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The Lauriers — a new set of culinary awards for the province of Quebec — have been announced for the second year. For Montreal, the Joe Beef group and restaurant Le Petit Mousso are two of the big winners.
The ceremony took place at Griffintown art space Arsenal Monday night, with 17 prizes in total being given, including chef of the year, restaurant of the year, and sommelier of the year. The prize is roughly similar to the James Beard Awards in the USA, aiming to recognize excellence in a range of forms from across Quebec’s culinary industry — restaurants, chefs, producers (and beyond) from across the province were eligible, and were whittled down to small groups of finalists back in March. While 2018 Laurier winners were mostly eligible to win a second time around this year, only one finalist — Ricardo — did that, for the people’s choice-like Laurier du Public.
The winners (except for one people’s choice category) were chosen partially by an anonymous jury from a range of professions connected to the culinary and restaurant worlds — any restaurant affiliated with those jury members was not eligible for a prize. A much larger brigade of around 3,000 voting professionals also voted, with the combined scores giving winners.
Here’s the full run-down of who won — the full list of finalists can be viewed over here.
Restaurant of the Year
Mon Lapin (Montreal)
Chef of the Year
Stéphane Modat (Restaurant Champlain at the Fairmount Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City)
Revelation of the Year
An award for new or young culinary talents.
Benjamin Mauroy-Langlais (Le Petit Mousso, Montreal)
Sommelier of the Year
Véronique Rivest (Soif, Gatineau)
Pastry Chef of the Year
Stéphanie Labelle (Rhubarbe, Montreal)
Mixologist or Bartender of the Year
Émile Archambault (Le Petit Mousso, Montreal)
Baker of the Year
Jochen Niemand (Boulangerie Niemand, Kamouraska)joe
Server of the Year
Denis Lessard (Le Serpent, Montreal)
Food Truck of the Year
Grumman’78 (Montreal)
Le Laurier du Public
A “people’s choice” type award, chosen by the public
Ricardo (Ricardo Cuisine)
Prize for Influence on Quebec’s Culinary Culture
David McMillan and Fred Morin (Joe Beef, Montreal)
Producer of the Year
Suzanne Dufresne and Daniel Gosselin (Fromagerie Au Gré des Champs, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu)
Artisan of the Year
Véronique Hupin and Michael Marier (Les Pervenches winery, Farnham)
Company or Initiative of the Year
Fourchette Bleue (an organization that certifies sustainable fisheries
Food Event of the Year
Foodcamp (Quebec City)
Gourmet Tourism Award of the Year
Jardins de Métis (Price, Quebec)
Laurier Hommage
For exceptional contributions to Quebec’s culinary world. No nominees or finalists.
Jean-Paul Grappe (instructor, ITHQ, Montreal)