Menu Extra Transforms Montreal Brutalist Chapel Into Immersive Dining Ritual

Menu Extra presented Efflorescence, a four-night immersive dining event at the Franciscans' Chapel in Montreal, a Brutalist structure erected in 1960. Scheduled for March 5-7, 2026, the experience welcomed 44 guests each night as part of the Montréal en Lumière festival, where smoke, sound, light, and scent were treated as vital components alongside the cuisine. Creative director Samuel de la Courtemanche highlighted the desire for innovative communal experiences. A prominent communal table, designed in a diamond shape inspired by the chapel's faceted ceiling and adorned in green fabric, featured a fluted glass installation showcasing a boreal forest microbiome. Chef Francis Blais curated a Quebec terroir menu, complemented by sommelier Alexis Demers with wines from Jean-Yves Perron and others. The ambiance was enhanced by a custom soundscape from Montreal artist Kroy, while silvery metallic chairs by Lesorr added to the aesthetic. The event was facilitated by Entremise, which oversees the Couvent des Franciscains.