Making the most of the sunny season with a gourmet trip to the Laurentians: now there’s an excellent idea! The region has no shortage of great spots to sit down to a delicious meal. From classic bistros to cozy cafés, lively pubs to haute cuisine, there’s truly something for everyone. Enjoy a summer brunch or sit down to a five-course chef’s menu. The gourmet options are endless! Whatever their style of cuisine, restaurateurs in the Laurentians take pride in creating delicious menus that highlight local ingredients. But these delicacies aren’t just found in well-known establishments. You can also enjoy locally inspired dishes off the beaten track. In rustic décor or a historic home, the region’s restaurants marry food with style for an exceptional gourmet experience.
Let’s Eat!
Together, with family or friends, restaurants in the Laurentians are an invitation to all foodies! The region’s variety of sunny patios and dining rooms are the perfect place to refuel or spend some quality time with loved ones. The menu is long and varied: from fine dining to home cooking, not to mention local gems, fast food, or even international flavours, there’s everything to satiate your taste buds.
Discovering Local Gems
The Chemin du Terroir des Laurentides is a maintained route spanning more than 226 kilometres over a rural territory that is home to a thousand treasures. Agrotourism might take centre stage, but the local culture, heritage, and history are also celebrated, united in some of the best settings for romantic, family, educational, and, as always, gourmet getaways. The Lower Laurentians await you with open arms to show you the Laurentians’ flavours in its rustic settings. Along the way, don’t forget to purchase some of the products to continue your gourmet discoveries at home!
Gourmet Picnics
Take out your wicker basket and your best checkered blanket and get ready for a gourmet picnic in the Laurentians! Located in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Le Domaine Lafrance welcomes its visitors to its orchards and picnic areas, specifically designed to accommodate copious meals under the shade of the apple trees. You can also choose from a varied menu, which you can accompany with elaborate alcoholic products on site. Connoisseurs of good wine, La Bullerie’s vineyard in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac offers gourmet picnic baskets created by its chefs, always accompanied by one of their famous sparkling wines. Similarly, picnics at the foot of the vines are also offered in the picturesque setting of Rivière Du Chêne Winery in Saint-Eustache. Bring your own meal or take advantage of an in-store deal to access a range of local gourmet products.
When I Go to the Market, I Put in my Little Basket…
Who doesn’t want to stroll through local producers and artisans while breathing in the earthy aroma of fresh fruits and vegetables? Throughout the Laurentians, public markets await for you to stock up on fresh produce or products crafted with care, to soak in the local flavours and discover the artisans’ know-how. After stopping at the market, don’t forget to check out each sector of the region’s tourist attractions!
Foraging for Honey and Maple
Bzz bzz! Succulent substitutes to white sugar, local honey and maple are the pride of Laurentian products. Seasoned food tourists might enjoy a stop in Ferme-Neuve at Miels d’Anicet, to taste the delicious bee nectar and range of derived products. Make the most of the occasion to discover their seasonal menu infused with table honey from Pollens & Nectar Canteen! For an educational family outing in the Mirabel sector, Intermiel offers an all-ages introduction to the basics of beekeeping through guided tours, which always end with sweet discoveries. If you’re passionate about sugar, no matter the season, come and see the variety of products offered at Aux saveurs du printemps in Mirabel to enhance your cooking with original flavours or to treat a loved one to one of their delightful gift baskets.
Gathering in the Orchard, the Forest and the Vineyard
Agrotourism businesses in the Laurentians offer u-pick for a variety of products to add colour to your plate! In the Oka municipality, Labonté de la pomme’s orchards are packed with varieties of pears, prunes, garlic scapes, sweetcorn, green cabbage, and all kinds of squash. To enjoy a forest walk with a basket to fill, the company Gourmet sauvage in Mont-Blanc offers introductory plant and wild mushroom gathering workshops. Rivière du Chêne Winery in Saint-Eustache, meanwhile, is organizing four weekends of wine-themed days in September, where visitors can book a guided tour of the vines, pick grapes, and enjoy a gourmet picnic.
Passion Chocolate
Dark, white, or milk, in a dessert or by itself, chocolate features in all cuisines and is highly sought by sweet lovers. To get your chocolate fix in the region, L’Atelier Boutique Cotard in Sainte-Adèle demonstrates the commitment and know-how of its chocolatiers through its variety of artisanal chocolates, sweets, and ice creams. Also in its friendly Sainte-Adèle setting, Chocolaterie Marie-Claude loves to carry out is mission of introducing its customers to chocolate through tastings, demonstrations, and conferences. Located in Mont-Blanc, Chocostyle invites you to its fine chocolates and pastries shop, where you can take part in tastings or host children’s parties. Its museum has scores to teach about the basics of chocolate making.
For all tourism-related questions: info-tourisme@laurentides.com or call: 450-224-7007 | 1-800-561-6673.