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.

Restaurant owners and managers in La Belle Provence had their new year’s celebrations cut short. As the clock struck one minute past midnight, provincial sales tax across the province jumped a full percentage point to 8.5 per cent.

Unfortunately for Quebec business owners, the dour tax news is only set to get worse, as another percentage point hike is slated for Jan. 1, 2012.

MONTREAL — Saputo Inc., the $5.8-billion leader in cheese sales, has expanded its Nov. 26 recall of foodservice and retail processed cheese that may be contaminated with listeria bacteria.

“Saputo is taking these broader precautionary actions to respond proactively to the situation,” reads the company press release. “[It] is placing public health interest first.”

The Montreal-based company’s voluntary recall includes some 150,000 kilograms of cheese, valued at approximately $1 million, which was produced on a single production line at one of the brand’s Quebec plants. Saputo has shut down the line and begun a joint investigation with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to determine the cause of the potential contamination.