Eat and Drink

Miscou Island, in the Acadian Peninsula, is exceptionally beautiful. No wonder Michèle Garceau and her family chose to make it their home more than 10 years ago. She had found her partner there some fifteen years earlier. Today, she runs what became her project as early as 2012, though it took time to come to fruition for various reasons, including the tragic death of her partner and, of course, the COVID pandemic. 

Notably, this anthropology graduate, who has worked for over 25 years in Québec in television and film production, among other fields, covering social, cultural, anthropological, human, and many other interests, has since added another string to her professional bow: lobster boat captain since 2016. She remains one of the few women in the Maritimes to practise this trade, which was in fact the subject of a documentary (*) in recent years.

Once the fishing season ends in June, her project at La vieille école de Miscou takes over for the summer season, running through October.

La vieille école de Miscou, which she owns, is now part of the socio-economic, tourism and cultural landscape of the island and indeed the entire region. "I bought the school thinking I wanted to do something creative," she explains. Life's twists and turns delayed things somewhat, but over the past three years, the project has finally taken shape and become a reality.
 

The building, built in the 1950s, has two floors and aims to be a multipurpose space based on Michèle Garceau's concept of a house for travellers, artists and locals. Extensive renovation, improvement and redevelopment work has been carried out over the past 10 years. The upper floor has eight well-appointed rooms with bathrooms, each accommodating 2 to 5 people, for a total of 32 people. There is also a coffee corner and an equipped kitchen for meals served in the dining room. Downstairs, a large community room will host gatherings, performances, conferences or receptions starting in summer 2024.
 

At the back, on the spacious grounds surrounded by trees and greenery, covered structures have been set up to host family activities, yoga classes, or other gatherings. Smaller ones can be used for sheltered picnics, while two others house a spa, accessible to guests staying in the rooms. The courtyard can host all kinds of outdoor activities, tailored to the seasons.

In August, around National Acadian Day, they hold the popular Festival du thon, featuring games, music, food, entertainment, contests, tastings, a family celebration, and more.

Michèle Garceau notes that for the past three years, the venue has hosted private events throughout spring and autumn, both before and after the tourist season. These events occupy the space entirely or in part, for a few days or even whole weeks. The venue is a favourite with event organizers seeking a calm, well-organized, welcoming, and versatile location. The administrators and members of Caraquet's LGBT organization Acadie Love even held an orientation meeting there last autumn. Before closing for winter, a large Halloween party for the local and regional community was held there in 2023. We can bet it will return in the coming years.


Public access to the rooms and restaurant is mainly from around June 19 to October 15. "Actually, once the bog has lost its fiery red," recalls Michèle Garceau. "Toward late September and early October, it's practically a ritual, with everyone coming to Miscou to see this annual spectacle." 

During the season, you can enjoy the seasonal licensed café/restaurant. In addition to the café corner, which serves coffees, smoothies, croissants, chocolatines and muffins, traditional breakfasts and lunch are also available. They also serve lattes and iced lattes, homemade fish cakes, filled paninis, and even a homemade Caesar salad and lobster roll. Whether you're staying a few days or just stopping by on a visit to the historic 23-metre lighthouse at the island's tip, you'll be welcome, says Michèle Garceau.

  

La vieille école is proud to contribute to Miscou Island's economic and tourism growth, employing 8 to 10 people from June to September.

La vieille école de Miscou
facebook.com/LavieilleecoledeMiscou
506.344.0190
10577, New Brunswick 113
Miscou, NB E8T 1Z6

(*) Femmes capitaines, 2022, tou.tv. Available online for free. ici.tou.tv/femmes-capitaines

By Gaëtan Vaudry

When you visit Chicoutimi, especially on the famous Racine Street, you can't miss the equally renowned Bistro D. Owned by businessman David Rousseau, this establishment aims to blend French, Italian, and Asian influences, delighting a loyal clientele with delicious traditional dishes made with the finest local and seasonal ingredients.

Bistro D has been a shining star in downtown Chicoutimi for several years, and its little sisters, the Sandwicherie and the Salaison du Bistro D, are no less impressive. The pride of its owner and founder, the Salaison du Bistro D offers superior quality charcuteries: "Each piece of meat is hand-prepared, artisanally," emphasizes David Rousseau. "We subtly add spices and herbs, creating a feast for the senses." The Salaison du Bistro D boasts a variety of excellent products, including dry sausages, lonzu, salami, chaudin, coppa, bresaola, ventrèche, and many more.

In the high season, many French tourists make a detour to the Salaison du Bistro D. A Parisian customer recently stated: "I must declare my love: for 2 years in Quebec, I've been searching for a sausage reminiscent of those I had in France. I just found it in my local grocery, and it's a delight. Oh, how I missed it!" Such comments proudly flood the social media pages of Monsieur D's charcuteries, available at various points of sale in Quebec. Monsieur D's charcuteries were even semi-finalists at the 2023 Agri-Food Grand Prix Gala, in the Maxi and Provigo Public's Choice Award category. Quite an achievement!

Where David and his team truly stand out is in their precious partnerships with artisans from Saguenay. For instance, they created a sausage with beer and pork from the Villoise Farm in Saint-Gédéon, and sausages with Beemer Vodka, in collaboration with Morille Québec, offered by the Beemer Distillery in Roberval.

If you try a dish at Bistro D, a friendly staff member will be able to suggest a variety of privately imported wines, carefully selected to enhance the flavors of your plate.

Bistro D / The Sandwicherie / The Salaison du Bistro D
381, Racine Street East, Chicoutimi
418 973-4668
Bistro D / The Sandwicherie Facebook Page
The Salaison du Bistro D Facebook Page

A true institution in the Côte-de-Beaupré landscape for 50 years now, Auberge Restaurant Baker on avenue Royale in Château-Richer is a place steeped in history and cultural heritage. Today, under Gaston Cloutier's management, the establishment is slowly but surely working on succession planning.

Originally a rather opulent bourgeois country house built in 1840 in one of Québec's oldest villages by Ferdinand Lefrançois and his wife Mary Ann (Anney) Brady, the place benefited from a period of prosperous economic growth. The finishes and ornamentation clearly show it was a comfortable, state-of-the-art home.

 

At that time, the second floor served as an attic and people only lived there in summer. Almost a hundred years later, in 1935, businessman Alvin A. Baker, who had lived through the recent economic crash, opened "The Baker's Inn" in the house, which he first rented from the owner and eventually bought in 1958. They served very Québécois dishes of the era, but it was also simple. After all, the popular dishes were bass (the fish) and steak. Since the sign read "fish and steak," it was very important for all the American visitors coming to the region.

After his death in the early 1960s, his second wife Lucienne Hamel continued to run the restaurant. Later, when she decided to step back from running the place due to health problems, Henri Simard (son of Idola Simard, owner of the land where the inn stands) bought the "Baker" in 1972. He soon sold it to one of his nephews, Gaston Cloutier, in the spring of 1975, and he remains the owner to this day.

He lived upstairs with his family until 1989, managing and maintaining the place. That year, the inn resumed its name chez Baker as five rooms were set up to accommodate tourists.

Gaston Cloutier (photo) has demonstrated a genuine passion for Auberge Restaurant Baker over the years. Alongside his work as an innkeeper, he pursued a career as a physical education teacher at a secondary school in the region from 1973 until his retirement in 2005. Since then, he has devoted himself body and soul to his establishment, which has become a significant presence in the gastronomy and terroir cuisine scene of the Capitale-Nationale region, among others. Few places can claim to have been serving meals for 90 years. Every year, he makes changes and improvements to better meet customer expectations, all year round.

For accommodation, there are six charmingly decorated rooms in the attic, plus a small neighbouring chalet and the "Maison du Village", Grandfather Cloutier's house in the heart of the village of Château-Richer. This ancestral heritage home from 1776 faces the river and Île d'Orléans and is furnished to accommodate six people for a journey through time in 21st-century comfort.

The restaurant seats two hundred and comprises a dining room and a spacious, versatile, glass-enclosed reception hall with all the multimedia equipment needed for a successful event. Evenings feature a table d'hôte menu, and Sundays bring fabulous brunches.

 

More recently, Gaston Cloutier chose to add a new product to his lineup: Baker, a Belgian-style beer brewed in Québec from hops grown on a local farm and locally produced blackberries. A special touch: it's fermented with champagne yeast, offering delicate effervescence and refined aromas.


Indeed, the success of Auberge Restaurant Baker over 50 years, under Gaston Cloutier's management, is linked to his constant dedication and to a motivation always driven by the quality of the welcome and the "Baker" product. Over 22 people work there, and the owner can rely on dependable, skilled staff to whom he can delegate a good share of the responsibilities.

An on-site visit is certainly the best way to discover and appreciate the quality of the place and its services.

Auberge Restaurant Baker
aubergebaker.com
8790, avenue Royale
Château-Richer (Québec) G0A 1N0
418 824-4478

Carleton-sur-Mer has long cultivated a culture of good food and comfortable lodging. People come from far and wide to enjoy this beautiful setting in the Gaspésie’s Baie-des-Chaleurs, but most of all for the dining scene, which has become especially appealing.

Among the offerings is Le Marin d’eau douce on rue du Quai, owned by the Benhamidou family, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024. To mark the occasion, the restaurant offered a series of dinner-shows for guests all summer long.

Since 1999, they’ve served menus inspired by Gaspésie terroir, French and Moroccan cuisine. Chef-owner Mohamed Benhamidou, long separated from his father Mustapha, but finally reunited with him in Carleton-sur-Mer, took over in 2023 and shares his love for Gaspésie and Québec terroir cuisine, but always with a pinch of Moroccan inspiration.

In the 1990s, after working in major Québec establishments, Chef Mustapha Ben Hamidou decided to settle his small family in Carleton, in the baie des Chaleurs. In 1999, Mustapha, a Moroccan immigrant, bought café l’Indépendant and transformed it into Le Marin d’eau douce, now a must-visit in Gaspésian gastronomy. Today, his son Mohamed, his wife Iman, his daughters Fatima, Assia and Aicha, and a fine, passionate team are there to offer the best of terroir cuisine.

Le Marin d’eau douce occupies a house built in 1820 by Narciss Leblanc, known as "Buck Wheat". He was a blacksmith with a shop facing the sea. A few other owners followed. In 1980, Pierre Landry bought the property and turned it into a café restaurant, "Le Café l’Indépendant". Ten years later, in 1990, three local friends bought it and kept it as a café restaurant.

Then, in 1999, Mustapha Benhamidou acquired the building just steps from a beach on the Baie des Chaleurs, offering a stunning view that aptly complements chef Mohamed's refined, sunny cuisine. Mohamed has been in the kitchen since 2023, after several years as maître d'hôtel and general manager. Today, they still strive to make it a must-visit for lovers of fish and seafood, as well as meat and game. It's a warm, friendly place. Not to mention a wine list worthy of the finest cellars.

Among the specialties on the menu, Mohamed serves the delicious products of his adopted homeland, all with a touch of his Moroccan roots: grilled octopus with fennel and lime; scallops from the Îles with saffron lentils; lamb shank with Eastern spices.

 

Le Marin d’eau douce received a certificate of excellence in 2005 from the Guide Debeur, an annual gourmet magazine. The restaurant is among the 500 best restaurants in Québec, selected from approximately 15,000 establishments. This distinction was awarded in recognition of the quality of its products and service.

Mustapha Benhamidou was no newcomer to the culinary world when he bought his own restaurant. He had already spent 29 years in professional kitchens across Morocco, Europe, Québec, and Canada. His son Mohammed has since taken over with honour and confidence, knowing that the institution still has its place in the Gaspésie scene.

The chef-owner notes that the restaurant is open year-round, even during the end-of-year holidays. The team takes a well-deserved break in January. He also mentions that it's always best to reserve to ensure a warm welcome.

Le Marin d’eau douce
marindeaudouce.com
215, rue du Quai
Carleton-sur-Mer, QC G0C 1J0
418-364-7602

By Gaëtan Vaudry

Connoisseurs of fine dining in Matane are familiar with Pub La Fabrique and its namesake Artisanal Brewery, located on Saint-Jérôme Avenue. Matane's first artisanal brewery sprung up in the summer of 2010. Owned by the cooperative Le Cabestan, it has been gaining popularity ever since.

At Pub La Fabrique, you can enjoy an excellent pub-style meal featuring fish & chips, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers, along with sipping on a finely brewed beer made on-site, or one of the 35 whiskies that have built the establishment's reputation. During my meeting with Jean-Pierre Boutin (pictured), a member of the cooperative's board, the La Fabrique team had just unveiled their much-anticipated Holiday menu (discoverable here), to the delight of the place's many patrons. This menu is available every evening from 4 PM until mid-January.

Pub La Fabrique is simply stunning. With a cozy decor spread over two floors, it regularly hosts shows by emerging artists, drawing crowds to Saint-Jérôme Street, and often creating a buzzing atmosphere in the pub.

Supporting Matane's Businesses

La Fabrique - Artisanal Brewery brews around 25 beers, ranging from their classics to seasonal varieties, including oak barrel-aged beers. As Jean-Pierre Boutin explains, the brewery strives to use local products as much as possible, aiming to support businesses in Matane and the surrounding region.

If you're passing through Matane, a stop at the pub and the adjacent La Fabrique Brewery is a must. At the latter, you can sample the establishment's offerings and visit the official shop, which boasts an array of products.

Pub La Fabrique La Fabrique - Artisanal Brewery
360, Saint-Jérôme Avenue 366, Saint-Jérôme Avenue
Matane (Quebec) Matane (Quebec)
418 566-4020 418 566-4020
publafabrique.com publafabrique.com

The Acadian Coast has more to offer than just beaches and cultural attractions. Its culinary pleasures are quite appealing too. The region of La Sagouine and that of Shédiac, the lobster capital of the world, are examples.

In Bouctouche, the land of La Sagouine, you can expect to find distinctive spots. The Restaurant la Sagouine, next door to the gîte of the same name, right in the heart of the city, is a perfect example. For those looking for a novel gastronomic experience, you can enjoy Acadian dishes or famed seafood here. Tour buses regularly drop off passengers for an afternoon meal. The breakfasts are especially renowned.

The famous Marché des fermiers of Bouctouche welcomes local food lovers every Saturday from May to December.

In the heart of the city centre, on rue Main, the restaurant La Coast was founded in 2012. Its new owner since 2024 continues the tradition of this family restaurant, which quickly became a favourite with both locals and tourists. Seafood in various forms is king here, but they also serve a variety of dishes such as steaks, burgers, chicken, pasta and salads. Up to 16 beers and other beverages are on tap, plus a bottle selection, one of the largest in the region. Breakfasts are renowned and popular.

Inspired by characters from Alice in Wonderland, the playful bistro le Moque-Tortue, in a large house on rue Main, lets you play, escape, and eat, all in one place. With the largest board game collection in the Atlantic region as well as well-designed escape games, it offers a varied menu of good, well-prepared dishes. Seafood takes centre stage. The Sunday brunch alone is worth the trip. There’s music on the terrace every day throughout the summer.

Not far from Moque-Tortue, owners Sébastien and Heater offer Adorable Chocolat. The place offers a range of chocolates made on the premises from simple, natural ingredients, and is also a café serving soups, sandwiches, and desserts. In the mornings, you’ll find fresh brioches and viennoiseries. They now also serve alcoholic cocktails alongside a wide selection of coffees, daily until 6 p.m.

As if that weren’t enough, these same entrepreneurs have acquired the ciné-parc Neptune, back in operation since May 2024, where they will also run the canteen under the name Morse et Marteaux, to continue the "Pays des Merveilles" concept. They also secured the operating contract for the Plage Parlee canteen in Pointe-du-Chêne. Sébastien Després dreamed of a Texan-style meat smoker. He built one and installed it at the drive-in’s canteen. It will be used to smoke chicken and beef over a wood fire, to be served at both canteens and his two restaurants in Shediac.

Note: every July since 1949, Shédiac has welcomed its renowned Festival du homard celebrated across the city with a host of culinary activities. Don't miss the Grande Table on the main street right in the heart of downtown.

Believe it or not, 2024 marked 10 years since the arrival of Microbrasserie Le Malbord in the Gaspésie landscape. Housed in a completely renovated former grocery store by the sea in the heart of Sainte-Anne-des-Monts’ historic district, Le Malbord has become a welcoming gathering spot, bringing this heritage building back to life with a chic, rustic decor featuring creations made from recycled objects.

For language lovers, "malbord" is a folk expression for Haute-Gaspésie, the other Gaspésie that refuses to be forgotten. The Gaspésie is often associated with Baie-des-Chaleurs. Malbord refers to the other side of the Gaspésie. "For us, it's a way of saying it's worth stopping in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. There are fine products and a fine community of all ages, super involved," says co-owner Félix Labrecque.

 

Sainte-Anne-des-Monts is the largest municipality in Haute-Gaspésie, yet it is also the Québec town that has seen the steepest population decline in recent years. It therefore deserved a little entrepreneurial energy.

In 2012, three people from very different backgrounds, yet all concerned about their future and aware of the buzz then surrounding microbreweries, decided to take the plunge and seize the opportunity before them. After two years of small-scale brewing experiments in the basement of one of their homes, they moved forward with their project by acquiring and renovating the building on 1ére avenue.



They even considered growing hops… but after careful thought and recognizing the lack of potential, the project never materialized.

In the meantime, they had their first self-designed beers brewed at Pit Caribou (Percé) and le Naufrageur (Carleton-sur-Mer), and finally welcomed their first customers in November 2014. A year after opening, Le Malbord celebrated the start of in-house brewing with modern equipment and recipes carefully crafted by the owners.

 

From 2018, Thierry Lafargue, a forestry worker, and Félix Labrecque, an architecture enthusiast, carried on the Malbord adventure on their own.

Le Malbord now offers refined craft beers with recipes inspired by the richness of the terroir. The owners describe their products as "beers to share and discover, beers that assert themselves over time. Good sea or bad, they cling to your palate like crags of rock to the sea. They’ll take you on a journey, letting you discover their flavours as well as the beauties of our corner of the country, with its mountains and endless sky."


The bistro bar serves 11 house-brewed draft beers at all times. Several products, including the white, blonde, red and black beers in 473 ml cans, are sold in grocery stores and shops across Québec. For hearty appetites, the pub-style snack menu offers tasty dishes. There’s also a dedicated shop selling Malbord clothing and accessories, plus beer to go.

 

Once a venue for cultural events and discovery, the emphasis is first and foremost on fun! As a small team, they occasionally host a comedian, a fun quiz or karaoke nights.



Le Malbord is open year-round from Thursday to Sunday. In summer, you can enjoy the front terrace and watch the beautiful sunsets over the Saint-Laurent.

Microbrasserie Le Malbord
lemalbord.com
178, 1ère avenue Ouest
Ste-Anne-des-Monts, Qc G4V 1C9
418 764.0022

Autumn morning light bathes the place. The old building sits proudly under the trees of rue de l’Évêché, just steps from the lively rue Saint-Germain with its many shops.

The restaurant, popular for 30 years, can accommodate up to 120 people across two floors and on the terrace in fine weather. Beyond the splendid ancestral staircase crowned by an impressive chandelier that’s visible right from the entrance, more than a thousand birdhouses, including some of the most original, adorn the building’s various corners, the work of the restaurant’s founder, Alain Bellavance. The new owners have taken over and continue to grow the imposing collection.

  

In fine weather, an outdoor terrace in front of the elegant Victorian house is a genuine, sunlit haven of peace in the heart of downtown Rimouski. It lets guests enjoy the gentle sun while beautiful mature trees provide shade.

Built in 1920 by retired priest Georges Gagnon, the building is distinguished by a distinctive Gothic-inspired front portal that dominates the facade, and by splendid galleries that wrap around three sides of this ancestral home. Its turned-wood posts, supported by volute consoles at the top of the balustrade, are original. As a result, past and present owners have ensured this treasure, now over a century old, is preserved.

It was Julie Lacroix and Alain Bellavance who created this brand-new restaurant concept in June 1995. A few years later, another business group took over, and the great adventure continues, much to the joy of a growing clientele.
Finally, in June 1995, Central Café underwent a major management transformation: the previous owner wanted to retire with no successor in place, so a group of employees and a few other individuals interested in keeping the business going decided to move forward and turn it into a solidarity cooperative. The group received help and advice from an expert to work on this worker cooperative project.

There are 16 people, several of them long-time employees, who have been members of the cooperative for nearly 10 years. general manager Nancy Dubé, one of the project's initiators, explains that the model's success lies in the strong sense of belonging created by this management and operating structure: rather than working for a boss, members work for their own organization and take part in decisions. There is also talk of significant tax benefits.

 Nancy Dubé, general manager

Central Café is a member of the Association des restaurateurs du Québec and Saveurs du Bas-Saint-Laurent, an organization tasked with promoting Bas-Saint-Laurent products. The restaurant prominently features the region's agri-food products in its dishes and prides itself on supporting local artisans, who are a source of pride for the region.

Today, over 27 people run Central Café, which is open year-round, 7 days a week.
Guests particularly appreciate the quality of the menu, which offers a good variety of burgers, pasta, pizzas, smoked meat and cutlets. For sides, you can choose from a bowl of house fries, French onions, Atlantic smoked salmon or house parmesan fondue, some of the kitchen's delights.

 

The kitchen strives to create unique recipes, concocted by the cooks and prepared on site from local ingredients and products. They're also proud of the delicious original desserts made here.

Central Café is well worth a visit for those who appreciate delicious food, a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, and a stay in a setting rich in history and quality cuisine. Home delivery is available at all times.

Central Café
centralcaferimouski.com
31, rue de l’Évêché Ouest
Rimouski (Qc) G5L 4H4
418 722-4011

By Gaëtan Vaudry

Since 2017, Microbrewery La Mouche has been turning heads with its beers, almost exclusively crafted from Quebecois ingredients, without any additives.

Right off the bat, Kelly Mansbridge, the head of sales and marketing at the young Natashquan microbrewery, shared her insights on a slight slump the Quebec microbrewing industry had been experiencing for several months, as reported by some media in November: "It's certainly not easy," she candidly noted. "With many microbreweries in Quebec and a vast range of products available to enthusiasts, the market is becoming increasingly competitive."

Natashquan's Own Wild Yeast

Gabriel Turner, the artist and craftsman behind the success of La Mouche's beers, originally from Montreal and adopted by Natashquan, founded the microbrewery in 2017. He brewed his very first beer at the Microbrewery St-Pancrace in Baie-Comeau, before moving to Natashquan three years later. "Gabriel loves Natashquan for its wild nature, its unfenced lands, and the social life of a welcoming community," Kelly proudly mentioned. "Passionate about this beautiful region of the North Shore, Gabriel aimed to create jobs in the area. He wanted to produce a beer for the local people." After extensive research and development, Gabriel achieved his goal, brewing beers with Quebec hops and grains, and even cultivating his own wild yeast in Natashquan!

I had the opportunity to taste only one product from Microbrewery La Mouche: Mlle Manon, a gently wheat beer with little bitterness, inspired by German hefeweizens. This beer's effervescence is lively, almost sharp. In its large bottle, one finds a hazy, foamy, and sparkling beer with a fresh and pleasant grainy flavor. Mlle Manon is remarkably refreshing, which is exactly what I look for in a beer!

Mikushkuau: The Microbrewery's New Beer

Microbrewery La Mouche offers more than 16 varieties of beer, from Bomber Jaune to Mickey Finn, including Cosse Boom, Pelletier, Pirate, Muddler, Pompier, Green Butt, and Colibri, to name just a few. Did you know that each beer name refers to a fly used in fly fishing? For instance, the microbrewery recently announced its new beer, Mikushkuau ("The sky is red" in Innu language), inspired by a fishing fly specially created for the company by Audrey Ringuette, founder of the North Shore enterprise Shakutaimu. Ms. Ringuette offers introductory fly fishing courses for everyone.

La Mouche's beers are available at over 150 locations in Quebec, especially in establishments specializing in microbrewery beers (see the list here).

Microbrewery La Mouche
33, Chemin de l'Aéroport
Natashquan (Québec)
418 962-6003
microbrasserielamouche.com

Aficionados are well-aware that Cantharellus cibarius, known in French as girolle or Chanterelle commune, is a species of basidiomycete fungi belonging to the Cantharellaceae family. This mushroom, widespread across the Northern Hemisphere, is esteemed for its culinary excellence, ranking among the most renowned and sought-after in its category.

By analogy, the same can be said for the French "bring your own wine" restaurant La Girolle, nestled in Quebec's Saint-Sacrement neighborhood, which has been a well-known and sought-after destination for 23 years. Owned by Chef David Grenier (photo) since 2018, the establishment has preserved the spirit and values of its founders while naturally evolving its menu over the years and seasons.

Let's highlight some of the famous dishes available. Starters include: Deluxe Charcuterie Plate, Escargot Pastry in Cheese Sauce, Flavors of L'ile d'Orléans, Bison Carpaccio with Truffle Emulsion. Main courses particularly appreciated are: Scallop and Shrimp Risotto, Grilled Lamb Loin with Spanish Sauce, Duck Breast with Port and Serviceberry, Braised Sweetbreads à la Forestière, Land and Sea / Black Pudding with Spices, Deer in Mushroom Crust with Périgord Sauce, Salmon Pavé with Mango Salsa, Chef's Style Beef Fillet Mignon, Pork Tenderloin with Cheddar Fondue and Balsamic.

Grenier, before acquiring the restaurant, had been actively involved in various kitchen roles, from dishwasher to cook, starting at the age of 18. Despite not attending prestigious culinary schools or holding renowned degrees in hospitality, his merit includes stints at famed establishments during travels in Australia and around the world, where he honed and developed his culinary skills.

Alongside the previous owners of La Girolle, he has cultivated the art of dining based on dishes that continue to contribute to the place's fame and draw a loyal clientele, in addition to developing an entirely new menu. Since Grenier took over, there have been no major changes to the venue: the carpet was removed, and some minor renovations were made. His motivation lies in maintaining consistent quality in the cuisine, always in line with market availability and seasonally affordable products.

In addition to the regular menu displayed on large wheeled blackboards, which changes with the seasons, one can always order frozen dishes for takeout, offering meals distinct from the regular menu and complementing the dining room offerings. This product, even post the 2000-2001 pandemic, continues to enjoy success. They also offer various takeout and reheat dishes (soups, salads, charcuteries, sweetbreads, black pudding, pork tenderloin, for example).

Indeed, La Girolle remains one of the rare "bring your own wine" (or beer) restaurants in Quebec City, a concept David Grenier assures will not change. This format is highly appreciated six evenings and three afternoons each week, from August to June. Its location outside tourist districts allows a month-long July vacation for the team of approximately 25 employees.

La Girolle can accommodate up to 140 guests in the evening, from Tuesday to Sunday, with 106 seats spread across two distinct sections. Reservations are recommended, especially from Friday to Sunday. Workers and residents of the neighborhood frequent it for lunch from Wednesday to Friday.

For history enthusiasts, the establishment Les Prés had been located here since 1990. La Girolle has been operating at this address since 2000.

Restaurant La Girolle
lagirolle.ca
1384, Chemin Sainte-Foy
Québec, QC, G1S 2N6
(418) 527-4141