SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Early in 2018, in what could not be called an everyday occurrence, a barrel of maple syrup arrived at the Amalgamated Dairies Limited (ADL) facility in Charlottetown.
The container had been shipped to P.E.I. from Quebecois celebrity chef Martin Picard, the host of the French language TV show “Un Chef á la cabane” and founder of innovative Montreal restaurant Au Pied de cochon.
Picard was on a quest to develop maple-infused condensed milk, which led him to one of Canada’s largest producers – Summerside-based ADL.
Jamie MacPhail, marketing manager for ADL, said the company’s work with Picard started with a call from chef’s producers, looking to feature ADL condensed milk on the program.
“The initial inquiry quickly developed into an agreement for ADL to do a test trial for them adding maple to sweetened condensed milk. Picard had been trying for years to find a way of making maple-sweetened condensed milk. Well – he found his solution at ADL on Prince Edward Island,” said MacPhail.
Picard and his film crew traveled to P.E.I. in early summer 2018 to film a 45-minute episode at food points of interest around P.E.I., especially in ADL’s Charlottetown production plant. The episode recently aired on Télé-Québec and is available to watch online here.
In the episode, Picard is filmed tasting the infusion of ADL condensed milk and the barrel of maple syrup he’d previously sent along.
“I’m working on that project since two years now. How you did to make it in only one week – I don’t know. But that was simply marvelous,” said Picard.
He added that, as far as he is aware, this is the first time anyone has managed to create a marketable product combining condensed milk and maple syrup. It recently went on sale at www.aupieddecochon.ca and 300-ml cans retail for $5.50.
