On the Spice Road with Ethné and Philippe

Épices de Cru is first and foremost an ongoing story of travel, good food and gatherings. Ethné and Philippe de Vienne, partners in life as well as in business, had their own catering business and traveled the world in search of new flavours. Returning home with their luggage full of colourful spices and fragrant teas, they sold their surplus to their circle of friends and colleagues. One day, kind friends strongly advised them to do something more official: the spice blend venture Épices de Cru was born.

It took an appearance on the television show À la di Stasio to really launch them into the spice business: "It had a snowball effect," said Ethné and Philippe. "The phone rang for two weeks." The creators then realized that they were meeting a real need for exploration in people. They met that need first in Quebec and then far and wide around the world.

Fostering feedback

 Cooking and spices connect people and cultures. The couple remembers their early years at Jean-Talon Market, where customers would tell them how a certain spice affected their surroundings, or that they used to come to the market with their parents to buy live chickens! From the city’s earliest days, the Port has made Montreal an open, curious city, full of stories to share over a good meal.

Montreal, a gourmet city

Thanks to their Port, Quebecers, especially those in Greater Montreal, can taste every flavour in the world. You only have to stroll through the different urban areas or go online to order in a meal to see the culinary array the city has to offer. Indian, Asian, Mediterranean, Afghani, French... You'll find whatever delicious traditional cuisine you feel like thanks to the food and spices that arrive via the Port of Montreal. In the case of Épices de Cru, nearly 400 spices and spice blends are available province-wide and even internationally!

Thanks to their Port, Quebecers, especially those in Greater Montreal, can taste every flavour in the world.

Nosing into other people's spices

 For novices who want to incorporate one or more new spices into their cooking, don't waste your precious time analyzing labels, the experts tell us. Their advice? Just smell them! Nothing is more effective than our own nose to learn if we like a spice or not. "People have the ability to decide for themselves what they like.”

So, the next time you step outside to enjoy the fragrant air of the St. Lawrence River at the Port of Montreal, visit one of the 100 Épices de Cru outlets to discover your new favourite spice blend!