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Maria Jose de Frias is the chef and co founder of Le Virunga restaurant in Montreal. Of Congolese and Portuguese descent, she grew up between multiple cultures before settling in Quebec. After an initial career in fashion in Europe, she eventually followed her passion for cooking and opened Le Virunga with her daughter Zoya in 2016. Maria Jose highlights the flavours of sub Saharan Africa through Quebec ingredients, offering warm, contemporary and uniquely expressive cuisine.
Domaine Oak Hill is a vineyard nestled in the township of Melbourne, in the Eastern Townships. Founded in 2015 by Louise Macdonald and Sylvain Lalonde, the estate stands out for its nature-respectful viticulture, predominantly organic and at times biodynamic, using northern hybrid grape varieties (Petite Perle, Saint-Pépin, Marquette, La Crescent) grown in sandy loam soil formed by glacial deposits. The vines grow among grasses and native plants, promoting biodiversity, harmony with local wildlife, and overall soil health. It is a true sustainable viticulture project.