Experience Montreal’s raw, concrete essence as Menu Extra crafted a unique culinary journey. Drawing inspiration from the city’s renowned Brutalist architecture, including icons like Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, the Montreal-based culinary studio delved into the monumental beauty of these structures. Highlighting their grounding presence, Creative Director Samuel de La Courtemanche stressed how these venues’ materiality enhances fine dining as a ritual of contemplation.
During Montréal en Lumière, Menu Extra transformed the Chapelle des Franciscains into an immersive dining setting. Dubbed “Efflorescence,” the event fused art with architecture, reflecting the festival’s winter ambiance. The soirée was a collaboration of designers, chefs, and creatives, including co-founder and sommelier Alexis Demers. The name, Efflorescence, symbolizes both the concrete-inspired chalky textures and a state of artistic blooming.
The architectural dining experience
A 40-foot-long dining table, swathed in green fabric with diamond patterns matching the chapel’s ceiling, became the heart of the evening. Flowering under the high vaulted ceilings, a lightbox with live plants echoed Canada’s boreal forests. The setting featured aluminum chairs by LESORR and steel stands displaying key ingredients, like scallops and lobster from local waters. The multi-sensory environment included a curated soundscape by KROY and custom speakers by MYCOAUDIO, enhancing the evening’s atmosphere.
Demers emphasizes that the ephemeral nature of their experiences draws guests into the present. Designed by Creative Director Samuel de la Courtemanche and Creative Producer Amanda Prow, the set inspired guest interaction, offering a space for exploration and discovery.
Culinary and creative highlights
Guests indulged in a meticulously curated menu celebrating the local bounty. Executive Chef Francis Blais crafted dishes with ingredients like Nova Scotian lobster and citrus from Laval, paired with wines selected by sommelier Alexis Demers. The service brought dining-as-ritual to life, featuring aromatic hot towels and smoke embellishments for select plates, enhancing the overall sensory experience. A bell’s chime, much like a call to prayer, orchestrated the seating, harmonizing the evening’s rhythm.
With an array of design elements and flavors, Menu Extra’s Efflorescence at Chapelle des Franciscains transcended traditional dining, blending Brutalist art with culinary elegance.
Photography by Vanessa Cassar and Jeremy Dionne illuminates this captivating union of architecture and gastronomy, capturing the artistic prowess of a dining event rooted in Montreal’s distinctive cultural landscape.
Source: design-milk.com