It's a bold time to imagine any restaurants opening right now, but that only means that it's bold chefs taking the plunge: Since announcing his departure from Agrikol on June 25, chef Paul Toussaint has turned his eye towards opening a whole new restaurant on August 8.
Billed as a pan-Caribbean restaurant drawing influences from dozens of countries, the restaurant has plans to take the traditional cuisines of different islands and give them as many French fine dining treatments as there will be more casual casse-croûte offerings. Paul Toussaint will preside as chef alongside chefs Ana Castillo and Vincent in the kitchen.
The menu has yet to be released, but dishes such as the Colombian Lomo al Trapo (meat wrapped in cloth that's directly cooked on charcoal), curries, seafood, fruits and jerk meats have been since teased. There's been a pledge to focus on sustainable and seasonal foods from the Islands, all of which would exhibit the calling cards of Caribbean cuisine: Dishes that are colorful and spicy, with meats often being marinaded or dry-rubbed before being smoked or barbecued off.
Montrealers can likely expect a few previously unknown ingredients on a given plate as well, such as lulo fruit (a citrus fruit that tastes of strawberries and passionfruit), and they can already expect a "Bagatelle Brunch" service on Sundays until 3 pm. This will all by coupled with front-of-house work by Audrey Lemay (think curated wine lists) and Valerie Chagnon (La Distillerie, Le Mal Nécessaire, Nacarat, Elena) is working on the cocktail menu.
The restaurant will be situated in the Quartier des Spectacles, right where the old Taverne F is located, a square metal and glass structure with skylights and hardwood floors. The new design will feature work from the artist Oski (Olivier Vilaire) such as paintings, sculptures, and digital art installations that will complement the architectural designs of Sophie Buteau, a young Haitian New Yorker. The restaurant is also incorporating work and contributions from photographer Darwin Doleyres, sculptors Remy-Jn-Eddy (Franco) and Normand Hamel, and the graphic designer Williamson Dulcé.
While the restaurant is undoubtedly a removal from Toussaint's previous time at Agrikol, the group behind it gives a sense of similar vibes. Music being played is meant to be as big of a feature as the art that will decorate it, a mix of reggae, bachata, merengue, twoubadou, jazz and salsa playing.
Kamúy opens on Saturday, August 8 at 1485 rue Jeanne-Mance, next to the Musée d’art contemporain. Reservations can be made by email or by calling 514-447-7481.
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