On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story

The exhibition was created with the help of a number of partners including, the ITHQ, La Table Ronde and Radio Canada; a scientific committee composed of experts in the history and sociology of Montreal dining; and a scientific consultant, Gwenaëlle Reyt, PhD, Executive Director, Lauriers de la gastronomie québécoise, Counsellor on Food Cultural Approaches at the Conseil des Appellations Réservées et des Termes Valorisants (CARTV), Lecturer and Researcher (ITHQ).

Scientific Committee:

• Roxanne Arsenault, co-author of Kitsch QC (Montreal: Fides, 2021), Director of Artistic Programming, Battat Art Centre
• Julia Csergo, PhD, researcher in the history of food and food heritage, adjunct professor in the Department of Urban Studies and Tourism, ESG UQAM
• Caroline Dubuc, co-author of Kitsch QC (Montreal: Fides, 2021), Design Commissioner, City of Montreal Bureau du design
• Alain Girard, PhD, sociologist, associate professor and researcher, ITHQ – GastronomiQC Lab
• Laurence Hamel-Charest, PhD, anthropologist, researcher in Indigenous food cultures, notably restaurants
• Alan Nash, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University, research topics: cultural geography, Montreal restaurants
• Patrick St-Vincent, Senior Director, Development Strategy and Business Relations, La Table Ronde

During the exhibition’s run, there will be numerous collaborations with the city’s major gourmet events, like MTLàTABLE and Montréal en Lumière.

In addition to acting as a major media partner for the exhibition, Radio-Canada has provided access to its precious archives, sharing a selection audiovisual materials that have enriched the exhibition content.

“We believe that cuisine involves much more than simply living well—it is a language of love, a way of welcoming others and creating connection and memories. As a family that is passionate about food and hospitality, we felt that supporting On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story was an obvious choice. It is our way of celebrating a city that inspires us and that has always revealed itself through its restaurants.”

— Alex, Olivia and Victoria Ionescu, the OVI Fund – Ionescu Family Foundation, Presenting Partner

Since our founding in Montreal, Lightspeed has been proud to support the restaurateurs and business owners who embody the creativity, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit that define this city. Montreal’s rich culinary culture is recognized around the world, and it continues to inspire us every day.

We’re honoured to collaborate with the McCord Stewart Museum to celebrate this living heritage and to pay tribute to those whose talent, passion, and innovation have helped shape Montréal’s vibrant gastronomic identity.

— Dax Dasilva, Founder and CEO, Lightspeed

“The McCord Stewart Museum’s exhibition reminds us how our identity is rooted, in part, in our cuisine. Founded following Expo 67, which opened Quebec up to the world and its many flavours, the ITHQ has gone on to train over 17,000 graduates that have showcased our expertise and our creativity, notably by shaping our restaurants. It was only natural for the ITHQ to become a partner for this exhibition: it celebrates the same passion and spirit of knowledge transfer that guides us, while promoting the living heritage and history of a city that must be tasted as well as experienced.”

– The Honourable Liza Frulla, CEO and Director of the ITHQ, Institutional Partner of the exhibition

“Montréal en lumière is a celebration of Montreal’s food scene. The exhibition On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story fits perfectly with this goal of promoting the gourmet spirit of our city, and it will help set the tone for a unique, surprise-filled program.”

– Patrick Bigras, Senior Vice-President, Hospitality, Groupe CH

“Montreal has long been a culinary capital in North America, thanks to its rich heritage, joyful spirit, warm hospitality and diverse talent. For decades, the city has been known for its bold, vibrant food culture, which is deeply rooted in its identity. This exhibition is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to celebrate this exceptional know-how that continues to make Montreal’s influence felt across Canada and the world.”

– Debbie Zakaib, Director, La Table Ronde

Project Management: Catherine K. Laflamme, Senior Project Manager, Exhibitions

Curatorship: Guislaine Lemay, Curator, Material Culture

Scientific Consulting: Gwenaëlle Reyt, PhD, Executive Director, Lauriers de la gastronomie québécoise, Counsellor on Food Cultural Approaches (CARTV), Lecturer and Researcher (ITHQ)

Scenario: Olivier Kemeid – with the assistance of Gwenaëlle Reyt, Guislaine Lemay, Catherine K. Laflamme and Annie-Pier Brunelle

Exhibition Texts: Olivier Kemeid

Audiovisual Elements: Stéphanie Poisson, Head, Digital Outreach, Collections and Exhibitions

Exhibition Design: Guillaume Kukucka

Graphic Design: David Martin

Exhibition Photography: Laura Dumitriu, Senior Photographer, and Scott Usheroff (@cravingcurator)

This exhibition was made possible thanks to the financial support of Tourisme Montréal.

Mindful of environmental issues and convinced that museums have a role to play in the transition to a more sustainable future, the McCord Stewart Museum has set itself the goal of minimizing the amount of waste produced by its exhibitions. When the exhibition On the Menu – Montreal: A Restaurant Story was in the planning stages, the Museum developed strategies to reduce its environmental impact that were implemented during production. For example, the Museum’s existing stock of materials provided most of the elements used in the exhibition design: picture rails, benches, exhibition supports, and most of the display cases, with just one case purpose-built for the project. Decorative furnishings like counters and tabletops were created for the exhibition, but these new structures will be added to the Museum’s inventory for use in future exhibitions. Decorative items were purchased second hand.

All of the multimedia equipment used in the exhibition (screens, projectors, headphones, sound monitors and computers) came from the Museum’s inventory.

The exhibition texts were printed on new self-adhesive vinyl, as were the striped wallpaper and some of the labels.

In accordance with the Museum’s Sustainable Development Policy, community involvement was vital to this project as it focussed on inclusion, collaboration and local knowledge. The Museum invited both the public and its staff to help by collecting objects, such as cooking pots, and sharing their memories of Montreal restaurants.

Furthermore, members of the restaurant sector played a prominent role in developing the exhibition content by contributing personal stories, insights, and viewpoints, which has greatly enriched the museum experience. This participatory approach has helped strengthen the ties between the Museum and the Montreal restaurant community, while encouraging the reuse and promotion of local resources and knowledge.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 5:30 pm (in French) – 7:00 pm (in English)

Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 6:00-7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 6:00-7:30 pm

Regular opening hours
Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, except for Wednesday (10 am to 9 pm)

Summer hours (June 29 to September 7, 2026)

Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, except for Wednesday (10 am to 9 pm)

Special opening hours:

Online ticketing (+$2 at the door): Adults: $20 | Seniors: $19 | Students (18 to 30): $15 | Indigenous persons: free | 17 and under: free*

Wednesday evenings: free (3rd-floor exhibition and permanent exhibition) or $10 online (+$2 at the door) (2nd-floor exhibitions, including On the Menu).

First Sunday of the month: Pay what you can.

The McCord Stewart Museum would like to thank BMO Financial Group for the free Wednesday evenings, the Fondation J.A. DeSève for free admission for children aged 12 and under, the Rossy Foundation for free admission for young people aged 13 to 17, and the Azrieli Foundation for their generous contribution to the accessibility program on the first Sunday of every month.

*Free admission for ages 17 and under on presentation of ID. Offer valid for general public visits only. Groups of more than 15 people and organized groups must refer to the group rates.

*Free for children 12 and under. Maximum of three children per adult. Offer valid for general public visits only. Organized groups must refer to the group rates.

A landmark in the heart of Montreal for over 100 years, the McCord Stewart Museum bears witness to the history of Quebec’s metropolis as well as its influence in Canada and around the world, celebrating the vitality, creativity and diversity of the communities that make it up.  

The Museum amplifies their voices by interpreting and disseminating the remarkable heritage under its custody: six expansive collections of 3.2 million images, objects, documents and works of art that make it one of North America’s leading museums.  

In keeping with its commitment to decolonization and sustainable development, it creates stimulating exhibitions and educational, cultural and community-engagement activities that look at the social history and contemporary issues affecting its audiences through a critical and inclusive lens, inspiring them to take action for a fairer society. 

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Press release WORD

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