L’Outaouais en cuisine: three regional talents crowned at the second edition!

Outaouais, February 26, 2026 — The second edition of the L’Outaouais en cuisine competition, presented by Outaouais Tourism in partnership with the École hôtelière de l’Outaouais was a great success! At the conclusion of the event on February 25, attended by more than 120 people, three local chefs were crowned by the jury and the public.

Simon Beaudry (Restaurant Les Fougères, Chelsea)
Beef tartare from Ferme Brylee

The Jury’s Choice Award was presented to Simon Beaudry for a bite that stood out for its skill and creativity. The award includes a $5,000 scholarship.

The students who made up the brigade were also recognized with a basket of local products and gift certificates to regional establishments. Congratulations to Paige-Alabama Léger, Mathias Ricard and Richard Ricard for their work and dedication.

The jury was composed of five influential figures in Quebec gastronomy: Jean-Philippe Cloutier (guest chef and culinary consultant), Liam Carey (The Village House), Marie-Ève Gingras (La Muse and Heron Wine Bar), Odette Chaput (Terroir et Saveurs du Québec) and Véronique Leduc (Caribou magazine).

Joël Maheu (Souche-i, Montebello)
Trompe-l'oeil doughnut filled with duck pastrami cream from Ferme Moreau

The public selected Joël Maheu as the winner in the savoury bite category. This recognition comes with a $1,000 scholarship, presented by Doyon Després.

The student brigade also receives a basket of local products and gift certificates to regional establishments. Congratulations to Shana Rochefort, Gladies Bomanza and Stéphanie Uwimana.

Dominique Lalonde (Kîsisam Pâtisserie, Saint-André-Avellin)
Northern prickly-ash Pavlova

In the sweet bite category, the Public’s Choice Award goes to Dominique Lalonde, who also receives a $1,000 scholarship.

The members of the brigade are likewise awarded a basket of local products and regional gift certificates. Congratulations to Loubna Youssoufi, Aurélie Desrochers and Mélanie Derouin.

“Our team is delighted with the success of this second edition of L’Outaouais en cuisine. This friendly competition was an opportunity to showcase once again the rich variety of the Outaouais’ gastronomy, highlighting the talents of the region’s chefs and up-and-coming chefs, as well as the quality of our local produce. Congratulations to all the participants who made this evening a success and who contribute to promoting our region as a must-visit gourmet destination!”

Geneviève Latulippe, CEO of Outaouais Tourism

Over the past few weeks, 12 chefs from the region were assigned the task to prepare recipes for savoury or sweet bite-sized dish specially designed for L’Outaouais en cuisine competition. Each contestant was then paired with a team of four students from the École hôtelière de l’Outaouais, who were challenged to prepare and serve their delicious creations at a cocktail reception on February 25.

To find out everything about the competition, visit the L'Outaouais en cuisine website.

The L’Outaouais en cuisine competition was made possible thanks to financial support obtained through the Entente sectorielle de développement du secteur bioalimentaire 2022-2025 (ESBO).

Outatouais Tourism would also like to thank:

• The École hôtelière de l’Outaouais and chef-instructor Gérard Fischer for their key roles in coordinating the event and hosting it on their premises;
• Award-winning food critic Mat Beausoleil, host of the evening and consultant;
• Véronique Rivest, sommelier and owner of Soif Bar à Vin and La Petite Soif, for pairing alcoholic beverages offered along the route.

Thanks also to our sponsors: the Table agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais, sponsor of the event as part of the Croquez l’Outaouais! campaign and Doyon Després, presenter of the Public’s Choice Award for savoury bites.

About Outaouais Tourism

Outaouais Tourism is a private, not-for-profit organization created by and for the tourism industry over 40 years ago. A preferred contact and partner of the Quebec government in the tourism field, Outaouais Tourism contributes to the region’s economic development by coordinating regional tourism plans and projects, visitor services, information, promotion, marketing and development.

About the Entente sectorielle de développement du secteur bioalimentaire de l’Outaouais (ESBO)

The ESBO aims to support the development of the Outaouais biofood sector through projects that meet the objectives of the Plan de développement bioalimentaire de l’Outaouais 2020-2025 and the Plans de développement de la zone agricole. The ESBO is funded by the Quebec government, the 4 RCMs, the City of Gatineau, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux (CISSS) de l'Outaouais, Outaouais Tourism and the Fédération régionale de l'UPA Outaouais-Laurentides. The Table agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais is their representative.

For information:

Alice Charbonneau-Bernier 
Communications and Public Relations Manager
acharbonneau-bernier@tourisme-outaouais.ca
C.: 819 576-3185