Q& A With Chuck Hughes

We chat with Chuck and sample his stunning salad

Chuck Hughes is a Canadian culinary superstar. He runs two bustling Montreal restaurants (Garde Manger and Le Bremner), stars in “Chuck’s Day Off” on Food Network Canada and famously beat American uberchef Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef America” – with a lobster poutine, no less! He’s just released a new cookbook too, named after his popular TV show. We caught up with Chuck and asked him to give us the goods on his favourite Canadian things, from foods to dream dinner guests.

Canadian Living: What would be on your ultimate Canada Day menu? Chuck Hughes: I’d go picnic style, with lobster rolls, homemade potato chips, potato salad and Mason jars full of chocolate pots de crème with maple- caramel marshmallow meringue. CL: We’ll be there. Just tell us when!

CL: What summer produce can you not wait to cook with? CH: Quebec strawberries. CL: What’s special about them? What do you usually make with them?

CH: They’re sweet, bright red and delicious. For me, in Montreal, they are local, and I try to buy locally as much as possible. I usually go old-school with them and make a really good strawberry shortcake. At my restaurants, we also use them to make drinks.

CL: Do you have any patriotic tattoos? CH: Does a Canadian lobster count? CL: It does! Can we take a look?