September 1st: Continued: Chateau Frontenac Adventure
'Rocky' Goes To The Boardwalk
It seemed like a boxing match it did, trying to figure out who was going to win the traffic match coming back. However, Sharon fought her way over all sorts of obstacles that day to get us safely to the meeting with Richard Seguin who we thought would never see again the night before. Richard had this great idea of meeting under the shadow of the great Chateau Frontenac.
We met and then the brainstorms hit! Richard said, "Why not go up there?" He pointed to the outdoor patio style cafe extension of the Frontenac Restaurant "Le Champlain" with a great view of the St. Lawrence River. Up we went to the Chateau.
As we walked up I could not help but be in awe of the fantastic history of this World Renowned Hotel that I had heard of even when I was a younger---much younger----person.
History
Ever since William van Horne, President of Canadian Pacific Railways decided to build it in 1893 this hotel has been a draw to many famous people, politicians, musicians, film stars and sports personalities. In fact, the daughter of its architect, Bruce Price, was none other than Emily Post. The coat-of-arms of its namesake, Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac can be seen in many areas of the 679 room hotel. He was a Knight of Malta (having led a command against a Turkish attack on Crete for the Knights of St. Jean/Malta) as indicated on a 300 year old stone of the hotel's vaulted lobby.
Many historic figures have made the hotel their place of residence while visiting Quebec. King George VI and his Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, William Lyon Mackenzie, Ronald Reagan, Charles De Gaulle, Charlie Chaplin, James Cagney and Anthony Quinn all stayed there and more recently, the likes of Paul McCartney, Angela Jolie, Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio visited its halls.
The Interview(s)
I certainly realized that I was in very historic and famous walls when we entered and made our way to the restaurant. Richard suggested that we sit by the window overlooking the river. From the window we could see the two large ferries taking vehicles across the mighty river. One was coming while the other was going and vice verse----each loaded with passengers and cars.
We were next to the Terrace Cafe and conducted the interview sitting down and having a glass of wine. Again we opted for Quebec wine from a vineyard called "Orpailleur". This time it was the white.
During the interview we spoke about Quebec Tourism and the numbers of people who migrate as tourists every year. We spoke about the extent to which the government of Quebec City goes to make sure that the city continues to attract tourists as well as to keep it attractive. Finally we spoke about the outreach of Quebec Tourism which allows its representatives to go abroad to market the region to other countries.
Just as the interview was winding down, Executive Chef Jean Soulard came over and introduced himself. This was a veritable coupe. We arranged to have an interview with him and he suggested the roof top. We went to the very top of Chateau Frontenac, some 200 feet up above the ground level or Boardwalk. There this amazing chef who was/is considered on of Canada's best if not the best, showed us his surprise. His private garden was there consisting of four bee hives, a hen house with five hens, a large variety of herbs and flowers.
Executive Chef Jean Soulard
A fellow who likes to jog every morning and then sits quietly pondering his day's work best described Jean Soulard's idea of his favourite time of the day. This humble and ingratiating person was the first Canadian to be awarded "Maitre cuisinier de France" and has been with the Chateau for eighteen years. Born in La Gaubretiere, France he learned to value natural things and nature itself. He learned that local was best---something that has been making a strong comeback in many areas of the world. He got his practical experience in various hotels all over the globe and has worked under the best chefs anywhere. He has authored seven books on the subject as well as frequently being on television and radio.
Where would he find the time to manage and oversee a four kitchen hotel making 3000 meals a day in addition to a catering service and banquet halls?? Fact was/is that he does so and does so well. His concern with health, good eating and local food sources have been in keeping with the hotel's environmental strategies.
Meeting Genevieve Parent
In addition to Jean Soulard, we had the pleasure of meeting Genevieve Parent, the Director of Public Relations for the hotel. "I look forward to coming to work every day because I am in love with this hotel", she said, "I have always wanted to work here and even when employed elsewhere, my dream was to work at Chateau Frontenac!" Ms. Parent went on to talk about the relationship and commitment of staff and management to the hotel and the hotel to them. She seemed alive and very satisfied. It was so nice to see.
Obliged To Nature And The World!
The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac was awarded the "Four Green Key Rating" from the Hotel Association of Canada for hotels that have shown committed national industry leadership to protecting the environment as well as ReserVert for the sustainable development of the Quebec hotel industry. In addition, the hotel supports the conservation of animal life in animal adoption programs (such as adopting Beluga Whales, having a canine ambassador and supporting a Polar Bear) and protecting the Saint-Lawrence Maritime Environment.
What Has This All To Do With Wine???!!!!
The series is called "Two In A Vineyard"! So why all this about a hotel, its history and the environment. Why the Chef and Public Relations interview? Why the local stuff??
The answer is that we live in a global vacuum. I believe that everything we do on this planet affects the rest of it. I believe in the the theory that dropping a pebble on one side of the ocean will eventually create a ripple on the other shore. Thus I see my passion of wine as being a hub of a large wagon wheel with all the spokes being the various related (and some unrelated items) reciprocally affecting its nature and it theirs. I have said many times that a world that is unbalanced can only unbalance its cohabitants. We are seen some of this now with climate change and already many wine making countries are concerned with the effect of this on their vines.
I see many atrocities around the world. In the middle of an ocean, thousands of miles from anywhere there are floating gobs of plastic and plastic line where animals of all kinds are being entangled and die a horrible death. Jungles are being destroyed. Human habitation is being threatened every day. "Two In A Vineyard" recognizes that what affects wine will also affect the world. I have always stated that: Wine is History! Wine is Geography! Wine is Science! Wine is Culture! Wine is People! This meaning is as true today for all its purposes as it was when I first said it!!!!!
End of Day Two (at 108)
It seemed like a boxing match it did, trying to figure out who was going to win the traffic match coming back. However, Sharon fought her way over all sorts of obstacles that day to get us safely to the meeting with Richard Seguin who we thought would never see again the night before. Richard had this great idea of meeting under the shadow of the great Chateau Frontenac.
We met and then the brainstorms hit! Richard said, "Why not go up there?" He pointed to the outdoor patio style cafe extension of the Frontenac Restaurant "Le Champlain" with a great view of the St. Lawrence River. Up we went to the Chateau.
As we walked up I could not help but be in awe of the fantastic history of this World Renowned Hotel that I had heard of even when I was a younger---much younger----person.
History
Ever since William van Horne, President of Canadian Pacific Railways decided to build it in 1893 this hotel has been a draw to many famous people, politicians, musicians, film stars and sports personalities. In fact, the daughter of its architect, Bruce Price, was none other than Emily Post. The coat-of-arms of its namesake, Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac can be seen in many areas of the 679 room hotel. He was a Knight of Malta (having led a command against a Turkish attack on Crete for the Knights of St. Jean/Malta) as indicated on a 300 year old stone of the hotel's vaulted lobby.
Many historic figures have made the hotel their place of residence while visiting Quebec. King George VI and his Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, William Lyon Mackenzie, Ronald Reagan, Charles De Gaulle, Charlie Chaplin, James Cagney and Anthony Quinn all stayed there and more recently, the likes of Paul McCartney, Angela Jolie, Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio visited its halls.
The Interview(s)
I certainly realized that I was in very historic and famous walls when we entered and made our way to the restaurant. Richard suggested that we sit by the window overlooking the river. From the window we could see the two large ferries taking vehicles across the mighty river. One was coming while the other was going and vice verse----each loaded with passengers and cars.
We were next to the Terrace Cafe and conducted the interview sitting down and having a glass of wine. Again we opted for Quebec wine from a vineyard called "Orpailleur". This time it was the white.
During the interview we spoke about Quebec Tourism and the numbers of people who migrate as tourists every year. We spoke about the extent to which the government of Quebec City goes to make sure that the city continues to attract tourists as well as to keep it attractive. Finally we spoke about the outreach of Quebec Tourism which allows its representatives to go abroad to market the region to other countries.
Just as the interview was winding down, Executive Chef Jean Soulard came over and introduced himself. This was a veritable coupe. We arranged to have an interview with him and he suggested the roof top. We went to the very top of Chateau Frontenac, some 200 feet up above the ground level or Boardwalk. There this amazing chef who was/is considered on of Canada's best if not the best, showed us his surprise. His private garden was there consisting of four bee hives, a hen house with five hens, a large variety of herbs and flowers.
Executive Chef Jean Soulard
A fellow who likes to jog every morning and then sits quietly pondering his day's work best described Jean Soulard's idea of his favourite time of the day. This humble and ingratiating person was the first Canadian to be awarded "Maitre cuisinier de France" and has been with the Chateau for eighteen years. Born in La Gaubretiere, France he learned to value natural things and nature itself. He learned that local was best---something that has been making a strong comeback in many areas of the world. He got his practical experience in various hotels all over the globe and has worked under the best chefs anywhere. He has authored seven books on the subject as well as frequently being on television and radio.
Where would he find the time to manage and oversee a four kitchen hotel making 3000 meals a day in addition to a catering service and banquet halls?? Fact was/is that he does so and does so well. His concern with health, good eating and local food sources have been in keeping with the hotel's environmental strategies.
Meeting Genevieve Parent
In addition to Jean Soulard, we had the pleasure of meeting Genevieve Parent, the Director of Public Relations for the hotel. "I look forward to coming to work every day because I am in love with this hotel", she said, "I have always wanted to work here and even when employed elsewhere, my dream was to work at Chateau Frontenac!" Ms. Parent went on to talk about the relationship and commitment of staff and management to the hotel and the hotel to them. She seemed alive and very satisfied. It was so nice to see.
Obliged To Nature And The World!
The Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac was awarded the "Four Green Key Rating" from the Hotel Association of Canada for hotels that have shown committed national industry leadership to protecting the environment as well as ReserVert for the sustainable development of the Quebec hotel industry. In addition, the hotel supports the conservation of animal life in animal adoption programs (such as adopting Beluga Whales, having a canine ambassador and supporting a Polar Bear) and protecting the Saint-Lawrence Maritime Environment.
What Has This All To Do With Wine???!!!!
The series is called "Two In A Vineyard"! So why all this about a hotel, its history and the environment. Why the Chef and Public Relations interview? Why the local stuff??
The answer is that we live in a global vacuum. I believe that everything we do on this planet affects the rest of it. I believe in the the theory that dropping a pebble on one side of the ocean will eventually create a ripple on the other shore. Thus I see my passion of wine as being a hub of a large wagon wheel with all the spokes being the various related (and some unrelated items) reciprocally affecting its nature and it theirs. I have said many times that a world that is unbalanced can only unbalance its cohabitants. We are seen some of this now with climate change and already many wine making countries are concerned with the effect of this on their vines.
I see many atrocities around the world. In the middle of an ocean, thousands of miles from anywhere there are floating gobs of plastic and plastic line where animals of all kinds are being entangled and die a horrible death. Jungles are being destroyed. Human habitation is being threatened every day. "Two In A Vineyard" recognizes that what affects wine will also affect the world. I have always stated that: Wine is History! Wine is Geography! Wine is Science! Wine is Culture! Wine is People! This meaning is as true today for all its purposes as it was when I first said it!!!!!
End of Day Two (at 108)
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 1:41 PM
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