A 450 page culinary manifesto from chef Normand Laprise

October 26th, 2012

Normand Laprise, co-owner of Montreal's Toqué! restaurant and Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux recently launched his first culinary book — a 450 page manifesto entitled “Toqué! Creators of a New Québec Gastronomy.”
The book, containing some with spectacular photograph by Dominique Malaterre, is published by editions du passage.
At the launch, Charles Lapointe, CEO of Tourisme Montréal, underlined the impact of gastronomy on tourism. According to 2010 statistics expenses by tourists in restaurants in Montreal reached more than $548 million.
The book is an intimate encounter with one of Canada's most respected chefs who shares his favourite recipes and explains his philosophy to draw from our past along with his desire to popularize a cuisine without waste. He rediscovers local products but with respect for our endangered species and concern for the environment.
Readers will be taken on a journey from the chef’s kitchen to rivers, forests and the open sea to discover the worlds of sea urchin fishermen, gardeners, cattle breeders...
The book also provides an insightful look at his accomplices, the artisan producers and his inspiring brigade of talented chefs.
Recognized by critics in North America and Europe, Normand Laprise redefined the standards of gastronomy by creating a new inventive and modern cuisine.  Co-owner of Toqué!, one of North America’s top restaurants and Relais & Châteaux property, Laprise is obsessed by the freshness of products.  He developed a passion for local produce and searched for suppliers, farmers with whom he developed special relationships overtime.  His philosophy and approach was followed by many fine restaurants in Québec and Canada.
Born and trained in Québec, Normand Laprise learned the trade in well known  establishments in Québec City – Marie-Clarisse and Café de la Paix.  In 1989,  Citrus restaurant opened in Montreal to rave reviews with Laprise as head chef.  Four years later, he opens Toqué! with Christine Lamarche and soon after the St. Denis restaurant becomes THE restaurant in Québec.  Awards and recognitions pile up along with highly positive reviews from Gourmet, GQ, Food & Wine and Wine Spectator magazines.  In 1998 the seductive powers of New York beckons and Laprise becomes a Consulting Chef at Cena restaurant and within a few months the New York Times falls under his spell and awarded him a 3 star rating. In 2006, Laprise is welcomed in the Relais & Châteaux family as Grand Chef. In 2009, he is named Chevalier de l’ordre national du Québec and in 2010 he opens Brasserie T! a second restaurant in a more casual style in the heart of the entertainment quarter in Montreal.
For more than a decade, Normand has shared his time between Toqué! and Brasserie T! and occasionally visits the best restaurants around the world as guest chef.  He has also welcomed great chefs in his kitchen in Montreal for special events: Trotter, Boulud, Oringer, Anne-Sophie Pic, Wakuda, to name a few.
For the past 19 years Laprise has inspired young chefs who are now at the top of the ladder in the culinary world or are running their own restaurants.  He was recently included in the list of 100 most influential Québécois.

The French version will be in bookstores October 24, and the English version by the end of November.
— TOQUÉ! RESTAURANT (www.restaurant-toque.com)