The dining theatrics and dark history of Montreal's infamous restaurant Au Lutin qui Bouffe

Montreal's never been short on weird and/or wonderful dining destinations and experiences, but few in the city’s history have leaned into spectacle quite like Au Lutin qui Bouffe.

Past its old-world façade, one would find a landmark of indulgence and eccentricity, a place where diners could savour a plate of tournedos Rossini while a tiny piglet was bottle-fed at the next table.

Photograph: McCord Stewart Museum / Jean-Paul Cuerrier (1918-1997)

But the whimsy of Au Lutin qui Bouffe's fine French cuisine and now-infamous piglet photography sessions would over time develop into a darker story of crime, ambition, and a tragic end—but together, these stories would cement the restaurant’s place in the city’s lore.