When the brand new Infinity Convention Centre opens for business on October 1st, it will add an exciting new element to Ottawa’s meeting and event industry. The stylish venue, located at the intersection of Hunt Club Road and Uplands Drive, close to the Ottawa airport, offers up 15,000 square feet of flexible space capable of accommodating up to 1500 people.
Owned and operated by the Sohal family with partner Anand Aggarwal, the Infinity Centre features sleek, modern lines with plenty of bling, particularly in the form of a programmable water wall plus custom crystal chandeliers which grace both the grand foyer – dubbed the pre-function space – and the ballroom. Thoughtful touches like free parking, three bridal suites (or speakers’ preparation rooms) and DJ booths overlooking the ballroom make the Centre an event planner’s dream venue. Dazzling, customizable lighting effects throughout the building are matched by a top notch sound system.
While much attention to detail has been paid to the design and fit-up of the Infinity Centre, the food is no afterthought. Executive Chef Jason Peters, a Cordon Bleu Paris-trained, Ottawa native, leads the brigade. Capitalizing on more than 15 years of experience across the globe, Chef Jason is enthusiastic about showcasing local products on his menus. “I like to keep French Cuisine as a base then pull from different international techniques and flavours,” he explained at a recent media tour and tasting event. “Our kitchen is well equipped to accommodate dietary restrictions and I look forward to creating customized menus for our clients, including global cuisines.”
Chef Jason proudly states that almost all the food served at the Infinity Centre will be prepared in-house, with the exception of its breads, which are being custom made for the Centre by Top of the Hill Bakery in Orleans. The impressive tasting menu presented to the media included Arctic Char Gravlax with a Cucumber Grapefruit Raita, Lamb Rillettes on a Black Olive Ciabatta with Pickled Duck Egg Gribiche, Lobster Tail Bites Wrapped in Boar Bacon with Jalapeno Butter and Kale Chips plus Beef Tenderloin served on Yorkshire Pudding. A selection of dessert bites included delectable Chai Spiced Macarons.
The Infinity Centre, which celebrates its Grand Opening Gala on October 13, has already booked scores of events for 2016, including weddings, conferences, parties and more. The Sohal family also owns two adjacent hotel properties, with a third slated to open in 2018, making the Infinity Centre a convenient destination for those wishing to hold events south of the downtown core.
Paula Roy
