Pizza Festival Criticized For Sexist Ad — And Other News

THE INTERNET — Along the same lines as Burger Week and Poutine Week, Montreal is getting a Pizza Week this fall (at the end of October), and not everybody is pleased with their advertisements. In particular, the above image of a blonde woman, sans pantalons, covering her crotch with a slice of pepperoni. Get it? The pizza is V-shaped, like v-for-”vagina”! Some on Twitter labeled the ad sexist for its objectification of women. Those who would have people think that such complaints are “fun-policing” should note that there is no comparable ad of a man holding pizza in front of his genitalia. Some participating restaurants weren’t jazzed either: the marketing director for popular wood-fired pizzeria No 900 told La Presse she was “surprised and distressed”, calling it “vulgar” and “backwards”. Pizza Week co-founders Billy Alfonso and Fabio Broccoli claimed La Presse that their marketing team hadn’t approved the image.

Update (September 25): An Italian-speaking Eater tipster notes that the Italian phrase on the poster carries an odd sentiment for a pizza festival: it translates to “what the fuck do I care?”.

QUEBEC IN GENERAL — The Office Québécoise de la Langue Française, responsible for enforcing Quebec’s French language laws, has revised its stance on the ways certain foods may be described in French. The government department now considers words like “cocktail” (instead of coquetel) and “grilled-cheese” (with hyphen) to be acceptable on French menus.

MILE END — One of the biggest food events of the year, Soirée Mission Possible, is coming up next Monday (September 25). Lawrence owner Marc Cohen organizes the fundraiser for homeless organization Mission Mile-End, featuring food from Park, Joe Beef, Maison Publique, and music from folk-slash-rock artist Basia Bulat. Tickets are still available.

MILE END — Speaking of Marc Cohen, two of his restaurants have shuffled hours: Larrys is now open Sunday nights, making it open pretty much all the time. Lawrence is also open Sunday nights now, but has cut its Tuesday and Wednesday lunch and dinner services, which owner Ethan Wills says will give them time to “refresh and refine what we're doing”, and also allow more time to host events.

ST-HENRI — After a summer plagued by roadwork on Notre-Dame and a prominent vandalism incident, Portuguese restaurant 3734 is fully operational again, with a change to its hours: it’s now open Tuesday-Wednesday evenings until 10 p.m., Thursday to Saturday until 11 p.m., as well as weekend brunches (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days).

LATIN QUARTER — Another food event to note is Omnivore, taking place this weekend (September 23 and 24). Taking place mostly at the SAT Foodlab, it features a host of masterclasses and demonstrations, along with some lunches and dinners, with piles of notable local chefs — Marc-Olivier Frappier (Joe Beef et al.), Leigh Roper (Foxy), John Winter Russell (Candide), and many more.

ST-HENRI — Reputable Montreal brewery McAuslan (of the St-Ambroise beer line) is putting out its first cider, McAdam Urban Cider. It uses apples grown in McAuslan’s own urban orchard, fitting with Quebec laws that any cider sold in the province must be from Quebec product.

OLD MONTREAL — Surfy and turfy McGill Street resto-bar Le Speakeasy has a new chef — former sous-chef Marie-Anne Bédard has moved up the ranks.

WESTMOUNT — “Poutine salad” is now a real thing available in Montreal, courtesy of Mandy’s Gourmet Salads, although some question the concept.

• Une publicité de la Pizza Week suscite la controverse [La Presse]
• Grilled-cheese, cocktail among terms now deemed OK by Quebec's language watchdog [CBC]
• Soiree Mission Possible 2017 [Mission Mile-End]
• Omnivore Montréal [SAT]