus ($19, $29 and $39) in more than 125 restaurants around the city as well as an array of special activities.  To find out more about TASTE MTL, visit www.mtlatable.com.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal is responsible for providing leadership in the concerted efforts of hospitality and promotion in order to position the "Montréal" destination on leisure and business travel markets. It is also responsible for developing Montréal's tourism product in accordance with the ever-changing conditions of the market. For more information: www.tourisme-montreal.org.

Journalists who would like to receive a press pass for the event or request interviews and images are
invited to contact Tourisme Montréal.

SOURCE: Tourisme Montréal

Alexandra Graveline
Manager - Corporate Public Relations
Tourisme Montréal
514-844-3558
[email protected]