The Maple Gourmet Road 2012 Contest - Maple, Vegetables and Aromatics

MONTREAL, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Maple, Vegetables and Aromatics is the delectable challenge of this year's contest for the 100 Maple Masters of the Maple Gourmet Road. This fifth edition of the contest is put on by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers as a way for its carefully selected Maple Masters to showcase their talent and imagination in their search for new taste sensations. The contest will be presided over by none other than Armand Arnal, chef of the Michelin-starred La Chassagnette restaurant in Arles, France.

The contest
The goal of the contest is to create toothsome dishes by combining vegetables, aromatics and pure maple products. Contestants can enter cold appetizers, hot appetizers or main dishes. Each dish must be vegetarian. The winning Master's recipe will excel in quality and originality, and also be perfectly balanced.

The jury will reveal the names of the three winners in fall 2012. The winners will add their creations to their regular menus or offer them in their shops for a minimum of one year, for local and visiting gourmets to enjoy and experience the versatility of maple. The contest will run from March 1 to July 1, 2012.

Evaluation criteria
The four members of the jury will evaluate the creations based on the following criteria: originality of the product presented, composition and ingredients used, presentation and taste. Winning dishes will be selected for their finesse and balance as well as judicious use of maple products. Participants will also have to comply with the following conditions:

• Inventing an original vegetarian recipe that uses at least one 100% pure maple product (syrup, butter, taffy, sugar, vinegar or flakes). The variety of maple products used will also be considered. Contestants can enter as many creations as they want, as long as the contest conditions are met. However, a contestant can only win one prize.
• Use of invert sugar or other sweeteners, with the exception of specified stabilizing agents, will result in disqualification.

Prizes
The first-prize winner will receive a five-day training session at Armand Arnal's La Chassagnette, in the south of France, in 2013. This prize includes transportation, accommodation and meals. The second and third place winners receive cash prizes.

Mr. Arnal was named the 2012 Maple Ambassador by the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers. For more information about his restaurant, visit www.lachassagnette.fr.

The top toque in the inaugural contest in 2008 was Richard Lachapelle from Havre-aux-glaces in Montreal, followed by Thierry Ferré of Baie-Saint-Paul's Mouton Noir restaurant in 2009, Philippe Petrazzini of Culinarium du 51 (also in Baie-Saint-Paul) in 2010 and Franck Peter from Quebec City's Restaurant Initiale in 2011.

Contest details are available online at www.laroutedelerable.ca.

About the FPAQ
The Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers was founded in 1966 with the mission of defending and promoting the economic, social and moral interests of its 7,400 maple businesses. These men and women are working together to collectively market their products. The quality of their work and their products has made Quebec the producer of close to 80% of today's global maple syrup output.

Johannie Coiteux
Promotions and Communications Agent
Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers
450 679-0540 ext. 8609
[email protected]