This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
New products, events, temporary activities… Each week, the Plaisirs section brings you gourmet news not to be missed. And since apples are the queens of this early fall, here are some suggestions, from field to table, to take full advantage of this emblematic fruit of Quebec!
Collection for all
Apple picking is by far the most popular and unifying activity for Quebecers in September and October. It must be said that it can take many forms, adapting to the tastes and expectations of the groups that devote themselves to it.
So let’s start our small series of suggestions with pomitourism destinations par excellence. In the Lower Laurentians, we can for example think of Domaine Lafrance, in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, rich in more than 13,000 apple trees, but also a very stocked gourmet shop, a bistro, a tasting kiosk, rest areas, picnics and games and a mini-farm. Some weekends, you can even meet singers there. Those who prefer the corner of Rougemont, in Montérégie, can set their sights on the Pommeraie d’or, a 16-hectare estate where pick-your-own alongside a mini-farm and games for children, as well as a corn maze, walks by tractor and a shop for all. As a bonus, you can take advantage of an interpretive course in order to perfect — and test! — his knowledge of apples and apple growing.
U-pick can also be a pretext for cross-tasting. In Saint-Joseph-du-Lac, Les Fromages du Verger offers organic apple picking and fresh or aged sheep’s cheese at the same address. The Coteau Saint-Paul estate, meanwhile, in Saint-Paul-d’Abbotsford, offers to pick apples and table grapes, and to test ciders and wines in its cellar. You can also pick your own responsibly at Qui sème harvest, located in Saint-Jean-de-Matha, in Lanaudière, while discovering maple products (including kombucha) and artisanal canola oils made on site. .
Finally, to end this non-exhaustive list, let us give a few examples of orchards accessible to everyone, including people with reduced mobility. Some estates do indeed have dwarf apple trees, gentle slopes and mats, or even suitable carts. It is possible to find conveniences of this kind at the Cidrerie Verger Bilodeau, located in Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île-d’Orléans, or at the Verger Le Gros Pierre, in Compton, in the Cantons-de-l’Orléans. ‘East.
Apple barbecue
For lovers of sweet and savory cuisine, well caramelized meats and local products, BBQ Québec has designed a sauce that should not leave them indifferent. “Sweet Apple” goes very well with the preparation of pork, chicken or tofu, bringing a sweet, fruity touch and a tad spicy thanks to a hint of rum and a mixture of spices.
A small neighborhood of pleasure
Brand new on the market, this alcohol should seduce those who love orange liqueurs with a little more local. Quartier Lafrance, from the producer of the same name, is indeed an apple brandy flavored with orange zest. Fine and enveloping, it can be enjoyed as it is on ice, in a cocktail or in a coffee. And why not integrated into certain desserts?
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the To have to, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of To have to did not take part.