The community TV channel has offered the opportunity for Frederique and Olivier to present their restaurant. Olivier participates frequently to cooking series where he reveals some of his secrets.

Quebec- Mont Tremblant

Patrons are"lucky" ones at new Quebec restaurant

Le Cheval de Jade cut above the rest
- Owners praised for their service

Saint Jovite, Quebec. - When a chef is so selective about the fish he uses in his Marseilles-style bouillabaisse that he has it flown in from France, you know that you are in for a special treat. Such is the case of Le cheval de Jade, a little restaurant tucked in at the end of the main street of Mont-Tremblant's gateway town of Saint-Jovite- the realization of a dream for husband and wife team Olivier Tali and Frederique Pironneau.
"The fish from the Mediterranean is the best, so there is no other way," said Tali.

Named Le Cheval to symbolize the wild horses of their native France and de Jade after the dark coloured stone found in the Laurentian Moutains of their new homeland, the quaint restaurant serves up some of the best fish dishes served anywhere.

"The name brings together the freedom to prepare food the way we feel it should be prepared and jade is said to bring luck" said Frederique.
Line and Pete, my old school friends were visiting from North Wales, U.K. and had joined my husband John and I at Mont-Tremblant during our visit there earlier this fall, so we wanted to make dinner on our last night an extra special occasion.

We chose Le Cheval de Jade and it turned out to be a lucky choice.
A good restaurant, a really good restaurant that isn't booked up months in advance is a rare find.

When that restaurant is in a town close to a major tourist destination drawing tens of thousands of a visitors a year, it seems nothing short of a miracle that they can almost always fit you in if you call a few hours ahead. Such is the case at Le Cheval de Jade.

But it' s a situation that surely won't last as word continues to spread about the exceptional food and hospitality served up by the husband and wife team.

After a day on the Mont-Tremblant hills-hiking in our case-the dark green walls, lace curtains, crisp white tablecloths and the well-groomed waiters were a welcome change.

Pironneau oversees the impeccable service in the 34-seat dinning room, while Tali, 38, who at 16 began his training under the great chefs of Montpellier in the Herault region of southern France, creates some of the best fish dishes served anywhere.

Pironneau, who is from the Loire region of France, has perfected her English working with the wine waiters in many of the dining rooms of the Mont-tremblant area.

She translates for her husband whose focus on arriving in Canada was sharpening his culinary management skills by working as a second chef in various regional restaurants.

In the summer of 1999, they took the plunge and spent their life savings and bought a converted house at 688 rue de Saint-Jovite on the far end of town. Slowly and surely, they have built up a reputation for excellence and also have netted numerous awards for the quality of service.

We decided to push the boat out and try the Gastronomic Menu, a seven-course extravaganza, which when all was said and done was excellent value for $155 for two.

The meal began with seared foie gras in a pear and port wine sauce, followed by smoked salmon with avocado ice cream. The highlight of the meal was watching Tali flambé the tiger prawns before adding a dash of his precious fish stock made from the fish flown in the day before from the Mediterranean, he explained.

A duck breast served in a raspberry and green pepper sauce was followed by a venison course , the meal rounded off with a selection of Quebec cheeses and a dessert platter to die for. Main courses on the à la carte menu range from $26 for a salmon filet with a fennel anise sauce to $32 for red tuna in sea-weed, rice vinegar and sesame seed sauce.

There is, of course, a good wine list and Pironneau will make suggestions for wines to complement each course.
There are plenty of great restaurants at the Intrawest Village at Mont-Tremblant ski resort, but for a change of scenery, Saint-Jovite and its quaint restaurants is only a 15-minute drive away by car. There is an excellent transit system in the area that costs about $1 for one-way rides.

Roberta Avery - Toronto Star, saturday, november 13, 2004

Gallagher's Travels

The French restaurant, Le Cheval de Jade (The Jade Horse), is in a charmingly renovated farmhouse in the neighboring town of St.Jovite, about a 15-minute drive from Le Grand Lodge. Originally built in 1925, the house's burnished wood floors and walls give it a warm, inviting atmosphere. Paintings by local artists adorn the walls. Double hung windows with lace curtains, and soft jazz playing in the background round out the atmosphere. The restaurant is the pride and joy of two young chefs, Frederique Pironneau and her husband,Olivier Tali, who moved to Quebec from a small town in France and opened Le Cheval de Jade in 1999. Winners of Quebec's top restaurant prize, the Table d'Or or " Gold Table" award in 2003, Frederique and Olivier specialize in seafood, foie gras, and dishes made from locally grown meats and vegetables. Their free-range chicken and organic vegetables come from a nearby farm.

by Kay halpern and Len Rickman, 2003

Ultimate ski holiday

There are a variety of restaurants situated in the alpine village, but just a short drive or bus ride away (the tremblant area now offers an excellent transit system that costs just 1$ for one-way rides) you get some unbelievable meals at quaint restaurants like Le Cheval de Jade at 688 Rue de Saint-Jovite (the town of Saint-Jovite was recently incorporated into Mont-Tremblant). Le charming Frédérique Pironneau and her husband Olivier Tali are your hosts at Le Cheval de Jade and their fish creations are some of the best you'll ever taste.

Mark Atchison, Toronto Star, january 25th, 2003

Olivier Tali

Sun from the South of France on Your plate!

It is in Montpellier, a lovely city in the Hérault region, South of France, that young Olivier Tali saw the sun for the first time! He discovered the taste of things in his grandparents’ garden, biting into sun-drenched tomatoes, smelling basil, wild thyme and lavender. He was 16 years old when he decided to learn to be a cook alongside the great chefs in his region. His passion revealed, he studied in the “Ecole hôtelière de Gignac” for one year. He got his CAP (professional certificate) in 1988. He improved his skills during a period of apprenticeship with professionals. The mediterranean Sea being only two steps away, he naturally learned to cook fish. To continue learning, he left for Québec in 1995 and settled here in Mont-Tremblant. For three years, he was second chef at “Aux Truffes” restaurant and then became second chef at “La Forge” restaurant. He finally met his companion, Frédérique, and together they opened “Le Cheval de Jade” on June 26, 1999.

Olivier’s clients are his priority. He wants to give them the best, superior quality. He visits every table himself to speak directly to his clients, inquiring about any possible allergies. He chooses to favour organic local produce and so he encourages the development of such producers in the Laurentians. One exception is the fish that he needs to prepare his speciality, “bouillabaisse”. It comes from France, delivered by airplane. Olivier keeps an eye on everything - from fish broths to desserts. Everything is prepared at the restaurant and he changes menus each season.

By conviction, he is a member of the “Société des chefs cuisiniers et pâtissiers du Québec” and the “Corporation de la cuisine régionale”.
An address where one can consume without reserve!

PARTICULARITIES :
Paradoxically, this son of the sun who loves the water also adores dog sled rides in winter. He even owns a husky. In spring and fall, whenever he has a chance, he goes out to pick mushrooms. He is also quite capable with woods and irons on the greens of the region!

Saint-Jovite rejuvenated

Tremblant development brings new life to Laurentian town

Saint-Jovite - With the development of Mont-Tremblant into a four-season resort that attracts tens of thousands of visitors a year from all over the world, the gateway town of Saint-Jovite is experiencing a revival as well.
Saint-Jovite is a small enough town to wonder around on foot, and there are a number of notable sites, historic and otherwise.

There are a few exciting new restaurants that will dramatically improve the food scene in town. One is the Cheval de Jade at 688 Ouimet St., an haute-cuisine dining room specializing in fish and flambéed dishes; it is perhaps the fanciest restaurant in the northern Laurentians. It's owned by a determined, talented young couple, Frederique Pironneau and Olivier Tali, who both come from France and have worked at fine establishment.
Indoors, le Cheval de Jade is rather formal and refined. Dark-green walls are a backdrop for white-lace curtains, white tablecloths and china, as well as the lanscapes of Local artist Serge Dubreuil. Outdoors, a cheery yellow-and-white canopy shields a sizable terrace and dinner is served outside on fine evenings.

Le Cheval de Jade takes its bouillabaise very seriously, and the menu begins with a long poem that doubles as a recipe ($26, or $33 with a half-lobster). The menu includes appetizers like fish soup ($7) and a fisherman's salad ($6), and main courses like shrimp sautéed in whisky butter ($25), scallops stuffed with a Florentine mousse ($26), and classic non-fish French dishes like rack of lamb and duck breast. Desserts ($5 to $7) include crème brulée, tarte tatin with maple syrup and an unusual strawberry soup with mint-tea granité. Phone (819) 425-5233.

Rochelle Lash, THE GAZETTE, MONTREAL, THRUSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1999

Book now by calling
(819) 425-JADE
(819) 425-5233
lechevaldejade@qc.aira.com