Previous exhibition
June 6th, 2019 — October 14th, 2019

Dinner is Served! The Story of French Cuisine

Annick Poirier, Colagene.com

In collaboration with

Desjardins

From June 6 to October 14, 2019

To celebrate the French gourmet meal—and bring to life this UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage—Pointe-à-Callière is devoting an entire exhibition to the inexhaustible and delectable subject of French cuisine. The exhibition Dinner is Served! The Story of French Cuisine takes you on a journey across centuries as you explore the particularities of the French meal—from its ingredients to the know-how of its artisans, its specialities, its traditions, and its current trends. You’ll get to meet political figures, artists, and great chefs who have shaped or even revolutionized the country’s cuisine, as you admire close to a thousand exceptional objects relating to the culinary arts.

When was the fork first introduced? What’s the difference between service à la française and service à la russe? How did a guide originally geared to motorists become the foremost reference on the quality of gourmet restaurants? How have chefs risen to the ranks of celebrity? Foodies, seasoned and amateur cooks, and fans of the culinary arts will satisfy their curiosity and gain a better understanding of how important French gastronomic heritage is to our cuisine here at home and around the world.

An exhibition to be savoured slowly, as you contemplate and appreciate all of the richness of France’s culinary culture…

« Une exposition festive, interactive et appétissante »,
Sylvie St-Jacques, Le Devoir

« C’est extraordinaire, c’est tellement bien fait, ça vaut vraiment la peine », Lesley Chesterman, Radio-Canada

« Si vous ne deviez voir qu’une seule exposition cette année, je vous la recommande vraiment, vous en ressortirez éblouis par tant de beauté », Thierry Daraize, Le Journal de Montréal

Photo: Caroline Thibault
Photo: Caroline Thibault
Photo: Caroline Thibault

The French gastronomic meal on Instagram
During the exhibition Dinner is Served! The Story of French Cuisine, Pointe-à-Callière, TV5 Québec Canada and TV5MONDE will offer special content on the exhibition with a series of weekly Instagram stories. Discover intriguing objects from French cuisine, cooking idioms, historical anecdotes, and French recipes from every time period. Follow @pointeacalliere, @tv5.ca or @tv5monde from June 6 to October 13 to make delicious discoveries!

Le Festival YUL EAT and Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex are gladly pairing up as part of the exhibition Dinner is Served! The Story of French Cuisine to offer you a chance to win tickets for the Museum as well as tickets for the Festival's Grand Testing experience from September 9 to 15, 2019. Follow Pointe-à-Callière on Facebook or sign up to receive the newsletter and be sure not to miss our contests!

Dinner is Served! The Story of French Cuisine is a Pointe-à-Callière exhibition, with the extraordinary participation of the Musée national de céramique and the Musée national Adrien Dubouché – Cité de la céramique, Sèvres et Limoges.

The Museum also wishes to thank several lenders for their participation in the exhibition including:

Jennifer Morton Collection
Collection palais des ducs de Lorraine – Musée lorrain, Nancy
Cristallerie de Saint-Louis
Écouen, musée national de la Renaissance
Hôtel Rive Gauche-Refuge Gourmand, Beloeil
Intercontinental
Hermès, Paris
Laboratoire et Réserve d’archéologie du Québec, Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec

Mobilier national
Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris
Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge
Musée du Louvre
Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Musée Grévin de Montréal
Stewart Museum, Montréal
Paris, musée des Arts décoratifs
Christofle Heritage

and contributors La Cité du Vin-Bordeaux, France, Mucem, Épices de cru and Flore.

In collaboration with

La Presse

The Museum thanks its partners:

Air Canada Cargo
Tourisme Montréal
InterContinental Montréal
TV5
ITHQ