Valentine’s Day is high time to visit Lufa Farms

Old Montreal chocolate festival offers weekend of delicious events

Spring has sprung on top of a commercial building in Ahuntsic, as you will be able to see if you tour Lufa Farms on Valentine’s Day weekend Feb. 13 and 14. Credited with being the world’s first major rooftop greenhouse, the lush, indoor growing area will have an open house with tours in English on Sunday, Feb. 14, and French on Saturday, Feb. 13. Free to visitors, the tours include seasonal refreshments, gifts, and a chance to talk to some of Lufa’s suppliers at the greenhouse, 1400 Antonio Barbeau St., just north of the intersection of L’Acadie Blvd. and Highway 40.

The hour-long tour includes an explanation of how this “farm” works and also how it can supply you all winter. You can shop for vegetables if you wish or just enjoy the atmosphere of a verdant garden flourishing in the February chill.

Reservations are required. Sign up online at montreal.lufa.com/ visit for the English tours Feb. 14, or montreal.lufa.com/visite for the French tours Feb. 13. You’re advised to get to the second floor of the building 10 minutes before your tour. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information, call 514-669-3559.

CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL

Prepare for Valentine’s Day with an immersion in all things chocolate offered at a festival this weekend in Old Montreal. It’s the 5th annual Je t’aime en chocolat party, planned for Marché Bonsecours, Friday through Sunday. Chefs, chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and artists who either sculpt or paint with chocolate will offer a variety of demonstrations from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. More than 40 chocolatiers and pastry specialists will exhibit their work, some offering free samples, others selling their confections.

Demonstrations will focus on such topics as chocolate and marshmallows, hot chocolate, chocolate desserts, painting with chocolate, chocolate sculpture, and glutenfree pastry. Each demonstration will run for about 45 minutes and most will include tastings of the chocolate cuisine demonstrated. Chefs participating will include Renoir Restaurant executive chef Olivier Perret, master chocolatier Christophe Morel of CM Chocolatier in Boucherville, Marc Chiecchio of the Marius et Fanny pastry shop in Laval, Philippe Mollé, chef-journalist and host of the Radio-Canada show Les plaisirs de la table, and staff teachers at Montreal’s Académie du chocolat. The academy is sponsoring the festival along with the Cacao Barry chocolate company. Fashion shows and children’s activities will be part of the festival.

Details: jetaimeenchocolat.com or 514-866-2006.