Canadian Food Festival at Taj Mahal Palace

By Sparsh Sharma for the Government of Canada

A “Sugar Shack” Experience

The Consulate General of Canada in Mumbai, in partnership with the Taj Mahal Palace, presents the Canadian Food Festival from March 22nd to March 30th, 2013.

Mumbaikars will have the chance to feast on Canadian delicacies with a sweet twist at the Shamiana restaurant.  The menu is inspired by the Canadian sugar shacks where maple sap is collected in March and boiled into syrup, toffee and more.

Overseeing the creation of these delights is Chef Louis Charest, Executive Chef to the Governor General of Canada, who has come directly from Canada to prepare sumptuous meals using authentic Canadian ingredients.

On arriving in Mumbai, Chef Charest said “I am excited to share the Canadian sugar shack experience with Mumbaikars. These flavours will serve as an inspiration to display great Canadian cuisine and amazing Canadian products with a fun mix of Indian spices.”

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Chef Charest brings the Canadian Sugar Shack dining experience to life through old-time specialties like maple taffy on snow, split pea soup, poutine, maple baked ham, tourtière, and mouth-watering maple desserts.

Following on the success of last year’s Atlantic Canadian Seafood Festival, there will also be a delicious spread of the freshest Canadian seafood, including lobster, scallops, crab, halibut and more. By pairing these delicacies with organic Canadian wines from British Columbia, including dessert wine, and modern Canadian cocktails, the festival is a food lover’s dream come true!

To further capture the true feeling of a Canadian sugar shack, Shamiana is hosting a traditional musical performance at the Sunday Sugar Shack Brunch on March 24th. Mario LeBreton and Philippe LeBlanc will entertain with toe-tapping classics and original music that will transport listeners to a traditional Eastern Canadian party.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency have worked with Canadian suppliers to ensure that only the finest Canadian products are being delivered straight from Canada to your plate during the entire festival.  The Canadian Food Festival will be the opportunity to see new Canadian products not yet available in the Indian market.

Canada’s Consul General in Mumbai, Mr. Richard Bale said “Canada has high-quality agricultural products to share with India and this event will give a unique opportunity for Mumbai to taste Canada’s diverse and top-quality products.  Canada is already providing pulses, canola oil, fish and seafood, specialty and fine foods, sauces and seasonings, wines, spirits, ice wine, bakery, confectionery, and snacks to the Indian market, and we look forward to new products being available in the marketplace in the near future.”

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Background

In his role as Executive Chef to Canada’s head of state, Chef Charest has catered for high-ranking officials, prime ministers, dignitaries, royalty and world leaders including their Royal Highnesses, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburg, and now Chef Charest is cooking for Mumbai!

Chef Charest’s pride in showcasing his talent has been rewarded with 14 gold medals, 3 trophies, 4 grand gold medals, 1 World Cup, 4 silver medals and 3 bronze medals. This has included winning gold at the famed New York Culinary Salon, representing Canada in the World Banqueting Competition at the World Championships, winning an individual silver medal at the World Culinary Olympics in Berlin, Germany, in 1996, and earning five gold medals at the Culinary Grand Prix in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2001.