Les Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise: The 2026 Winners
In Quebec, few events bring the restaurant industry together quite like the Gala Les Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise. Now in its eighth edition and firmly established as the annual gathering for Quebec gastronomy, the event crowned 17 new laureates Monday evening at Salle Pierre-Mercure of the Centre Pierre-Péladeau, right in the heart of the Quartier latin. The 2026 vintage delivered its share of surprises, starting with an awards roster largely dominated by the regions — and an announcement that is already reshaping the future of the gala.
Hosted by chef Danny St Pierre and conceived under the artistic direction of Nicolas Fonseca, the evening continued at the Studio-Cabaret of Espace St-Denis, where finalists and previous years’ laureates rolled out bites and creations. Chaired this year by François-Emmanuel Nicol (Tanière³), the jury made its decisions alongside the Brigade des Lauriers, the vast college of thousands of professionals spread across every corner of Quebec. The mayor of Montreal, Minister Chantal Rouleau, and Quebec City mayor Bruno Marchand were all in attendance, the latter on hand to announce a major piece of news: starting in 2027, the Lauriers gala will leave Montreal for Quebec City, then alternate between the two cities every two years. A move that aligns the event with what the rankings themselves were already showing.
The Winners
The top title of Restaurant of the Year goes to Microbrasserie Le Presbytère, in Saint-Stanislas-de-Champlain. Set in the village’s former presbytery, the house run by chef Isabelle Dupuis and brewer Francis Boisvert builds its identity around Mauricie forest foraging, in-house beers that change with the seasons, and a seven-course tasting menu — making it the first address in the region to hold the Bleu Fourchette certification. The Chef of the Year prize goes to Samy Benabed of L’Auberge Saint-Mathieu, who continues his upward trajectory: Lauriers Révélation in 2023, Michelin Green Star in 2025, and now this recognition for his Nordic-inspired cooking rooted in Mauricie terroir. Kamouraska, for its part, sweeps four categories: Cantine (La Cantina), Brewer (Tête d’Allumette), Gastronomic Event (Festival des champignons forestiers), and Gastronomic Tourism (Mycomigrateur, Côté Est).
In the capital region, pastry chefs Olivier Verdot and Rachel Parenteau (Chouquette), mixologist Samuel Tremblay (jjacques), and food incubator Mycélium — based at the Grand Marché de Québec — all stood out. Montreal is far from absent: William Sirois, 29, leading the brigade at Le Mousso, is named Révélation of the Year. Marie-Josée Beaudoin, of Sabayon, takes the Best Service prize, and Hugo Duchesne (Hoogan et Beaufort, Annette bar-à-vin) is crowned Sommelier. The Culinary Culture Outreach award goes to Normand Laprise of Toqué!, a founding figure of contemporary Quebec cuisine, while broadcaster and author Geneviève O’Gleman walks away with the People’s Laurier. On the drinks side, the Winemaker of the Year title goes to Zaché Hall, of Domaine de l’Espiègle in Dunham.
More than a list of winners, this edition of the Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise paints the portrait of a Quebec gastronomy rooted in its regions, connected to its cities, and capable of reinventing itself plate after plate. With a course already set for Quebec City in 2027, the Lauriers establish themselves less as a simple gala than as a true barometer of our culinary culture.
Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
