Joanne Thompson and Sylvain Landry, owners of the Thompson Landry Gallery, are set to open a gourmet boutique and event space called A Taste of Quebec in the old Oasis Spa location just inside the front gates of the Distillery District. The shop, which offers a selection of terroir products from the province of Québec, including artisan cheeses, terrines, patés, and gourmet oils, opens to the public Saturday.
Chef Jean-Pierre Chalet (formerly of the Fifth and Bouchon) will offer tasting events on site. His catering company, Jean-Pierre & Co., is also developing a new line of products that will be available for sale in the boutique, which can hold as many as 70 for receptions. A chef's table in the open-concept kitchen seats eight. Thompson said she envisions holding cooking lessons (for corporate teambuilding sessions) and small meetings in the space.
"We've been thinking about doing this for more than a year, and and when the space became available in April, we knew we had to grab it. This should be an exquisite boutique and wine bar that people can come and visit," said Thompson, noting that the shop is an extension of the gallery, which is located around the corner and specializes in contemporary Québec art. "When we realized we were only going to sell all Québec products, it sort of made sense to call the boutique A Taste of Québec," she said.
The space, which was painted in an industrial grey, now has a warm colour palette inspired by the exposed brick and newly-installed Mennonite-milled oak floors. "The bare bones are so beautiful. I just wanted to work with the wood and the brick," said Thompson, who is planning to renovate the basement, which features a kiln room and a barrel-vaulted catacomb. The kiln room is expected to open this spring. Thompson and Landry are hoping to complete the catacomb in time for Christmas 2009. Once completed, the space will hold up to 70 for wine tastings and private dinners.
