Montreal, Monday, November 28, 2005—Lovers of winter are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 7th edition of the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival, set to take place this coming February 16th to 26th, 2006. And native Montrealers are eagerly awaiting visitors from around the world, too, for that most special time of year when we all shake off the mid-winter blues and transform the entire metropolitan area into a hub of performing arts and gastronomy. Besides an array of free activities for the entire family, the mid-winter Festival gives fans of music, theater and fine food a unique chance to enjoy them all, thanks to the Festival’s two central areas of focus: the Sun Life Financial Performing Arts series and the Wine & Dine Experience. So read on for a taste of what’s to come…
Two distinguishing characteristics of Montrealers are their understanding that music is the food of love and their universal and deep passion for food. The latter, we promise, is the foundation for an unforgettable culinary experience at thousands of hotels and restaurants throughout the city. We call it the Wine and Dine Experience. The anticipation of the sumptuous menu offerings of local celebrity chefs and chef masters visiting from abroad is always an important part of our mid-winter celebration. Over the last seven years, this showcase of fine food and wine has become an event that is not to be missed. Fifty of the city’s finest restaurants pull out all the stops for Montreal’s Finest Tables, a collection of events featuring specially prepared menus during the Festival’s ten days of food heaven. It’s also a great opportunity to sample the cuisine of this years’ ‘Region of Honor,’ Alsace, France, and the 2006 ‘City of Honor,’ Vancouver, Canada. Come and linger over your meal and experience the subtleties of regional cuisine plus a variety of innovative culinary creations by some of the world’s finest chefs at some of Montréal’s best hotels and restaurants. And it doesn’t stop there! Several gala events will further seduce the palate—including the Honorary President’s Dinner at the prestigious Beaver Club in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel-where the Wine and Dine Experience’s Honorary President, Emile Jung of the Au Crocodile Restaurant in his native Strasbourg, Alsace, will preside. On February February 20th and 21st , La Chronique Restaurant will feature the fine Alsatian wines of Pfaffenheim Estate during Grandes Soirées Pfaffenheim. At La Grande Raclette event at Windsor Station on February 25th, expect a hearty and simple meal. And for those travelling foodies always on the look out for a fabulous lunch, be sure to enjoy the Midis à prix fixes (inexpensive, fixed-price lunch menus in a variety of eateries) And if you’re not out of breath yet and done revelling in food heavent, come every day to Complexe Desjardins in the heart of Montréal’s downtown to enjoy non-stop educational activities and tasting opportunities for all ages. There is not a moment to spare because the list of things to see and do during this incredible culinary extravaganza is virtually endless.
Internationally respected for the excellence of its cuisine and chefs, the creativity of its artists and the warm hospitality of its inhabitants, Montreal’s probably the warmest in temperature and spirit of any northern metropolis. The truth is that Montreal’s is a very temperate climate, even though we have a winter, and it’s a place where walking the streets is—all by itself—fun and entertaining any time of year. No wonder we’re often rightly referred to as the “Paris of North America” and “The City of Festivals,” designations of which natives are justly proud.
To help out-of-town visitors get the most from the Festival and experience everything the Montreal’s Finest Tables event has to offer, we have created two cost-saving packages.
Hotel St Paul* package includes:
• 1 or 2 nights in a superior guestroom at the chic Boutique-hotel St-Paul;
• A 5-course dinner at the Cube restaurant (special menu);
• De luxe continental breakfast buffet;
• Turndown service with chocolates;
• A Casino de Montréal cash certificate worth $20;
• A gift from the Festival.
*Price starting at $399, double occupancy, in Canadian dollars, service included, plus taxes. Upon availability.
Reservation: Hotel St-Paul 1 866 380 2202
Hotel Place d’Armes** package includes:
• Accommodations for 2 nights in one of our luxurious king superior rooms or suites deluxe rooms;
• MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Gastronomic dinner for two, at Aix Cuisine du Terroir restaurant;
• Wine and cheese cocktail every night;
• Elaborate continental breakfast;
• A Casino de Montréal cash certificate worth $20;
**Price starting at $490, double occupancy, in Canadian dollars, service included, plus taxes. Upon availability.
Reservation: Hotel Place d’Armes 1 888 450 1887
For further information, please consult the web site of the MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival at www.montrealhighlights.com. You can also call the Info-High Lights Line at (514) 288 9955 or, toll-free, at 1 888 477 9955.
This is just a sampling of what’s in store for Montreal winter-time vacationers at this year’s MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival during the Sun Life Performing Arts series and the Wine and Dine Experience. Between late November to mid-January, complete programming for the Festival will be released, which will include a number of exciting free outdoor activities for the entire family-such as the 3rd annual Montreal All-Nighter, (all night Saturday, February 25th to Sunday morning, February 26th ) and the inaugural Montreal’s Underground Walkway Celebration (Sunday , February 19th ). Look for more details to be announced in early 2006!
Make it a date ! Don’t miss the 7th Edition of The MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival, a celebration of true joie de vivre set to take place from Thursday, February 16th until Sunday, February 26th!
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Sources:
MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS Festival – (514) 525 5990
Information (media):
Myriam Achard, Media Relations Director – (514) 525 7732, ext. 535 ; myriam.achard@equipespectra.ca
Marie Eve Boisvert, Press Attachée – (514) 525 7732, ext. 666 ; marie-eve.boisvert@equipespectra.ca
Julie Desmarais, Travel Media Relations – (514) 525 7732, ext. 621 ; julie.desmarais@equipespectra.ca
Public information:
Info High Lights Line – (514) 288 9955, toll free 1 888 477 9955 ; www.montrealhighlights.com