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Dining rooms around the world may share the same purpose, but their styles tell very different stories. A European dining space may look similar to one in North America at first glance, but closer inspection reveals unique design choices, from table layouts to furniture silhouettes and finishes.
Canadel drew on this global variety when creating the Gourmet Collection. Designed to feel both familiar and inviting, Gourmet blends international inspiration with practical function. The result is a dining collection that feels collected, comfortable, and full of character, perfect for everyday meals or special gatherings.
“It’s a collection with many looks to it,” says Michelle MacLellan, interior designer at La-Z-Boy Hunt Club and Canadel expert. “It’s perfect for anyone looking for an entry-level price for dining room furniture without compromising on style or quality.”
But is the Canadel Gourmet collection right for your dining room?
This article will cover everything you need to know about Canadel’s Gourmet collection, including unique features, options & customizations, cost, and warranty.
In This Article…
Established in 1982, Canadel is a Canadian family-owned company that manufactures handcrafted, high-quality, and custom-made dining room furniture. All Canadel products are manufactured in North America and distributed throughout Canada and the United States.
As makers of authentic birch wood dining room sets, Canadel operates with a vision of creating meaningful family heirlooms that will be passed down through generations.
In addition, they provide extensive customization options, made easier with the Canadel UDesign tool, which provides the online customer with over 9 million furniture combinations and options to choose from
Michelle emphasizes that Canadel's local presence and reputation for longevity are what resonate most with Ottawa buyers. “Our clients want pieces they don’t have to replace. Canadel delivers that kind of confidence.”
The Gourmet Collection by Canadel is handcrafted in North America using solid Canadian birch and eco-friendly hevea wood. Every piece is built to order, offering customers the opportunity to customize their furniture based on personal taste and functional needs.
True to its name, the Gourmet Collection brings together a refined mix of design influences, offering a balance of elegance and everyday comfort.
This collection stands out not only for its accessible price point but also for its light, playful finishes and versatile silhouettes. Dining chairs often feature sculpted back designs, and customers can choose from wood, upholstered, or faux-leather seating options.
One of the collection’s most popular and unique offerings is the multi-purpose kitchen island, which includes built-in storage and optional mobility. “It’s a standout piece,” says Michelle, “because you can use it indoors or outdoors for added prep space or entertaining during the summer.”
It is important to note that all available options and customizations to the Gourmet dining collection can be explored on Canadel’s UDesign tool, which is easily accessible on the Canadel website.
Other than Canadel Core and Downtown collections, Gourmet has the most versatility in terms of customization options available.
Gourmet’s dining tables, for example, have four options to choose from, which are:
Dining table leg options are only available with rectangular and square tables, whereas pedestal options are only available with round and oval tables. Rectangular tables also have a leaf extension upgrade available, with a one-self-storing leaf available with a dining table if it has legs and not a pedestal.
Gourmet’s dining tables also have four table edge options to choose from, so make sure to keep an eye out for little details like this!
Dining tables are also offered in a variety of top and body colours, which not all collections have. This offers more colours to include within your dining set if you choose to do so.
An array of dining table height options is also available. Customers can choose between a regular height table or a bar height table, which perfectly suits Gourmet’s bar stools. The bar height tables also come with four table edge options.
There are currently 9 dining table options available in all shapes and sizes mentioned above.
As you consider pairing a stool with the height of your dining table, take a look at our Guide to Choosing the Right Stool Height.
Dining chairs and stools in the Gourmet collection all have unique designs to them, especially Gourmet’s back options. Each design brings in a different style, giving your dining room a truly personalized feel. Chairs and stools are also offered either upholstered or unupholstered.
It is important to note that benches are the only products in the Gourmet collection that have faux-leather upholstery options.
The Canadel Gourmet Collection features:
A buffet may be the perfect way to tie your selection together and turn your dining pieces into a complete dining room.
The buffets come in various shapes, sizes, and patterns in which the accent colour, body colour, and finish can be customized.
The Canadel Gourmet Collection currently features 5 dining buffet options.
Gourmet’s Island is the most versatile island to be offered in any collection, which is what makes this collection stand out from the rest.
Not only can this island be stationary, but it also has the option to come with wheels. "This way," says Michelle, “homeowners with the kitchen island can either leave it inside or bring it outside for barbeques and parties in the summer.”
The island also has great storage, due to its optional mobility.
Additionally, Gourmet’s kitchen island has different countertop options available. Customers can choose between a full wooden top or a half butcher block and stainless steel. There is also a bar edge that customers can choose to add with matching barstools, giving it the functionality of a true island.
There are many different colours and finish options that the Canadel dining collection offers.
The Canadel collection has an abundant selection of wood finish colours available, displaying 20 wood finish colours, the most out of any collection. As for glass top options, there are no glass finish options featured in this collection.
Moreover, upholstered dining seating options, such as chairs, benches, or stools, are offered in various fabric and velvet options. Gourmet, unlike other dining room collections, does feature leather options, as well as faux-leather options.
Canadel sits in the premium price category, but this reflects the craftsmanship, customization, and quality of materials. Because each piece is made to order, prices are quoted based on selections. However, the table below offers a helpful reference point based on current starting prices:
|
Furniture Type |
Starting Cost (CAD) |
|
Dining Room Chair |
$499 – $1,029+ |
|
Dining Table |
$1,139 – $4,029+ |
|
Stool |
$499 – $1,379+ |
|
Bench |
$299 – $1,249+ |
|
Buffet/Storage Units |
$2,369 – $6,819+ |
*All La-Z-Boy prices listed in this article are subject to change. We aim to update all cost-related articles twice per year. This article was last updated on June 26th, 2025. Contact your local Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston location by phone or in person for up-to-date pricing.
The Canadel Gourmet Collection is covered by Canadel’s 1-year warranty, which covers the repair or replacement of chair frames, tabletops, fabric tears, or any unforeseen circumstances that would be covered under Canadel’s warranty.
Given that each piece of furniture is quality-crafted and built to last a long time, Canadel also offers an extended 5-year warranty plan at an additional cost.
This not only goes to further protect your purchase, but it is also transferable when you purchase new Canadel Furniture if you are looking to replace old additions.
The Gourmet collection may be described as stylish and delicious, but is it the right choice for your dining room? The answer to this depends on your budget, lifestyle, and design preferences.
According to Michelle, the Gourmet collection is one of the less expensive collections offered at Canadel, which might pique the interest of families with a small budget.
It is important to note that Canadel is high-quality furniture, meaning it might be more expensive than some other furniture retailers, but it can also mean it is a great investment down the line if you want your furniture to last a long time.
Michelle also mentioned that, because of Gourmet’s kitchen island option, this collection might entice any home cooks looking for optimized kitchen space to make more complex recipes. Everyone needs a place to cook, so why not let your inner chef shine?
The Gourmet collection also has one of the most bountiful when it comes to customization options available at Canadel. Unlike other collections at Canadel, Gourmet offers a feast of options to choose from, being able to suit any style of the house, from country to traditional, to modern.
Now that you have all the information about Canadel's Gourmet Dining Collection, why not experience it yourself?
Canadel has an intuitive tool to help you discover what each collection offers, thanks to its UDesign platform. Make sure to check out the UDesign tool so you can discover Canadel, as well as other dining room collections, in detail.
If you require assistance navigating the UDesign tool, check out this helpful article for a step-by-step tutorial.
La-Z-Boy also offers design assistance on all things Canadel custom design. By visiting an Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston showroom, you can receive one-on-one assistance in selecting and custom designing your Canadel dining furniture.
You can also book an appointment with our design consultants or interior design experts for any burning questions you may have. To learn more about our dining room furniture at La-Z-Boy, check out our Comprehensive Dining Room Buyer’s Guide.
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Dining Chairs vs. Dining Benches: Which is Right For You?