Spilled: Natural Winemakers Stories & Recipes

Spilled: Natural Winemakers Stories & Recipes

In Grand Premiere at Bonde Fine Wine

Available now at the store, in limited quantity.

Reflection

In our existence, some people come into our lives and others leave. Some bring us something, while others receive from us. However, there are those we forget after they leave, and those who leave an indelible mark in our memories. This can happen to one person or several simultaneously, as was the case for David McMillan and me in 1995, when we had the opportunity to work alongside Chef Nicolas Jongleur in Montreal.

David was the sous-chef in the kitchen, while I managed the dining room, orchestrating the ambiance and tempering the eccentricities and "Les Caprices de Nicolas." The young and talented Nicolas offered us a vision, methods, creative energy, intensity, and boundless passion, all while maintaining rigorous execution both on the plate and in service, without compromise, and cultivating a deep friendship that we will cherish for life.

However, like any great visionary, he was consumed by his passion and the challenge of being understood. In addition to his generosity and infectious energy, Nicolas taught us, at the cost of his own life, a profound lesson about the limits that must not be crossed. In 2001 he ended his life in the restaurant that was his, and which was also mine. This act, marked by deep despair, reminded us of the importance of knowing when to pause, to reflect, and above all, to listen to ourselves so we don't fall too far. For this, and for so much more, David, I, and surely many others, thank you, Nicolas. We are here today because of you.

David McMillan
David McMillan is a renowned Quebec chef who has played an important role in Montreal's culinary scene since the 1990s. Former chef and co-owner of several renowned restaurants, including Joe Beef, Liverpool House, and Vin Papillon, he took a significant turn in 2021 by stepping back from managing his establishments (before he fell too far). His passion for traditional bourgeois and rural French cuisine, as well as his interest in Quebec's regional products and natural wines, continue to guide him in his culinary adventures even today.

After he co-published two cookbooks: in 2011, The Art of Living According to Joe Beef: A Sort of Cookbook, and in 2018, Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse: Another Cookbook of Sorts, which won gold at the 2019 Taste Canada Awards.

He offers us today his latest work, Spilled: Natural Winemakers Stories & Recipes, co-written with Stephanie Mercier Voyer and Zev Rovine, which focuses on natural winemaking and rural cuisine. The book features a blend of intimate stories, evocative photographs, and 34 homemade recipes directly from the tables of French and Italian winemakers specializing in Natural wines. More than just a wine book or a cookbook, Spilled is a celebration of the human side of winemaking, of patience, passion, and the occasional chaos behind every great bottle. It is also a tribute to Nicola for all of that and more.

This book is guaranteed to be unfiltered, vibrant, and meant to be shared.