Chef Yannick LaSalle From Restaurant Les Fougères, Chelsea, QC

The Canadian Culinary Championships start tomorrow and we’ve got a couple more interviews with the chefs competing to publish! Next up Chef Yannick LaSalle representing Ottawa/Gatineau.

Tell us a little bit about your restaurant.

Restaurant Les Fougères is located in Chelsea Qc in the middle of the Gatineau Hills. Our recently renovated dining room is contemporary gorgeous! Clean lines, local craftsmanship, very little wall with uninterrupted views over gardens and woodland, inviting bar, open kitchen- a fun, beautiful environment for seriously wonderful, hyper-seasonal and hyperlocal food, be it bar snacks, small plates or large.The Gourmet Store and Charcuterie/Deli/Hearth Oven attached to the restaurant offer terrific foods, ingredients and gifts to take home. Lovely screened veranda for warm weather outdoor dining. Please wander in our beautiful gardens and woodland.

Where do you eat in your city?

I love to go and try out new places around the city. I also enjoy going to support our local favorites.

What would be your ideal food day?

Waking up to the lovely smell of coffee. Then head out to the local markets, or the Fougères garden to pick our vegetables and ingredients. Having friends and family over for good times around the BBQ.

What ingredient do you always have on hand?

Citrus is my all time favorite.

What’s your go-to recipe when you’re eating at home?

I rarely have the same meal but I enjoy trying out recipes from different cookbooks. Vegetables and seafood are often part of our meal.

What cookbook are you most interested in lately?

At the moment, I’m actually reading, In my blood by Bo Bech. I do have a beautiful collection of cookbooks.

Any hints on what dish you will be preparing for the Culinary Championships?

I switched up the dish from the Regional in Ottawa. There is one ingredient that will still be a part of the dish which is cured Duck Breast.

What beverage are you pairing with?

I am pairing my dish with a Chardonnay from Meldville wines made by Derek Barnett.

Who is coming with you?

Owners of Restaurant Les Fougères Charlie Part and Jennifer Warren Part, my better half Sara Romain and 2 cooks from  the restaurant Alex Bimm and Julien Fournier.

What, outside the competition itself, are you looking forward to experiencing in Kelowna?

Looking forward to visit some Wineries, the Okanagan Food Artisans, the weather compared to what we are dealing with here in Ottawa -32 celsius 😳❄️.