Beautiful Balnea Spa
Every summer since 2010, BALNEA Spa has been organizing l’Été des chefs (translation: the chefs’ summer), a delightful and friendly culinary competition with 10 of the province’s best chefs. As part of this friendly gourmet contest, 10 of the greatest chefs in Quebec –as well as one from New York! – create a dish inspired by the gorgeous spot that is BALNEA, one of the most beautiful spas in Quebec, located less than an hour from Montreal.
The participating chefs and some members of the jury
Every Sunday from July 1 to September 8, that week’s guest chef presents his creation, which will then be offered all week at BALNEA. The dish will also be on the menu of the chef’s restaurant all summer.
In addition to the chef’s dish, you will also be able to enjoy decadent desserts by chocolate maker Geneviève Grandbois and pastry maker Stéphanie Labelle of Pâtisserie Rhubarbe, one of my favourite sweetspots in the city. An ice cream cart by Bilboquet will also be wandering around the site all summer.
Chocolate maker Geneviève Grandbois with some of her creations
Chef Nick Hodge of Kitchenette and Icehouse with his lovely companion Nathalie Doucet
At the end of the summer, a jury made up of food critics, writers and connoisseurs will award 3 prizes: a Grand Prize to the chef whose dish was the most popular; a prize awarded by the jury for the most innovative and creative dish; and the “BALNEA people’s choice prize” awarded to the dish that will gather the most votes from the consumers so your vote counts!
I was invited to the media launch of L’Été des chefs where each of the guest chefs created delicious miniature versions with the essence of what their final dishes will be.
Bouchées by: Stelio Perombelon / Pâtisserie Rhubarbe / Helena Loureiro / François Blais
Take a look at the impressive line-up of participating chefs:
- Damian Sansonnetti – Bar Boulud, New York
- Helena Loureiro – Portus Calle & Helena, Montreal
- S’Arto Otis Chartier – Les Enfants Terribles, Montreal
- François Blais – Bistro , Quebec
- Nick Hodge – Kitchenette & Icehouse, Montreal
- Martin Juneau – Pastaga, Montreal
- François Côté – L’impérial, Granby
- Éric Gonzalez – L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel, Montreal
- Éloi Dion – Van Horne, Montreal
- Stelio Perombelon – Sinclair, Montreal
Chef Eric Gonzalez and sous chef Stéphane Galibert
Martin Juneau of Pastaga with a miniature version of his dish
I don’t know about you, but spending the day in my bikini at a gorgeous spa location while enjoying an amazing culinary experience is my kind of summer fun and I look forward to spending a couple of Sundays lounging around BALNEA’s beautiful baths, spas and lake front.
Beautiful Balnea Spa
For more information on this great bikini-clad culinary experience or to find out more about the BALNEA’s summer schedule of chef appearances, take a look at l‘Été des chefs’s website here.
BALNEA spa, thermal experience
319 Chemin Lac Gale
Bromont-sur-le-lac, Quebec
+1 450 534 0604
Opening Hours:
Monday: 11am – 8pm
Tuesday: Closed (open during the summer)
Wednesday: 11am – 8pm
Thursday – Sunday: 10:30am – 9pm
Balnea offers a new bus service from Montreal to the spa for an additional $20
Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays
Departure: 10:30am from Berri-UQAM (Montreal) and 10:45am from Longueuil
Return: 7pm to Longueuil and 7:15pm to Berri-UQAM
