18 Years: Officially All Grown Up!
Founded in Montreal in 2008 by brothers Benjamin and Jonathan Garnier, La Guilde Culinaire is celebrating its 18th anniversary this year.
18 years of cooking, learning, discovering, sharing⊠and, above all, passing on the joy of cooking.
Since its beginnings, La Guilde has come a long way. What started as a cooking school designed to make professional culinary expertise accessible to everyone has grown into a true culinary destination. Today, it brings together a cooking school, a specialty store offering more than 8,000 products, corporate activities, culinary camps, and an online store serving customers across Canada.
And through all these changes, one thing has remained the same: our passion for bringing people together through food.
A Story That Began in the Kitchen
The idea behind La Guilde Culinaire was simple: to create a place where anyone could learn to cook alongside professionals, regardless of their skill level.
Eighteen years later, cooking classes remain at the heart of La Guilde.
International cuisine, pastry, baking, mixology, professional cooking techniques⊠with more than 50 different themes, there's something for everyone. Whether you're looking to get hands-on, discover new flavours, or simply enjoy a great time in the kitchen, there's always something new to explore.
And after all these years, we still love seeing you leave with new skills and, most importantly, the excitement to put them into practice at home!
More Than 8,000 Products for Cooking Enthusiasts
Over the years, La Guilde has also developed an extensive specialty store to support cooking enthusiasts well beyond the classroom.
Utensils, accessories, knives, equipment, small appliances, baking essentials, and so much more: today, our selection includes over 8,000 products.
Whether you're searching for your next kitchen essential, gearing up for a specific technique, or simply discovering new products, our store has become another important part of the La Guilde experience.
And to make our selection accessible to cooking enthusiasts beyond Montreal, our products are also available online across Canada.
Bringing Teams Together Through Cooking
Because the best team memories aren't always made around a conference table!
At La Guilde, the kitchen is also a gathering place for companies looking to break away from their everyday routine and share a different kind of experience. Guided by our chefs, teams come together in the kitchen for a fun, welcoming experience where the joy of cooking takes centre stage.
Culinary competitions, team-building activities, private and corporate events⊠our experiences are all about cooking together, connecting, taking on challenges, and, of course, enjoying delicious food!
Whether it's celebrating an achievement, thanking a team, or simply spending quality time with colleagues, every activity is an opportunity to build connections and create lasting memories.
Making Room for the Next Generation!
And now that La Guilde has officially come of age, it's time to think about the next generation. đ
With our parent-child cooking classes and culinary camps, young aspiring chefs have a place in the kitchen, too!
On the menu: getting hands-on, discovering new flavours, learning new techniques, and, most importantly, having fun while cooking. It's a wonderful opportunity for little chefs to develop their creativity, independence, and confidence while discovering the joy of preparing delicious food.
Whether it's sharing a special moment as a family or enjoying a culinary adventure during school breaks, these activities give children the chance to create, laugh, make new friends, and take home new skills to try in their own kitchens.
Because some passions start young⊠and last a lifetime.
18 Years of Growing and Adapting
Over the past 18 years, the restaurant and retail industries have undergone tremendous change.
E-commerce, the pandemic, inflation, labour shortages, changing consumer habits⊠La Guilde has navigated many transformations since 2008, continuing to evolve along the way.
This evolution is driven in part by the complementary strengths of its two cofounders. Jonathan Garnier, a chef and contributor to Salut Bonjour since 2012, leads the culinary side of the business, content creation, and public engagement, while Benjamin Garnier oversees management, operations, and business development.
"Eighteen years is a major milestone for us. We've managed to grow and evolve La Guilde without losing sight of what mattered from the very beginning. Benjamin and I have very different strengths, and that balance has allowed us to keep moving forward together all these years."
â Jonathan Garnier, cofounder of La Guilde Culinaire
What's Next?
At 18, we're just getting started.
La Guilde is continuing to grow with new facilities and the upcoming opening of a new store. It's an exciting new chapter that will allow the company to keep expanding and evolving its offerings.
Behind these 18 years are thousands of classes, events, recipes, and memorable encounters. But above all, there's a team of chefs, employees, collaborators, and partners who have each contributed, in their own way, to making La Guilde what it is today.
18 Years, and We Couldn't Have Done It Without You â€ïž
If La Guilde Culinaire gets to blow out 18 candles today, it's also thanks to everyone who has walked through our doors over the years.
Whether you've joined us for a cooking class, found the perfect kitchen accessory, participated in an activity, learned a new technique, or simply shared your passion for cooking.
Thank you for being part of our journey for the past 18 years!
