New International Centre has energy-wise and green features

Traders Lounge at the International Centre

MISSISSAUGA, ON—The International Centre, which has 500,000 square feet of space for trade and consumer shows, opened its new 48,000-square-foot conference centre last month.

The centre has a state-of-the art 8,000 sq. ft. kitchen which can handle small intimate affairs for six people or a fine dining quality banquet for 2,500.

At a recent luncheon in a special room with a view of the kitchen through a glass partition, containing the eight-seat chef’s table, executive chef Joe Levesque served freshly baked artisan breads with a variety of spreads, an appetizer of smoked salmon, Dungeness crab and tuna tartare, pan seared veal tenderloin medallions and braised short rib ravioli, with celeriac and new potato pavé, morels and baby vegetables. Dessert was tart tatin with crème brulée and Calvados ice cream. The chef commented that it would be no problem to prepare the same meal for 1,000 people.

Equipped with appliances from Alto-Shaam, which an International Centre release says is the most advanced cooking, chilling and serving equipment on the market, Levesque and his brigade can prepare meals ahead of time, freeze them and re-heat them at serving time.
The kitchen’s organic waste system can reduce water use by 70 per cent and produces pure compost.

The combi-therm ovens have EcoSmart technology that the International Centre says can reduce energy use by up to 50 per cent and water use by up to 70 per cent. At the same time the production rate is increased 25 to 50 per cent compared to traditional ovens.
“Think of the science of hospital bulk cooking merged with high end restaurant plating methods with no compromise on taste, texture or colour,” says director of food and beverage Trevor Lui, in the release.

The new centre has a 17,000 sq. ft. ballroom, divisible in four, and two end sections that divide into three smaller breakout rooms. Next to the ballroom are two meeting rooms measuring 2,028 and 2,900 square feet, each divisible into two sections. There are also three smaller meeting rooms of 200 to 500 square feet. The 11,000 sq. ft. lobby and pre-function space can be used for meeting breaks or receptions.

The International Centre ended its contract with a commercial caterer and brought foodservice in-house last year. The new centre is designed to attract more conferences, plus social, wedding and corporate banqueting business.