Editor’s Picks for September 2025: RIMOWA, Devialet and more !
The Editor’s Picks for September 2025 feature a selection of products and experiences that caught my eye during September, without necessarily having seen or tried them in person.
MIELS by Anne-Virginie Schmidt
This recently published French (it will certainly come in english soon) cookbook is more than a recipe book; it is a comprehensive guide to this entirely natural nectar. The author and co-founder of MIELS d’Anicet takes readers from the fields of Ferme-Neuve to her kitchen, offering recipes that will surprise and educate them about the various varieties of this millennia-old product. A must-have book and certainly perfect for the Editor’s Picks for September 2025.
Kent Monkman: History Is Painted by the Victors at Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
The major autumn exhibition at Montréal’s leading museum is finally unveiled. Following Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience at the McCord-Stewart Museum in 2019, this new exhibition features approximately 40 monumental paintings by Kent Monkman. Through his subversive lens, this globally recognized Canadian artist revisits history painting to deconstruct colonial narratives and offer a fresh perspective on our past and present. The exhibition includes loans from Canadian and American institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as well as selections from the MBAM collection. For informed audiences.
Dates: September 27, 2025 – March 8, 2026
Address:
Montréal Museum of Fine Arts
Pavillon Jean-Noël Desmarais
1380 Sherbrooke Street West
Montréal, QC
Canada H3G 1J5
Manuel Mathieu Fragrances
French Members of the Gentologie Club received this news exclusively in their Prasino newsletter (English version will follow this Sunday).
The Île Noire eau de parfum, one of Mathieu’s three fragrances, guides us through the historical journey of the Haitian-Québécois artist Manuel Mathieu’s homeland, Haiti, leading us with an unusual sophistication toward growth and maturity. It is part of his inaugural three-fragrance collection released in August 2025, made in Grasse, France.
Île Noire is Manuel Mathieu’s first and most personal fragrance, igniting his passion for perfumery. It invites you to explore Haiti’s memories, history, and spirituality in a mysterious and transformative experience.
The fragrance was born from a fruitful collaboration between the artist and Ms. Juliette Karagueuzoglou, Vice President Perfumer at IFF (International Flavours and Fragrances) in Paris. With extensive experience partnering with renowned brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Giorgio Armani, she collaborated with Mathieu on his inaugural collection, united by a shared philosophy: revealing our inner selves to share personal stories that impact others.
This perfume weaves together the heritage of the land, Mathieu’s personal past, and the individual imprint of anyone who wears it.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Grapefruit, Ginger Oil
Heart Notes:
Grey Amber, Jasmine, Tobacco
Base Notes:
Haitian Vetiver, Frankincense, Oakwood
Available now at Etiket Montréal and Toronto.
Dolce Vita Thursdays at Stanley
Pizza and Aperol Spritz enthusiasts, discover Stanley’s Dolce Vita Thursdays! We personally sampled the menu and cocktails, which are both delicious and expertly crafted. You have a few weeks to enjoy this fully Italian atmosphere on Thursdays, October 2, 9, 16 and 23, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Stanley is a restaurant located in the heart of downtown Montreal, in the fully renovated lobby of the Sheraton Centre Montréal. It is conveniently situated just steps from the Bell Centre, making it an ideal spot for pre-game or show dining.
Broccolini Partnership with Restaurant Beatrice
As construction of the Le Sherbrooke project concludes, Broccolini, a leading Canadian real estate developer, has announced a significant collaboration with Montréal’s Ristorante Beatrice (one of Nicolas Duvernois’ favourites) and its longtime owner, Pino Forgione. The restaurant is currently undergoing a major expansion and transformation as part of this partnership, integrated into Broccolini’s latest luxury residential project in the prestigious Golden Square Mile. The opening is planned for spring 2026, combining a landmark gastronomic address with an exceptional downtown location.
Ristorante Beatrice, a staple of Montréal’s culinary scene, will expand by 4,600 square feet, enhancing its distinctive charm while reinventing the customer experience. Adele Forgione, catering manager, served gourmet bites at the RH Montreal opening. This new space, designed by renowned Philip Hazan—known for blending classic elegance with modernity—is inspired by luxury European hotels and timeless restaurants. The design evokes understated refinement in a lush, winter-garden-like atmosphere, opening onto a glass atrium filled with soft natural light and abundant greenery, offering an intimate retreat in the heart of the city.
An interview with Dee Pasquale, Director of Residential Sales and Marketing at Broccolini, discussing this project in depth, will be available soon.
Tanqueray Ten Gin
This exceptional gin, one of my favourites and also favoured by Stanley Tucci, sells out quickly at the SAQ. Distilled from whole citrus fruits, it is crafted for trendsetters and cocktail artists. Its notes of tangy grapefruit, citrus, juniper and chamomile flowers make it a superior alternative to regular Tanqueray. For Quebec readers, it is more readily available at the LCBO than at the SAQ.
SAQ Code: 600163
LCBO Code: 600163
Sunspel Paris Boutique
For our France readers, the British brand Sunspel has just opened its first Paris boutique in the historic Marais district. This is the brand’s third new store in 2025. The boutique’s design combines Sunspel’s rich British heritage with a clean, contemporary aesthetic, reflecting the brand’s timeless modern style. The store showcases the full menswear collection, including the Riviera polo (famous for being worn by Daniel Craig as James Bond), classic T-shirts (still handmade in their Long Eaton factory in England), and signature boxers.
Opening Hours
Monday: 2 PM – 7:30 PM
Tuesday to Thursday: 11 AM – 7:30 PM
Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 8 PM
Sunday: 1 PM – 7 PM
Address:
38 Rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie
Paris, France 75004
Tel: 0140 096 982
RIMOWA Original Collection Now in Bronze
Earlier this year, RIMOWA introduced a new colour for its Original Collection: Bronze. This shade ranges from rich brown to toasted gold, orange and red, and is available in three sizes: Cabin, Check-in L and Trunk Plus. Admired for its beauty and durability, bronze is also recognized for its versatility, used in monumental sculptures as well as delicate coins. Inspired by the enduring qualities of a statue, the RIMOWA Original Bronze luggage helps travellers preserve their memories, evoking a sense of time and place. Combining natural beauty with the timeless appeal of aged patina, Bronze offers warmth and sophistication, making it ideal for the Editor’s Picks for September 2025.
Devialet Phantom Ultimate Speaker
The Devialet Phantom was first introduced in December 2015. The product of three years of research and development and 88 patents, it quickly became a reference point in the high-fidelity audio world. Ten years later, the French acoustic engineering house presents the Devialet Phantom Ultimate, a new generation designed to highlight every detail of music with high-resolution sound.
Developed by Devialet’s engineers and designers in Paris, this new generation perfectly embodies the brand’s sonic signature and technological excellence. Its radically unique design immediately captures attention and imposes itself with a timeless character.
Beyond aesthetics, the Phantom Ultimate’s exceptional sound quality makes the difference: lively and immersive, it becomes a powerful vehicle for emotion. This new version provides even more precise sound reproduction while integrating new connectivity options, placing the listener at the heart of live performances and studio recordings.
Two models, two experiences
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 108 dB integrates a new generation of speakers protected by four new patents, designed to reproduce sound with extreme precision, without distortion, saturation, or background noise.
The Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98 dB, in an ultra-compact format, offers high-fidelity sound reproduction. Its excellent size-to-power-to-quality ratio delivers a wide frequency range from 18 Hz to 25 kHz (+/- 6 dB).
Three finishes are available: Deep Forest, Light Pearl, and Opéra de Paris.
Aspire AMEX Lounge at Montréal-Trudeau (YUL)
To conclude the Editor’s Picks for September 2025, the Aspire AMEX Lounge (featured on the cover of the article) is the first common-use lounge in the airport’s domestic terminal and Amex’s first co-branded lounge in Canada. It offers priority access to eligible Card members, as well as unique activities and experiences throughout the year.
Designed by Artesa, a Montréal-based architecture firm, and featuring works by world-renowned Montréal-born photographer Nicolas Ruel, the lounge spans 3,700 square feet. It offers seating for 100 in its dining room and bar, as well as a lounge area, workstations, and private booths to optimize passenger comfort and functionality.
Stay tuned for our article for a more in-depth tour.
See you in October for another Editor’s Pick.
