Gastronomy laurels: ARVI and its chef among the finalists

By Guillaume Diotte
3 min read
The renowned ARVI and its chef Julien Masia are among the finalists for the Lauriers de la gastronomie québécoise awards for restaurant and chef of the year respectively.
Raphaëlle Plante
RAPHAËLLE PLANTE - The Sun
On Tuesday, the Lauriers announced no fewer than 95 finalists in the 16 categories of the Grand Gala, which will be held on May 24 in a hybrid format (virtual with an in-person component).
Who will succeed chef Stéphane Modat, who was named Chef of the Year in 2019? The third edition of the Lauriers gala in 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic. Among the 10 finalists in 2021, the Quebec City region is represented by chef-owner Julien Masia of ARVI. The Limoilou neighborhood establishment has stood out since its opening in July 2018, having been named the best new restaurant in the country the following year according to Air Canada's enRoute magazine. Named Chef of the Year at the very first Lauriers gala in 2018, Colombe St-Pierre is once again nominated in this category — the energetic forty-year-old has been at the helm of the restaurant Chez Saint-Pierre in Bic for over 15 years.
A project by chef Guillaume St-Pierre, the renowned Battuto is nominated for restaurant of the year.
A project by chef Guillaume St-Pierre, the renowned Battuto is nominated for restaurant of the year.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE BATTUTO FACEBOOK PAGE
ARVI is also nominated for Restaurant of the Year, alongside another renowned establishment in the capital: the Italian restaurant Battuto, a project by chef Guillaume St-Pierre. Among the 10 finalists, half of which are located in Montreal, is Côté Est restaurant in Kamouraska.
Gaël Vidricaire is in the running for Pastry Chef of the Year. The owner of a boutique in the Montcalm neighborhood—where original, decadent creations are served every week—already holds the title of Pastry Chef of the Year in the province, awarded by the Société des chefs, cuisins et pâtissiers du Québec in 2019.
Gaël Vidricaire is in the running for the title of pastry chef of the year.
Gaël Vidricaire is in the running for the title of pastry chef of the year.
BENOÎT DEPREZ PHOTOGRAPHER
Among the other appointments that bring honor to the greater Quebec region and the eastern part of the province, we note in particular:
  • Revelation of the year: Christophe Mamelonet, The Fisherman's House in Percé
  • Baker of the Year: Charles Letang, Bread… that’s all! in Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies
  • Mixologist or Bartender of the Year: Jean-Felix Desfossés, Bistro Le Sam (Le Château Frontenac) in Quebec City; Julien Vézina, Hono Izakaya in Quebec City
  • Best Service Award: Amélie Pruneau, Battuto in Quebec; Perle Morency, Côté Est in Kamouraska
  • Brewer, winemaker or beverage producer of the year: Benoît Couillard, Brasserie Auval in Val-d'Espoir; Charles Boissonneau, Enrico Bouchard, Grégoire Bluteau & Martin Brisson, Menaud in Clermont
  • Producer of the Year: Antoine Nicolas, An Ocean of Flavors in Gaspé
  • Artisan of the Year: Carl Pelletier, Couleur Chocolat in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts; Nathalie Joannette, Fou Du Cochon in La Pocatière
  • Culinary Culture Influence Award: Allison Van Rassel; Colombe St-Pierre; Stéphane Modat
  • Event of the year: Exquisite Quebec!
  • Gastronomic Tourism Award: Cantine Côtière Chez St-Pierre in Rimouski; Cassis Monna & Filles in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans; Couleur Chocolat in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts; Germain Hotels in Montreal, Quebec and Charlevoix
To view the list of all finalists: lauriers.ca
Named Chef of the Year at the very first Lauriers gala in 2018, Colombe St-Pierre is once again nominated in this category. She is also in the running for the People's Laurier, as well as for the Culinary Culture Awareness Award and the Gastronomic Tourism Award (for her Cantine côte Chez St-Pierre).
Named Chef of the Year at the very first Lauriers gala in 2018, Colombe St-Pierre is once again nominated in this category. She is also in the running for the People's Laurier, as well as for the Culinary Culture Outreach Award and the Gastronomic Tourism Award (for her Cantine côte Chez St-Pierre).
CATHERINE HUDON / 5MP PHOTOGRAPHY
Public Laurel
All gastronomy professionals are now invited to vote at lauriers.ca to select the winners. The general public can also have their say by voting, from April 3 to 23, among 10 personalities who have left their mark on the gastronomic scene in Quebec: Bob le Chef, Colombe St-Pierre, Geneviève Everell, Jérôme Ferrer, Josée di Stasio, Martin Juneau, Martin Picard, Normand Laprise, Ricardo and Stefano Faita.