Just in time for syrup season

March 31, 2022 11:41 AM

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that one of the men involved in the well-publicized 2011-2012 maple syrup heist in Quebec (or "l’affaire du vol historique de sirop d’érable," if you prefer) must pay a $9.1 million fine. The fine had been reduced to $1 million by the Quebec Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court decision explained in brief, the decision in full, and the heist itself, previously, in cartoon form. More, previously: Sticky Fingers, A Sappy Ending?, Inside Quebec’s Great, Multi-Million-Dollar Maple-Syrup Heist, and a thread with some comments on the ins and outs of maple syrup production.
posted by mandolin conspiracy (16 comments total)

Also of interest, Netflix's Dirty Money series did a documentary on the heist. (sorry if this is covered in links above already, but I don't think it is)
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:59 AM on March 31, 2022 [3 favorites]

I can't believe this hasn't been a narrative film/series. What is wrong with the world? Doesn't anyone speak French in the "Fargo" writing room?
posted by thivaia at 12:32 PM on March 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

Wow, after paying that fine is going to be tapped
posted by Kabanos at 12:34 PM on March 31, 2022 [6 favorites]

Last I'd heard, the alleged thieves had crossed the border to Vermont and were seeking xylem.
posted by theory at 1:23 PM on March 31, 2022 [21 favorites]

Ha, so, I clicked on that last link and was like 'Oh! I remember this thread about the frogs, I'm sure I posted a comment in it.' And then I read the thread, and was like 'oh, hrmm, I don't see a comment from me in this thread.' And then I ctrl-Fed my name.

Readers, I posted it.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:25 PM on March 31, 2022 [15 favorites]

tapped

xylem

I spent altogether too much time trying to come up with a punny post title (and failed). Now here you all come with the good maple/tree puns.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:34 PM on March 31, 2022 [4 favorites]

I commented in that thread! And this year I am back to collecting sap. A lot more neighbors are into it now, last year I saw one other tree with a bucket on it but this year I noticed there are multiple urban maple syrup makers in our part of Minneapolis.

Maybe we should all pool our buckets and share the proceeds... and I say this only because I have red maples, and they take more boilin' to get decent syrup (lower sugar content)
posted by caution live frogs at 2:34 PM on March 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

Ill-gotten gains from Quebecois syrup?
Would you call that...filthy sucre?
posted by bartleby at 2:43 PM on March 31, 2022 [17 favorites]

Ill-gotten gains from Quebecois syrup?
Would you call that...filthy sucre?

You absolute legend.
posted by Kitteh at 3:04 PM on March 31, 2022 [3 favorites]

I think this could be a good time to do a fresh prince remake - the French Prince of Bel Air, this time it's a quebecois dude that has to get out of montreal because he keeps getting mixed up in these kind of shenanigans.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 4:01 PM on March 31, 2022 [1 favorite]

"Bonjour-Hi, M. Smith; ouelcome to Le Sweetness Protection Programme."
posted by bartleby at 5:21 PM on March 31, 2022 [3 favorites]

I scored 2 litres of maple syrup from a local farmer. It is sooo delicious. It came early this year, but he tells me that the season is messed up because of the weather/climate change.

There may be a shortage... whelp! Please hope me!
posted by shoesfullofdust at 6:31 PM on March 31, 2022

Would you call that...filthy sucre?
You rang?
posted by sucre at 9:24 PM on March 31, 2022 [6 favorites]

I scored 2 litres of maple syrup

It's always good to buy from a local producer directly when it comes to maple syrup. That is to say, before it gets all mixed up with maple syrup from other producers and sold in bulk as it is in Quebec. Maple syrup terroir is a thing. That being said, I think my maple score this year was a friend, who taps trees, gave me a litre of maple sap which I used to make a baked ham something my great grandmother would make and which I haven't eaten since I was a small boy.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:57 AM on April 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

I can't believe this hasn't been a narrative film/series. What is wrong with the world? Doesn't anyone speak French in the "Fargo" writing room?

So, about that:

Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist Comedy Series ‘The Sticky’ Lands Series Order At Amazon From Blumhouse TV & Jamie Lee Curtis’ Comet Pictures
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 12:04 PM on April 13, 2022

Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist Comedy Series

Comedy Series... Maple Syrup is serious business.
posted by Ashwagandha at 9:52 PM on April 13, 2022