Joël Robuchon’s Death Won’t Change Anything For His Montreal Restaurant

ILE-STE-HELENE — It’s been five months since famed chef Joël Robuchon died, and now Eater can confirm that this will not mean any changes at all for the French chef’s namesake restaurant in Montreal’s casino, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. “The Joël Robuchon team continues to assume its role as to franchisor, supporting its network of Ateliers around the world, including the one located in Montréal,” a Loto-Québec representative told Eater. This is not particularly surprising, as Robuchon did not appear to have a close involvement with the controversial restaurant, but it does clarify the nature of Loto-Québec’s arrangement with Robuchon’s restaurant group. The government corporation, which runs casinos in Quebec, has been rather tight-lipped about the arrangement it has with Robuchon’s people — so this news does confirm that the restaurant is indeed, a fine-dining franchise, rather than something more closely connected to Robuchon’s .

DOWNTOWN — Jérôme Ferrer’s flagship restaurant Europea has closed its doors at its original location and moved just down the street to the corner of de la Montagne and René-Lévesque. It’s been slightly rebranded, to the somewhat aggrandized name “Jérôme Ferrer par Europea”, and the operation has changed somewhat. Apart from a new interior (as part of the Roccabella condo building), it adds a lounge, brasserie with more casual bistro menu, and tea room, with the formal dining room retaining a similar approach, while adopting the new name “La Grande Table”.

PLATEAU — St-Denis Street restaurant Le Chasse-Galerie has had quite the success in lining up big names for events in its dining room. Mike Bagale of Chicago restaurant Alinea is already on the cards, and now prominent Mexican chef Adrián Herrera will be there for two nights in February. Herrera, a cattle rancher-turned-chef, is known for his restaurants in Monterrey, Fonda San Francisco and Chef Herrera; he’s also known for his work as a judge on Mexico’s version of MasterChef. He’ll be at the Plateau restaurant February 22 and 23, doing a five-course menu for $99.

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GRIFFINTOWN — More food event news: Griffintown is getting its own culinary festival late this winter. Named G. (to be pronounced “G-point”, in French), it’ll happen from March 7 to 17 and feature special table d’hôte menus and brunches from participating restaurants. At present, Perles & Paddock, Le Richmond, License IV, and Meatball House are participating, with more likely to be added.

OLD MONTREAL — And in other food events, the Antonopoulos Group is running its 12th annual edition of Happening Gourmand from January 10 to February 3, with a host of table d’hôte menus on offer at its Old Montreal restaurants for under $30. Restaurants include Modavie, Maggie Oakes, and Verses Bistro, and most of the restaurants are also serving a $17 brunch deal, too.

• French Chef Joël Robuchon Has Died at 73 [ENY]
• Former Chef From Chicago’s Famed Alinea to Pop Up at Plateau Restaurant [EMTL]
• Très Fancy Restaurant Europea’s Dining Room Is For Sale [EMTL]
• G. le Festival Gourmand et Gastronomique de Griffintown [Facebook]