Les Rendez-vous Gourmands take over the whole month of September at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Les Rendez-vous Gourmands, presented by Loto-Québec, return to Parc Jean-Drapeau for a third edition, from September 4 to 27, 2026. New format this year: four themed weekends in a row at the Jardins des Floralies, each with its own chefs and its own atmosphere. The BBQ kicks things off, the 88 Asian festival takes over, then Oktoberfest de Montréal closes out the month over two weekends.

Seven chefs, seven fires: Le Grand Grill

From September 4 to 7, the park’s signature event puts live-fire cooking front and centre with seven counters run by Montreal chefs. The Passeport Gourmand ($85) is back: it gives access to one exclusive creation per counter and a priority line.

3 Pierres 1 Feu (Americas BBQ), chef Paul Toussaint: jerk shrimp, sweet potato purée, and pikliz.

Boom J’s, chef Jermaine Wallace: ackee and saltfish, a tribute to Jamaica.

Pavillon 67 (Casino), chef Jonathan Legris: corn ice cream, lime mascarpone, grilled waffle, and Anicet summer honey.

Brasserie du TNM, chefs Martin Juneau, Anis Mouldi, and Jean-Philippe Gauthier: smoked beef brisket sandwich, BBQ sauce, pickled cabbage, and potato salad.

Patagonia BBQ, chefs Martin Pechuan and Roque Rivero: lengua a la parrilla, fresh herbs, and country-style salad.

Boucherie Capitol, chef Gilles Tolen: suya chicken wings, Maggi sauce, and peanuts.

Groupe Burgundy Lion, chef Michel Childe: bangers and mash, house-made sausage, and Scotch sauce.

One product, one chef: the workshops on the Les Découvertes Loto-Québec stage

Over the three days, the Les Découvertes Loto-Québec stage hosts 45-minute workshops, programmed by the Tastet team and hosted by Jean-Philippe Tastet, renowned restaurant critic and food columnist with more than 30 years of experience, and a member of Tastet.

Each chef arrives with a seasonal product and a precise idea. Simon Lachapelle (Juliette Plaza) works with tomato. Anna Maria Vinci brings three together (tomato, potato, and mint) in a culurgione, the hand-folded Sardinian fresh pasta. Michel Lim (Mangedansmonhood) builds a grilled tartare around lemongrass, Khmer flavours, and sea buckthorn. Karine Beauchamp (ITHQ) grills her corn with salted butter, house-made ranch sauce, grated Louis d’Or, and garlic panko. Thierry Tri-Du-Boisclair (Regashi) puts leek vinaigrette back in the spotlight, Charlotte Maurin (Croquette) turns blueberries into a brick-pastry tartlet, and head bartender Lori Chiaradia (Moccione) milk-washes a Cirka whisky cocktail, saving the curds to turn into a gelato. Chef Oli rounds out Monday’s programming with a tuna crudo served with corn.

Workshop schedule

Saturday, September 5: 1 p.m. (Michel Lim), 2:30 p.m. (Anna Maria Vinci), 4 p.m. (Lori Chiaradia).

Sunday, September 6: 1 p.m. (corn-themed activity – segment hosted by Jean-Philippe Tastet), 2:30 p.m. (Thierry Tri-Du-Boisclair), 4 p.m. (Charlotte Maurin).

Monday, September 7: 1 p.m. (Karine Beauchamp), 2:30 p.m. (chef Oli), 4 p.m. (Simon Lachapelle).

Lanterns, beer, and a biergarten for the rest of the month

From September 11 to 13, the 88 (Huit-Huit) festival settles in for three days, born of a collaboration between the Asian Night Market and Asiasie: street food, carnival games, and a lantern release at sunset every evening.

From September 18 to 20 and 25 to 27, Oktoberfest de Montréal, presented by Krombacher and produced by Conviv, turns the site into a biergarten. A large immersive tent, live brass bands, more than 30 shows, around ten restaurateurs revisiting Bavarian classics, a Choucroute Party, and more than 100 beers served by some 20 breweries. Free admission, with an experience passport available on site.

The Jardins des Floralies are establishing themselves as the park’s gourmet hub, following the arrival of the Buvette des Floralies earlier this summer. The Mosaïcultures give one more reason to extend the visit.

Good to know

📅 Dates: September 4 to 27, 2026

📍 Location: Jardins des Floralies, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Île Notre-Dame

💰 Price: free admission. Le Grand Grill’s Passeport Gourmand: $85. Experience passport at Oktoberfest.

⏰ Hours: Le Grand Grill, Friday, September 4, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, noon to 9 p.m.; Monday, September 7, noon to 7 p.m. 88 (Huit-Huit), September 11 to 13, noon to 9 p.m. Oktoberfest, Fridays 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

🔗 More info: parcjeandrapeau.com

Four gourmet weekends in September at the Jardins des Floralies: BBQ from seven Montreal chefs, the 88 Asian festival, and Oktoberfest de Montréal.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Myriam Baril Tessier