Martinique Gourmande Festival – September 19-29, 2019 LiveEvents September 12, 2019 3314 12th annual Martinique Gourmande Festival Lovers of Creole cuisine rejoice! A not-to-be missed fall event in Montreal and Quebec City, Martinique Gourmande will once again bring together dozens of restaurateurs, chefs, mixologists and lovers of Creole cuisine, around the spicy flavours of the flower island. This culinary festival, which celebrates Martinican culture and its culinary traditions, is also a space for meeting and sharing between Quebec and Martinican chefs and mixologists. In 2019, the creation of original dishes and cocktails to be served in participating restaurants and bars will be inspired by the theme “Passion, Creole flavours and great rums’’. Foodies will undoubtedly be delighted! To learn more about the participating restaurants, visit www.martiniquegourmande.ca. New: The Martinique Gourmande’s Creole Village in Complexe Desjardins To launch this 12th edition, the Martinique Gourmande’s Creole Village, a festive and entertaining place, will open its doors for two days on the Grande-Place of complexe Desjardins, on September 19 and 20. Visitors are expected in large number, to experience the captivating Martinican culture and culinary heritage such as cooking workshops, rum tastings, literary spaces, and Zouk classes. In addition, these activities are free of charge (some on reservation). New: Family cooking workshop at the Jean Talon Market Martinique Gourmande also invites you for the first time to the Jean Talon Market, to participate in the C’est moi le chef! family culinary workshops on September 21 and 22 ($). These workshops will initiate children to cooking (with their parents), this time with a Martinican touch. The Martinican Chefs will be present on September 21. The Martinique Gourmande Contest: taste, participate, travel! Every year, the Martinique Gourmande Contest offers all festival-goers the opportunity to win a trip for two to Martinique. How to participate? Order your Martinique Gourmande menu at one of the participating establishments. Once your meal or cocktail has been tasted, you will be given a participation coupon that will allow you to register for the contest from September 19 to 29. About Martinique: The French Caribbean Island of Martinique is also known as the Isle of Flowers, The Rum Capital of the World, the Birthplace of coffee in the New World, The Isle of the Famed Poet (Aimé Césaire) – Martinique ranks among the most alluring and enchanting destinations in the world. As an overseas region of France, Martinique boasts modern and reliable infrastructure – roads, water and power utilities, hospitals, and telecommunications, services all on par with any other part of the European Union. At the same time, Martinique’s beautifully unspoiled beaches, volcanic peaks, rainforests, 80+ miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, streams, and other natural wonders are unparalleled in the Caribbean, so visitors here truly get the best of both worlds. The currency is the Euro, the flag and the official language are French, but Martinique’s character, cuisine, musical heritage, art, culture, common language, and identity are of a distinctly Afro-Caribbean inclination known as Creole. It is this special combination of modern world conveniences, pristine nature, and rich heritage that has earned for Martinique several notable distinctions in recent years. Hot off the press: In January 2019 OprahMag.com listed Martinique first in “The 19 Best Winter Getaways.” Martinique was also featured by the Caribbean Journal’s readers as the Best Cultural Destination in 2019 and one of the Best Caribbean Islands to visit in 2019, in addition to naming the Isle of Flowers “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean”. Martinique has also been featured in Travel + Leisure and the New York Time’s “52 Places to go in 2018.” www.lamartinique.ca Learn more about Martinique, read: Marvelous Martinique Learn more about Martinique Rum, read: Martinique Packs Quite a Punch – a ‘Ti Punch