Rediscover the pleasure of cooking

You had to dare: Madeleine Arcand and Maxime Morin, the two founders of the eco-responsible clothing brand Rose Buddha (sold last September to the Quebec company Nolk), to whom we owe a meditation application of the same name, are venturing these days into cuisine, and not just any cuisine: Scandinavian cuisine, ladies and gentlemen!

We went to meet them last week, deep in their woods in Morin-Heights, where they both make their respective homes, to talk about the project which goes well beyond the limits of the table. Basically, eating “slow”, as the two ex-city dwellers say, is not just a series of recipe ideas for fermented vegetables or smoked salmon, but rather a way of life… “rebellious!” », even dares Madeleine Arcand, laughing. Hedonistic, one could probably add.

“We’ve been dreaming about it for a long time,” she said, sitting down in her socks over a good coffee. But we didn’t want a book of practical recipes, with three ingredients or just easy ones. […] We want it to go quickly, quickly, quickly, but why? […] Let’s get back to enjoying cooking! » To put an end to menus that are always “in a hurry”, for what, exactly?

Note that the book, which indeed leaves plenty of room for soups and other slow-cooked dishes, does not only offer recipes that stretch over time, indefinitely, quite the opposite. Several options from just 10 or 15 minutes are also offered (notably the famous smørrebrød, of which we show you an autumn version in the next tab).

Cooking mindfully

But not at any cost, we will have understood: “It’s not necessarily slowly, but the idea is to make meals moments when we are present and not necessarily rushing around” , continues Madeleine Arcand, mother of four children, who worked in communications in another life.

Why not prepare your meal with soft music, a glass of wine, dim lights, surrounded by the people you love? Why not get together with friends on a Sunday afternoon to cook as a group and in harmony? This is where we come to Scandinavia, which gave this art of living its name: the hyggean “art of living, based on the desire to feel extra cozy in one’s environment”.

The word comes up, unsurprisingly, throughout the book. It spoke so much to the two authors that they actually made the trip to Copenhagen to learn from it, figuratively, but also literally.

“Copenhagen is a really pleasant city, it breathes, there is something very fluid,” explains Maxime Morin, mother of two children. And there is a side hygge, wrap, in their cuisine, which highlights the ingredient. They have something simple, raw and pure in the way they approach the ingredient. » Their gravlax is a good example, “simple, without lots of aromatics”.

“It seems like we associated cooking with a task,” she continues. But “slow” is about re-appropriating cooking with pleasure. I take the time, I’m here, I’m happy. » The idea: “make it pleasant”. “Can we have some fun?” “, she says.

To all those who chase their tails, our two authors, who also had this life (which they recount in On the go, we slow down, published in 2019), respond in unison: “We understand! » There are undoubtedly days when “slow” is easier to adopt than others. “Suddenly, on a Sunday afternoon, perhaps… When things get going, go for it!” » And let’s say that with an inspiring recipe on hand, it’s even better!

À go, we eat slowly – Seasonal recipes inspired by Scandinavian countries

Madeleine Arcand and Maxime Morin

Éditions de L’Homme

192 pages

On the go, we eat slowly, published by Editions de l’Homme, offers 60 recipes of their own, and depending on the season, from Swedish dumplings to glögg through smørrebrød, without forgetting the Danish ones (their version with pistachios and grapes apparently being “the best of of all things”). Concocted with the creative help of culinary stylist and founder of Rembobine, Noémie Graugnard, the recipes offered are also pesco-vegetarian, for “healthy, sustainable and delicious dishes that respect the environment”.