It’s date night and the table is set and the candles are lit. It’s a night of birthday festivities and the kitchen island is laden with plates of hors d’oeuvres and charcuterie boards. It’s games night and the cards are set up on the table next to delectable snacks. There’s one thing in common with each of these gatherings: S.Pellegrino. When you include S.Pellegrino mineral sparkling water at your party, you’ll be fostering an inspiring, delightful and memorable food and drink experience for your guests to enjoy.
S.Pellegrino is a fine quality mineral water that flows from a unique single source natural spring nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps. You’ll see the iconic green bottle on all the best tables, from Michelin Star restaurants to your own dining room. S.Pellegrino’s unmistakable taste and perfect food pairing properties are appreciated by gourmands like you, and its signature gentle bubbles, subtle nuances and perfect mineral balance enhances the moments you have with the people you love the most.
No one understands more than S.Pellegrino about the importance of taste, inspiration and creativity than Chef Pierre-Olivier Pelletier; owner of Kebec Club Privé; Québec, QC and the winner of this year’s S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy’s Canadian Regional Finale. One of ten finalists, Pelletier created a unique signature dish that communicated his personal vision, skills and creativity. A true visionary, Pelletier used local Canadian ingredients to play creative supporting roles. He describes his winning signature dish, which is composed of many distinctive but complementary elements, as “a key representation of Canada and ingredients – including duck, carrots and cereal [crops] – used by Canadian families.” He named the dish Young Aged and Smocked Duck With Sweet Grass, Yellow Birch Syrup Lacquer With Crispy Cereal, Carotene Dressing, Roasted Cereal Gravy and “Verge d’Or”.
“I invented this dish in honour of the hard work of my father and mother,” says Pelletier. “I showcased cereal to pay homage to my father, who has long worked in the industry. My mom also comes through in the dish – [I used] carrots, a root vegetable she loved to grow in our backyard garden.” From supporting local growers and using their ingredients in inspiring and unique ways to honouring his family with this signature dish, Pelletier shares S.Pellegrino’s mandate to “connect with the communities close to our world [and to champion] the people who hold the future of taste in their hands.”
As intricate as his winning dish may be, Pelletier shares how its main ingredient – duck – can elevate holiday meals for the home chef. “I recommend swapping classic turkey for duck – like the one I used in my winning dish – [because it’s a tastier poultry],” he advises. “Use the legs to create a flavorful broth and cook the breasts on the bone so they remain juicy. Plus, it’s the best way to avoid last-minute grocery shopping – your duck should mature in the fridge for at least a week for optimal flavour development.”
Pelletier will be traveling to Milan in 2023 for the Global Grand Finale, where he’ll compete to win the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Award 2022-23. The Academy brings together colleagues and industry personalities to inspire and educate the next generation of culinary talent. As a result, S.Pellegrino is fulfilling its mission to create ultimate taste experiences while fostering a tasteful and sustainable fine food and drink culture for all to enjoy. Just like Pelletier, S.Pellegrino believes in the transformative power of gastronomy.
