Category: Escapades

Here are some culinary discoveries made recently in Montreal:

For a festive evening, the Lauréa is located in the old Rotisserie Laurier, which became an instant Laurier BBQ. The Little Lauréa with its piano bar should be on your list for the 5 to 7. Cocktails, music and delicious appetizers, the perfect match. In Lauréa, I was conquered by the seared scallops and pumpkin ravioli and black cod, creamy and cooked to perfection. As soon as we can we go back!

Lauréa: 381 Laurier Outremont, Quebec (514) 507-4997

Kuu, friendly bistro that offers Japanese dishes at very good prices, in a modern and warm decor. Miso soup for $2, $10 Ramen and mini skewers $2-3. Some selection of sushi, note that most have cream cheese, which is not very traditional. For dinner we go back to change the Sushi Shop.

Kuu Bistro: 1219 Phillips Square, Montreal, QC H3B 3E9

For dessert, try the pastry Olivier Potier, located on Sherbrooke Street West, near the Museum of Fine Arts.  Paris-Brest and a caramel and black chocolate fondant cake, the art of assaying fat and sugar, all is well proportioned, almost weightless. We return to try the new creations.

UPDATE: NOW CLOSED: Olivier Potier, artisan delicacies in 1490 Sherbrooke Street West (438) 381-6111

No need to go to France to obtain Calissons, Choupettes, nougat and chocolate olives. La Cure Gourmande is a lovely shop that offers all these products directly imported from France, perfect for a gift.

La Cure Gourmande: Place Montreal Trust 1500 McGill College Avenue – Level 2 Montreal H3A 3J5

Bargains to do at Aubut, food wholesaler and open to the public. The integral and organic flour The Milanese, 20kg bag and the choice of Barry and Valrhona chocolate chips worth visiting.

Aubut (wholesale): 3975 St Ambroise, Montreal, QC H4C 2E1 (514) 933-0939

Difficult to find a more beautiful beach in New England than Old Orchard, Maine, but also difficult to find a hotel in high season there. Browsing the hotels along the east coast on Google Maps, I came across the Nantasket Beach Resort located on a peninsula south of Boston at a 5:30 hr drive from Montreal. Facing the sea, just behind the main street, this hotel overlooks the Nantasket Beach in Massachusetts Bay. Perfect for two or three nights, the beach is the main  activity of the city of Hull.

The Paragon Carousel remains for children, built in 1928, when the region attracted thousands of tourists every summer. Other attractions of the park were demolished in 1985. Very welcoming at low tide, the beach is a little rocky at high tide. The ferry is very easily accessed to get to Boston in less than 30 minutes. The small town of Hingham at about 10 minutes by car offers more choice of restaurants and a small ancient town center to visit. If it rains, there is a large mall, the South Shore Plaza in Braintree, 30 minutes by car or at 1 hour drive, the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. As in New Hampshire, there are no taxes on alcohol, so it worth to stop at a liquor store to buy your two bottles allowed per person.

To book on Expedia:

Nantasket Beach Resort

Boston is a beautiful, historic city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Massachusetts. Founded in 1630, Boston is known for its many historic monuments and its European charm. Two to three nights is the perfect way to enjoy the city and visit many of its attractions. Among the things to do in Boston, the Freedom Trail is without doubt the best known. To do this walk of about 4 km, you can either take a guided tour or simply follow the red line on the ground that begins downtown, through the North End where the Italian neighborhood is, and ends at the other end of the  Charlestown bridge. See also: Quincy Market, Aquarium, Boston Commons which is the oldest public park in America and the Public Garden. Due to their proximity, it is easy to explore on foot the neighborhoods of Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End and downtown. My favorite is Charles Street, where we find antique shops, boutiques and cozy restaurants.

On the way back entering New Hampshire, you can stop at the Merrimack Premium Outlets. Located on the edge of a highway almost parallel to the 93, this little detour extends just 15 minutes your drive to Montreal. You will find deals to outlets such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Banana Republic, Coach, Lindt Chocolate, and many others.

The Maasdam of the Holland America Line is one of the few cruise ships to dock in Montreal because the majority of ships cannot pass under the Jacques Cartier Bridge. With a capacity of 1,258 passengers, this classic style boat was renovated in 2011. From the end of May until August, you can pick either Montreal or Boston for a 7 days cruise or return within 14 days. If you go to Montreal, it is very easy to go back to Boston with a rental car or by bus. The Maasdam is best known for its exemplary service and gourmet restaurants. Whether it is for lunch, an afternoon tea or dinner, the Rotterdam dining room will meet your expectations. For a more intimate evening, the Pinnacle Grill offers a very reasonably priced steakhouse style menu except on the Cirque theme night ($49 per person), where the menu is inspired by the chef Sirio Maccioni famous restaurant. The Lido buffet on the deck 11 is perfect for lunch or take a ice cream cone. The Maasdam is also equipped with a gym overlooking the sea, a spa, two pools, a library, shops, a theater offering a variety of entertainment every night, cooking classes and more.

First day, Quebec

The most beautiful city to visit, always impressive to see the Chateau Frontenac from the shore.

Second day: at sea

We took the opportunity to relax by the pool, walk on deck 6 which surrounded the boat and take a drink at the bar on deck 12.

Third day: Charlottetown

Very nice city to visit, we arrived on July 1st on Canada Day, electrifying atmosphere!

Fourth day: Sydney

Very small area to visit, it is better to take excursions or stay on the ship …

Fifth day: Halifax

The citadel, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, public gardens, the promenade along the harbor, one day is not enough to see everything!

Sixth day: Bar Harbor

We arrived on July 4th in an enchanting little village, between the sea and mountains. We visited shops on the main street and explored the Path along the rocky shore. As a tropical storm approaches, we must leave at noon, we promise to return.

Seventh day: Boston

We avoided the storm and slowly arriving to Boston, we take our last lunch at the Rotterdam dining room and leaves the Maasdam …

Cape Cod is a beautiful resort area south of Boston. From Falmouth to Provincetown, this peninsula is full of white sandy beaches, bike trails crisscrossing alleys roses, wildlife sanctuaries and villages of New England.

In good weather, the beach, the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard island, bike ride and visit of the  shops, cafes and restaurants in the region will charm you.

By gray or rainy days, numerous museums, the aquarium in Woods Hole, art galleries, antique shops and vineyards perfectly complement your holiday.

During my short stay of five days in mid-June, I tried some excellent restaurants including the Glass Onion, the Pickel Jar and Anejo in Falmouth, and the Red’s at the Sea Crest Hotel which overlooks the sun setting over the sea. All good recommendations to try.

A great gastronomic tour, dreamy landscapes and a host of attractions to discover in Cape Cod make it a perfect destination for a summer holiday with family or couple.

Nestled at the foot of Mont Tremblant, between Laurentian lakes and forest, the resort Mont Tremblant offers many hotels, condos for rent, restaurants and cafe to visit. I made it a little three day break in late April, after the ski season and pre-season of golf and fishing.

This off-season was perfect for walking in the forest, enjoy the spa and watch the many deer and ducks are present near homes.

The only downside, most of the restaurants were closed for renovation. My favorite is St-Georges Steakhouse, located in St-Jovite. I ate a very good pork chop Nagano.

About 20 km to Morin-Heights, Morgan Farm specializes in organic meat such as wild boar, veal, Muscovy duck, guinea fowl, wild turkeys and especially the grass-fed beef. I made a few purchases,  recipes and comments coming soon!

A summer in Old Orchard, because a week is never long enough …

Old Orchard is a summer destination for many quebecer for three, even four generations.

Located in the state of Maine in the United States, Old Orchard offers a beautiful sandy beach of 7 miles long, which is well worth the 5-6 hour drive to get there.

It is ideal for long walks, read a book, swim a little, cycling, visiting nearby cities, including Portland and Kennebunkport, which offer excellent restaurants and museums.

And Old Orchard, for me, is to eat fresh lobster every day! With garlic butter, sprinkled with lemon juice, lobster roll for lunch or Thermidor for diner.

You can buy it live or cooked at Bayley’s, a seafood dealers replenished every day by fishing boats.

For more information about Old Orchard, visit Vacancesoldorchard.com

 

Less than two hours from Montreal, Burlington is a beautiful college town located on Lake Champlain, Vermont.

Pedestrian Street, Church Street, in the heart of the city is full of restaurants, shops and pubs. There is no tax on clothes, so we took the opportunity to do some shopping  at Macy’s, Victoria’s Secret, Banana Republic and other small shops.

In summer, the North Beach is perfect for relaxing, or the bike path along Lake Champlain.

Through a Groupon promotion, we stayed at The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa. As its name suggests, this hotel offers cooking classes and a good table at restaurant Amuse.

As a starter, we had an excellent quail and a memorable macaroni and cheese with truffles. Vermont local products are often featured in most dishes.

Niagara Falls in October!

At nearly 700 km west of Montreal, there are the famous Niagara Falls, visited by over 19 million tourists each year.

Autumn is an ideal time to visit them, the trees begin to change color and the tourists are rare.

The city of Niagara Falls has long been recognized to be a romantic destination, especially for honeymooners. It also offers a wide range of activities for all the family, the Dinosaur Adventure Golf, Marineland, unusual museums, haunted houses and attractions offered in the Clifton Hill district.

Along the falls, Queen Victoria Park  is a beautiful place to sit and watch the falls, or just walk through the narrow paths.

Do not look for gourmet restaurants in the city, you should rather be content with steakhouses, pizza or fast food. I liked Antica Pizzeria for its wood oven pizza, a good quality / price ratio. If you want a good meal and taste the local products, go to the neighboring town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. In addition, the best vineyards in the region are there.

Quebec City in August! 

Chateau Frontenac majestically overlooks the Old Quebec. This hotel of 618 rooms belongs to the Fairmont Group and is known to be the most photographed hotel in the world.

The fortifications that surround Old Québec were used to defend the city at the time of New France around 1745.

You can see one of the many cozy terraces. There is  fewer tourists in late August, allowing you to better enjoy and admire the many historic sites.

The Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church nobly on the Place Royale. Built 323 years ago, she survived the war and other destruction attempts.

One of the best desserts I’ve had the chance to eat. Cognac is a classic of the restaurant St-Amour, it’s a frozen pyramid with crunchy praline, romia, caramelized filberts and maple butter.