The Michelin Guide and the Alliance de l’industrie touristique du Québec (AITQ) announced Thursday that the province has become the third Canadian destination to welcome the evaluators of the famous directory after Vancouver and Toronto.
This will be the first time that the guide’s evaluators will visit the best restaurants in an entire province. The co-owner and chef of La Tanière restaurant, François-Emmanuel Nicol, does not hesitate to call it an event historical
.
Never seen before
The fact that the guide is setting up shop in the entire province is huge. It’s practically unheard of. I’m telling you about it and I get goosebumps. It’s really something big that’s going to make noise all over the planet.
Mr. Nicol confided in an interview with Radio-Canada.
François-Emmanuel Nicol believes that the Michelin Guide will provide international recognition to Quebec gastronomy.
Photo : Radio-Canada
It was he who launched the idea, two years ago, to try to attract Michelin to Quebec. With colleagues, he sought the support of the mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, who responded.
By joining forces with theQuebec Tourism Industry AllianceAITQthe tourism organizations of the capital and the metropolis, Destination Québec Cité and Tourisme Montréal, have succeeded in convincing Michelin to dedicate an edition to Quebec.
Reconnaissance
According to François-Emmanuel Nicol, the restaurants that receive one, two or three stars and those that are awarded a Bib Gourmand will provide international recognition to Quebec gastronomy.
This will put us on an equal footing with other tourist destinations. foodies who want to come and discover what we do.
Robert Mercure, general director of Destination Québec Cité, expects that the creation of a guide dedicated to Quebec will have an impact huge
on gastronomic tourism.
According to Robert Mercure, the Michelin Guide will help promote Quebec gastronomy “across the world.”
Photo : Radio-Canada
Gastronomy is in the top 5 factors for visiting a city […] It’s really an advantage for us, to bring our level of recognition, of gastronomy to another level altogether.
he argues.
This is truly a golden opportunity for us. It brings us international visibility. There is tourism that goes around the world to discover Michelin destinations.
Without providing figures, Robert Mercure expects significant benefits for the Quebec region.
Investments
It’s hard to qualify because it’s a little different for each destination, but when I talk to my colleagues in Vancouver and Toronto, they are very impressed by the impact that the arrival of Michelin has had.
reports the boss of Destination Québec Cité.
Destination Québec Cité has invested $100,000 in the visit of the Michelin Guide. This money will be used to cover part of the accommodation costs of its evaluators.
Nicknamed the “Red Guide,” the Michelin Guide awards stars to the best brands. (File photo)
Photo : afp via getty images / JOEL SAGET
Other institutional contributions include $450,000 over three years to theQuebec Tourism Industry AllianceAITQ by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.
The tour of the Michelin Guide evaluators, who are conducting their work anonymously, has already begun.
The award-winning restaurants will be revealed in 2025.
With the collaboration of Flavie Sauvageau