CHLOE Magazine Summer 2016 Wine and Travel Issue Volume 7 Issue 2 Volume 7 Issue 2 | Page 119

Fit For Royalty This Fairmont Visa Signature Dining Experience took place at the Bibliotèque of the hotel’s Champlain restaurant where one of Québec’s hottest chefs, Stéphane Modat, created a cutting edge regional menu fit for royalty. Since 2009, Chef Modat, originally from France, has devoted himself to culinary creation with local ingredients. He has even co-written two bestselling books with wellknown sommelier François Chartier, titled Les Recettes de Papilles et Molécules and Papilles. The menu he created for us definitely reflected his brilliance in creating harmonious dishes. The evening began with les Mise en bouche (appetizers), which included three selections. Smoked Iceland char and Brussels sprout salad with jerky powder and mint & squash puree pr ceded a cream of wild ginger & oyster soup that was topped with scorched citrus foam and bread croutons. Finally, a succulent duck foie gras “Dexter” style finished off this rich first course. The main course was named La Racineuse for the commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France. Chef Modat’s French roots truly shined through with this course and we were happy to be along for the flavour ride. The Roasted Deer with squash puree, baby turnip confit, boreal spices & wild game stock seemed a perfect cross between traditional French cuisine and a more contemporary French Canadian style. As an exciting twist the guests were treated to a surprise dessert that was not listed on the menu – adult kinder-surprise eggs, complete with rich dark chocolate shell, chocolate mousse, and a milk chocolate Lego man inside! The smiles around the table were cont Fairmont Le Château Frontenac: www.fairmont.com/frontenac-quebec/ Restaurant Champlain: www.restaurantchamplain.com/en gious as we cracked open our eggs like kids on Christmas morning. We also had the option to add wine pairings to our evening’s menu, carefully chosen to bring forth all of the nuanced flavours that these bountiful courses had to offer. Champlain restaurant offers several menu options for patrons looking to explore the many dishes created by Chef Modat. Options include a variety of tastings menus, 5, 7 and 9 course meals, or an extensive à la carte menu. You can also ask your server about pairing your choices with some of the finest wines from around the world. And for a truly regal experience take a seat at the King’s Table, where a unique menu is specially created for you and your guests (up to 10) by Chef Modat himself.