NEWS FROM RIGHT HERE

September 11, 2026

The Banquet: Bringing District Central’s Harvests to the Table

260909_SDC_PMEMTL_BanquetSolidaire_COB_WEB-70

An Evening Where Urban Farms Were the Real Stars

On September 9, as part of the second edition of Fermes en ville, Esplanade Louvain was transformed into a large open-air banquet. More than 320 entrepreneurs, partners, businesses and members of the public gathered for a three-course menu created by Chef Antonin Mousseau-Rivard of Le Mousso, featuring ingredients grown or produced within 8 km of the site.

Co-organized by PME MTL Centre-Ouest and SDC District Central, the Banquet celebrated Montréal’s urban agriculture and the connections that bring together producers, businesses and food-industry stakeholders.

Following the success of the first edition, enthusiasm was once again high, with even more guests coming together to experience this unique event in the heart of District Central.

A Rainy Evening Filled with Warmth

The rain was definitely part of the evening - and in full force! - but it did nothing to dampen the mood. Under the tents, the evening remained warm, festive and welcoming.

Producers, entrepreneurs and partners gathered around the same table to celebrate, once again, what Montréal and District Central do with passion: produce, create and innovate.

With over 390,000 sq. ft. of cultivated area and 26 businesses, farms and organizations active in production, processing and marketing, District Central is home to Montréal’s largest urban agriculture hub.

The Banquet offered a tangible demonstration of what this ecosystem can make possible: within a radius of less than 8 km, products from several local producers can make their way from farm to table for more than 300 guests.

Antonin Mousseau-Rivard : A Culinary Show on Every Plate

Antonin Mousseau-Rivard brought his signature touch to the evening, transforming the harvests into a true feast for the eyes and the palate.

Guests were treated to impressive culinary techniques, from the cotton candy machine used for a starter featuring oyster mushrooms to liquid nitrogen to create the dessert.

This showcase of creativity brought the ingredients to life in an entirely new way, while keeping them where they belonged: at the heart of each dish.

From Farm to Table

Each dish brought a little taste of the territory that nourishes us: mushrooms, vegetables, microgreens, fresh herbs, edible flowers, Arctic char, cider, wine and coffee.

Behind every product is a farm, a producer and a wealth of know-how.

The District Central producers who contributed to the menu:

Atelier champignons Big Bloc — mushrooms
Cidre Sauvageon — cider
Combit — lalo
Collectif Super Boat People — vegetables and Asian herbs
Café Torqué — coffee
Fermes Lufa — vegetables
Fleurs en ville — edible flowers
Lab Grenouille Rouge — sprouts and mushrooms
Laboratoire sur l’agriculture urbaine — vegetables
Lieux Communs — wine
Myceliana — mushrooms
Opercule — Arctic char
Tulsi Farms — microgreens
Ville en vert — vegetables

Catering was provided by Le Festigoût, a social-integration initiative of La Corbeille Bordeaux-Cartierville, adding a meaningful community dimension to the evening.

Before sitting down to dinner, guests also had the opportunity to enjoy a networking cocktail, where bites created by the producers themselves put their products in the spotlight.

Even the flowers for the banquet came from nearby. Presented by Desjardins, the flower bar showcased blooms from Fleurs en ville, grown just steps from the tent in the plots formerly occupied by La Prairie Louvain, now managed by AULAB.

When the Harvest Becomes Art

Upon arrival, guests were welcomed by an art installation created by Eastern Bloc, a digital art center based in the District Central, in collaboration with Things+Time.

Products and objects from the participating farms were digitally scanned in 3D, turning them into an artistic medium. It was a unique way to transform harvests into images, cast a fresh perspective on the products, and build a bridge between agriculture, technology, and creation.

To see the artwork again >>

The Real Stars

Beyond the chef, the food and the artistic installation, the real stars of the evening were the urban farms and their harvests.

The second edition of the Fermes en ville Banquet confirmed the strength of this ecosystem and the growing interest in urban agriculture that feeds much more than our plates: it builds connections, drives innovation and brings communities together.

The event was supported by partners including the Government of Québec, the Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough, Desjardins, Tourisme Montréal, La Presse BOPAQ and Aliments du Québec.

An evening that already has us looking forward to setting the table again next year.