MONTREAL — A new partnership with Arcade Fire will transplant Toronto restaurateurs Jen Agg and Roland Jean to Montreal to open a new Haitian-inspired restaurant later this year.
The duo behind Toronto’s Black Hoof and Rhum Corner, will help band frontrunners, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, bring art and cultural warmth to the new concept, Agrikol. “There are nearly 200,000 Haitians in Montreal, so Agrikol is something we need here. It’s a celebration of culture and that includes food,” Jean told The Globe and Mail. Agg adds: “It’s crazy that there hasn’t been a place like this yet. We’re going to build here, and we’re going to move here. It’s a big life change — and I’m going to learn French. It will be great.”
Arcade Fire, which got its start in Montreal, has deep ties to Haiti. Chassagne is Haitian, and the band has helped raise millions for Haitian relief through organizations such as Kanpe.
