:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46265442/jrobforums.0.0.jpg)
Lesley Chesterman has strong opinions on the Casino de Montréal's Joël Robuchon experiment. The Montreal Gazette critic took to Twitter over the weekend to question whether the proposed L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon restaurant is the best use of government funds (the casino is a subsidiary of Loto-Québec, a crown corporation and government enterprise). The rant came in the wake of Chesterman's disclosure in the Gazette that the casino's executive chef, Jean-Pierre Curtat "has not met Robuchon, who has not yet set foot in the Montreal Casino. This is also the first time, to Curtat’s knowledge, that Robuchon will not be brining in chefs trained in his establishments."
Chesterman went on to add that there "have been rumblings, as well, as to whether this is a project that should be placed in the hands of Loto-Québec, a government agency. In a time of austerity measures, should government funds be funnelled into a swanky restaurant fronted by a foreign chef?" The critic added to those rumblings on Saturday, the day after her article was published. Update: the Gazette published an op-ed by Chesterman today which expands on her criticisms of the casino restaurant—key line: "[T]he idea of setting up a French chef in our government-funded casino comes off as an insensitive blunder."
Imagine if the money used by the Casino to bring in Robuchon was spent on setting up a local chef there AND promoting OUR food scene abroad
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Kind of a P'tit Quebec attitude to bring in a big French chef to draw in tourists. Obvious lack of faith in the local players.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Also spending big money on a swanky Casino restaurant when the government is cutting meals for underprivileged kids is highly questionable.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Why not set up a Toqué!, Pied de Cochon, Joe Beef or other at the Casino & spend money sending chefs out to promote Montreal gastronomy?
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Robuchon setting up in a private property OK, but government-funded? Questionable.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
And finally, considering all the Qc identity debates & PRIDE in this culture, setting up a FRENCH chef at the Mtl Casino is a bit of a joke.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Bringing Robuchon to the Montreal Casino is the perfect example of "une attitude de colonisé."
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
@lesleychestrman P'tit Quebec a peur de penser Grand Quebec...! We will never learn...sad.
— MA1946 (@MoallardMonique) May 2, 2015
I have nothing against Joël Robuchon. I think his food & restaurants are amazing. But setting him up at the Mtl Casino is a terrible idea.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
The idea of Quebec being a "societé distincte" seems to fall just short of gastronomy. To me, this is an identity issue above all others.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Frankly I would rather see a @moishesmontreal in the Montreal Casino than an Atelier Joël Robuchon.
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Ok rant over #fornow
— Lesley Chesterman (@lesleychestrman) May 2, 2015
Is a Joël Robuchon restaurant good for Montreal? Take the poll.
