Orleans Weekly Journal
Published: Friday, June 27, 2008 The art of food preparation This week we begin a summer-long series that profiles the people and places that are unique to Orléans and the east end of our city. Have you ever heard of Marc Miron? Probably not. But I’m sure you’ve heard of Wayne Gretzky, and he is a fan of Marc Miron. What the Great One was to hockey, Marc is to the world of chef’s: darn good! He is a five-star executive chef who, along with his wife Chantal, has opened up a unique business called Cuisine & Passion on St. Joseph Boulevard. His business card says cooking school, but understated oasis of culinary artistry and surprise is a more apt description. If you search Marc Miron + Chef online you will get some 45,700-plus links. Not bad for a 47-year-old guy originally from Hull who has spent the better part of his adult life cooking and creating in the Four Seasons chain across Canada, Asia and the world-renowned Bali Four Seasons resort. Old-timers may even remember Kian restaurant in Hull where Marc worked back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. He recently gave up the sun and fun of Bali to return to Canada and launch a new endeavour in our own backyard. As I sat in his store last Saturday morning Marc explained the idea behind his cooking school, prepared meals and grocery store concept. Marc has a passion for cooking and food, but more importantly for us, a desire to share the knowledge of his art. Indeed, his choice of location in the same plaza which houses Domenic’s music is no accident. Christine Tremblay of Arts Ottawa East concurs and notes that Marc is just one of the many types of “artists” that we need to showcase to the rest of Ottawa and beyond. His cooking classes immerse participants in the art and intricacy of food preparation. After just two months in operation, classes – which are small and very hands-on – have run the gamut of food fare including tapas, Thai, Asian, French, Italian, vegetarian, BBQ (when does this one happen again?) to fish and sauce preparation. His business sources nothing but the best local meats, vegetables and produce and almost everything is made from scratch and organic wherever possible. Cuisine & Passion also offers fresh and frozen prepared foods, sauces, jams and a balsamic glaze (which is to die for) that are top quality and then some. And the quality doesn’t stop there. A quick peek at the kitchen in the back with its Irving appliances, quartz countertop and stainless steel everything and, well, you get the picture. If you can’t stop into the store, you can always savour some of the prepared foods out at the Cumberland market on Saturday mornings. From outstanding food to a learning environment to a chef’s table for corporate functions, Cuisine & Passion is a new gem that enriches our community. Now, quick, someone cancel all future flights back to Bali and confiscate his passport. = = = = = Comments can be sent to Walter Robinson at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca. |