Several people got scared. “And if the Toqué!” did not reopen? But the symbol of Quebec gastronomy allayed fears this weekend by relighting its stoves, after 20 months of inactivity.
“It’s a bit like opening a new restaurant,” Normand Laprise told us earlier this week. In the kitchen, there were only four elders left. Eight people had to be hired and trained, and then room staff as well. Left to sit a little too long, the kitchen also needed some repairs, not a very exciting expense on top of the “COVID loans” to pay off.
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Normand Laprise
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Christine Lamarche
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PHOTO PHILIPPE BOIVIN, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
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That said, the chef and restaurateur seemed happy to finally be able to get his signature table back on track with his partner, Christine Lamarche. In order to revive the machine without disappointing expectations, the restaurant has limited reservations to around fifty seats, to begin with. The seven-course tasting menu is back this week, in addition to the à la carte offer. No radical change accompanies this reopening of a classic. Of course, prices must have been revised upwards (just like salaries!), But that was expected. Normand Laprise would like to honor the tradition of December dinners at Toqué !, but does not yet know if he will have enough employees to work for lunch and dinner.
For now, we can afford this great Montreal table from Tuesday to Saturday evening. The Brasserie T in the city center has closed permanently, but there is still talk of opening one on the North Shore. To justify the investments made at the Beaumont, with its large, cutting-edge production kitchen, the equation has always included three breweries. This project is not dead, rejoices Mr. Laprise. Long live the Signé Toqué group!
900, place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montreal
Visit the Toqué website!