International cooking school coming to Yellowknife in fall
Flavour Trader will be setting up classes in Breakaway Fitness
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Class will be in session this September for Yellowknife's newest, most unique school.
Etienne Croteau stands behind the counter of what will become Flavour Trader, inside Breakaway Fitness. Croteau said his new business will be part international cooking school, part spice shop, part catering base and partly a spot to buy meals to go. He expects to be up and running by September. - John McFadden/NNSL photo |
Chef Etienne Croteau is setting up Flavour Trader, an international cooking school that will feature meals to go, catering and a huge rack of spices for sale. The business is slated to open at Breakaway Fitness, in the space formerly occupied by Sarah's Hot and Ready, by September.
Croteau said the school and the rest of the business will be an extension of his existing business, Flavour Trader - known in French as Saveurs de L'Artisan.
Croteau arrived in Yellowknife about five years ago from Quebec to work for the French Cultural Association. He said because of a funding crunch at the association he decided to pursue his culinary dreams.
He graduated from formal chef and gastronomy training back in Quebec at the University of Drummondville, where he specialized in spices.
Then, he took a job with a company that he described as "spice hunters," travelling the world learning anything and everything there is to know about spices.
Croteau said that whether it is French food or food from anywhere else, the main thing that differentiates one meal from another is its spices.
"That is what I want to share," he said.
"I love food. I think in Yellowknife we are really ready for that ... There are people from many cultures in town who are willing to share food ideas from their home country, I hope to be able to increase that through the cooking class."
Croteau's classes will likely be held in the evenings so people who are interested in learning how to make international dishes will be able to work it into their schedules.
"We will pick a country and we will have guests from Italy or Pakistan or wherever. We will also have a television on with music playing from the country that we are learning about," Croteau said, adding he will also make himself available as a spice consultant, to give people advise on what spices work with which dishes.
Croteau said that the spices he sells won't necessarily be what is on the shelves at the grocery stores.
He expects to market very unique, rare and international spices.
He plans to also set up shop and the Yellowknife Farmers Market.
Kelly Robertson, owner of Breakaway Fitness, said she is very excited to have Flavour Trader setting up in her business.
"It's nice to have the space utilized," she said.
"We put the equipment in for some kind of food establishment. We're happy to see it not stay empty."
Robertson said she believes that the cooking classes will be the first of its kind in Yellowknife with the possible exception of the high schools.
She added she has taken cooking classes from Croteau in the past.
"They're fabulous. He is very animated and knowledgeable. You learn a lot," she said.
