This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Novelties, events, temporary activities… Each week, the Plaisirs book informs you of gourmet news not to be missed.
Quebec restaurants stand out once again this year with their impressive wine list. No less than 25 establishments are on the list of winners of the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards 2022, which annually rewards restaurants around the world with thoughtful, varied and high-quality wine selections while ensuring that they are consistent with menu design.
Three levels of prizes are awarded: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award, the highest distinction. The bistro Le Coureur des Bois, located in Beloeil, in Montérégie, has once again won a Grand Award, an honor it has been honored with since 2018, in particular due to the exceptional development of its wine list with more than 4,000 selections. Although some Quebec restaurants have been noticed for years, others are rewarded for the first time or have managed to achieve a whole new rank. Overview of four recent winners to discover or rediscover.
JJacques
An oyster, cocktail and wine bar all rolled into one, this unique and friendly space in the Saint-Roch district of Quebec City, whose windowless design was designed to promote the here and now, offers refined cuisine that focuses mainly on seafood to share. Its thirsty wine list, following the trend for nature and biodynamics, earned it an Award of Excellence.
At Muffy’s
Winner of a Best of Award of Excellence, this Auberge Saint-Antoine restaurant located in Quebec City, in a historic building from 1822, embraces the concept of farm to fork with local cuisine and respectful of products of the season. Its wine list contains more than 750 selections from 14 countries. Among the 7,000 bottles in its wine cellar, many are wines for laying down and private imports. Sommeliers available on site guarantee a food and wine pairing for a “bistronomic experience”!
Restaurant Le Fougasse
In Sorel-Tracy, in Montérégie, Le Fougasse has been promoting market cuisine since 1998, both current and Mediterranean-inspired. In the spotlight, olive oil, also used in the making of the Provençal bread that is the beloved fougasse! Twice holder of an Award of Excellence in 2020 and 2021, the establishment which would have “the largest cellar in the region”, regularly filled with private imports, receives this year a Best of Award of Excellence. Its wine tasting evenings are a great way to make discoveries thanks to an expert team.
Primi Piatti
On the South Shore in the Montreal region, in Saint-Lambert, this Italian restaurant established since 2008, winner of an Award of Excellence several times, has reached a new height by winning a Best of Award of Excellence. Primi Piatti offers an incomparable culinary experience with fresh and high quality products as well as a wine list – evolving according to trends, but also traditions – from the best vineyards in the world.