LAVAL, Que. — A unionization battle against convenience-store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Laval, Que., has been announced by the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), Quebec’s second-largest union.

CSN claims a formal request for certification from 12 employees has been submitted to Quebec’s labour relations commission.

OTTTAWA — Montreal’s Wild Chef, and owner of the city’s Au Pied de Cochon restaurant, Martin Picard, has decided not to prepare his planned Winterlude dinner, Feb. 4 at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que.

This news follows protests from animal-rights activists lobbying against the chef preparing foie gras at the event. "[Picard] informed us, after we discussed with him the idea of not putting foie gras on the menu, that his preference was to bow out of the event," NCC spokeswoman Lucie Caron is quoted as saying by Postmedia News.

TORONTO — Rumour has it a second Guu is set to open in Toronto in the next couple of months, according to an exclusive Toronto Life report.

“James Kim, general manager of the Church Street restaurant, confirmed for us that a new Guu will indeed be taking over the former Burger King at Bloor and Bathurst,” reads the news on the magazine’s website.

NIAGARA, Ont. — While Icewine is typically dolled out judiciously by the ounce — the amber elixir is, after all something to be savoured — this year’s edition of the Niagara Icewine Festival will be looking to temporarily suspend that practice.

On the eve of Wine Country Ontario’s annual festival and celebrations, Jan. 14, the Wine Council of Ontario will attempt to break a Guinness World Records record for the Largest Wine Flute using Ontario Icewine.

More than 30 Ontario winemakers and/or winery proprietors will assist in filling an upscale version of an Icewine flute modelled on a design by Riedel — the original creator of the Icewine Glass. Standing almost four-feet tall, it is anticipated that the flute will be filled with more than 18 litres of Ontario Vidal and Riesling Icewine.