The Savvy Gourmet

Producers in the Spotlight - La ferme Québec-Oies

Established in 2004, La ferme Québec-Oies specializes in breeding and raising geese, and creating a wide range of goose food products.

Own by biologist Simon Brousseau and Natacha Jobin, the farm produces top quality geese with care and concern for their well-being. The geese are raised in a pasture and are fed with natural grains. No antibiotics are added to their feed.

Prepared according to traditional recipes, La ferme Québec-Oies offers a wide range of products that contain no colour additives or preservatives.

Press Review: Ferme Québec-Oies: quand rêve et passion se côtoient, Le Soleil (Michel Corbeil), September 30, 2009 (in French).

Winners of the Olive d’Or 2010 Extra Virgin Olive Oil Competition

On April 22, the winners of the Olive d’Or 2010 extra virgin olive oil competition were announced. 100 olive oils from 15 different countries were part of this fifth edition organized by SIAL Canada.

SIAL Canada is part of the SIAL international network of annual professional trade shows held in Buenos Aires, Paris, Montreal and Shanghai.

The jury was chaired by Christine Cheylan, Ph.D., manager of an oil mill in France and an expert in olive oil tasting. The other members were:

• Andy Brasseur, consultant and conference speaker on awakening senses

• Thierry Debeur, food critic, president and publisher of the Guide Debeur

• Denise Langevin, CEO of Agroindustrial Nuevos Campos Limitada in Chili and trained in professional olive oil tasting, and

• Guy Rochon, founder of OGourmet.com fine food store.

Producers in the Spotlight - Ducs de Montrichard

Ducs de Montrichard was founded in 1994 by Philippe Brugier who learned his trade in Montrichard, France, world capital of foie gras.

This traditional firm offers a wide variety of products made using local game.

Their delicious foie gras, presented in attractive little pots, has proved to be very popular.

Producers in the Spotlight - Les Canardises

Les Canardises is a company of Quebec craftsmen who grew up on farms in southwestern France and in Alsace.

Their farm is located in St. Ferréol des Neiges near Quebec City, and they raise some 2000 ducks per year in the traditional manner, feeding them natural foods that contain no antibiotics. The farm specializes in raising mulard ducks for their exceptional foie gras, and Barbary Coast ducks for their excellent meat.

They use no preservatives, and their dishes are cooked in the traditional fashion based on the know-how and traditions of southwestern France and Alsace.

Producers in the Spotlight - Palmex Farm

Founded in 1998 by Pascal and Francette Fleury, from the Landes region in France (the heart of French foie gras), Palmex Farm specializes in raising and processing Mulard ducks.

In less than 10 years, it has grown substantially and now exports all over North America, and also to the Caribbean and Asia.

The Palmex Farm plant is accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and USDA under the HACCP program.

Producers in the Spotlight - Élevages Périgord

Specializing in duck foie gras, Élevages Périgord processes ducks from the egg to your plate!

Founded in 1993, Élevages Périgord in located in St. Louis de Gonzague in southwestern Quebec. It is the largest company in its category in Canada, and the second most important in North America.

Their processing plant complies with the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) and is monitored by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and their products meet internationally recognized production criteria. All their products are classified A for top quality.