DOLLARD-DES-ORMEAUX, Que. — First came the Italian eatery Pasta Tutti Giorni and last year Sac-wich debuted, offering gourmet grilled sandwiches in Quebec, now both are primed to open in the Middle East.

Owners of the two concepts, Carmine Di Fruscia and Michael Geminari, have announced a master licensing agreement with the Abu Dhabi-based Baniyas Investment & Development Company.

TORONTO — Food Network host and co-owner of Garde Manger in Montreal, Chuck Hughes, reigned supreme on the weekend, becoming the first Quebec chef to take the title of Iron Chef America and first Canadian to beat one of the show’s resident chefs, Bobby Flay.

"This really is a dream come true for me. It was one of the most intense challenges of my life, and I'm so proud and honoured to represent Quebec and Canada," said Hughes in a statement about the competition, which has only ever been won by one other Canadian — Rob Feenie, in 2005.

TORONTO — Slow Food Toronto has stepped into the debate about the validity of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa.

The group is calling on its supporters to put pressure on the House of Commons Agriculture Committee to bring forward a moratorium on GE alfalfa, while encouraging other Slow Food Convivia across the country to join similar calls to action.

On Jan. 27, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved plantings of GE alfalfa despite opposition from farmers and consumers as well as protracted legal cases. Without the proposed moratorium, Canada is one step away from allowing the planting of GE alfalfa.

TORONTO — Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has unveiled its master plan for a world-class research facility in the Niagara Region.

The new 25,000-sq.-ft. centre will include state-of-the-art research laboratories, a business convergence centre and impressive meeting and conference facilities to support sustainable and leading-edge food and flowers innovations in Canada.

"In 2007, the provincial and federal governments saw real value in what industry was proposing at Vineland — a new research and innovation mandate for Canadian horticulture that would make us leaders not laggards on the world stage. Today, we have the team of researchers and the industry and government partners to make it happen. The timing is right to make the world-class facility, Jack Diamond and his colleagues at Diamond + Schmitt Architects designed, into a reality," said Donald Ziraldo, Chairman of Vineland's Board of Directors.