For contributing to the development of Quebec cuisine as an innovative chef and mentor.
Normand Laprise, an authority on and a pioneer of Quebec gastronomy, is the Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef of Toqué!, one of the most highly acclaimed restaurants in Canada, as well as the co-owner of Brasserie T! He reinvented traditional cuisine by featuring local products and marrying the familiar with the unexpected on each plate. He has also taken Quebec cuisine beyond our borders by travelling throughout the world as a guest chef. He is an esteemed mentor to the next generation of chefs, and also serves as the spokesperson for La Tablée des Chefs, which aims at developing food knowledge and autonomy among underprivileged youth.