Each season has its own novelties. And autumn is not to be outdone when it comes to delicacies and discoveries. Here are three products, made in Quebec, that harmonize well with the comfort of thatched cottages.
Chocolate spreads
For five years, Quebec could not be more chocolaty. And it’s the fault of Quentin Ryckaert and Vincent Coja, the founders of Allo Simonne and the creators of a dozen spreads. If their guideline is to offer pleasure, they also make it their duty to listen to their customers. After launching 1 kg containers to satisfy families, the Montreal company is now launching three new products, including one that is very low in sugar to meet the demands of many diabetics. In development for a year, this spread with hazelnuts, dark chocolate and cocoa nibs had a higher level of difficulty, explains Quentin Ryckaert: to be the least sweet on the market and the most greedy.
The other customer wish? A dark chocolate spread even more concentrated in sweet bitterness. A challenge, recognizes Mr. Ryckaert. The result is a crunchy hazelnut and dark chocolate spread. The milk chocolate version is the third novelty, very rich in roasted hazelnuts. Fans are already snatching them up, as evidenced by their recent trip to the Festival de la galette de Louiseville.
“Our customers are our best ambassadors. And in order to remain accessible to all, we have taken the decision not to increase our selling prices despite the significant increase in raw materials”, he underlines. To offset the increased costs, the Allo Simonne team no longer accepts credit cards, recycles cardboard boxes for shipments and reuses bags of sugar as garbage bags.
With the same fervor to produce the best delicacies, Allo Simonne wishes to be carbon neutral in 2025 and to have B Corp certification for its benefits for society and the environment.
The sandwiches are available everywhere in Quebec, in grocery stores and at independent retailers for $14 or $15.
New craft beers
When Jean-François Lavigueur won first prize in the amateur brewing contest organized by La Barberie, in Quebec, Samuel Audet immediately understood that he had before him a talented guy, a natural for whom the subtleties and meticulousness of brewing are an infused science. The proof: several microbreweries in the capital requisition him as a guest brewer. In charge of marketing at La Barberie, Samuel Audet wasted no time before proposing that they join forces to create their own company: EXP artisan brewer.
In the space of a year, the project went from brewing ideas to five beers actually brewed in their premises in Val-Bélair. And since last June, many beer lovers have set foot there, to have a drink on site or to get cans to take away. “It’s a lot Jean-François’ recipes that set us apart. It takes time to brew. I would say he is more zealous than others! Before arriving at a final recipe, he draws. And its beers are gourmet, generous in hops and fruit”, describes Mr. Audet.
Two new creations have just been encapsulated. One, “the big sister of a beer produced at Barberie”, called Hyperdominance, is a double aromatic IPA with Citra monohops. The other, a New England-style IPA called Apex, features a well-balanced trio of hops (Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, Simco) with notes of peach, white grape and melon.
And, a sign that autumn is well established, the artisan brewer Lavigueur is working on an imperial stout.
Available in packs of four cans at EXP artisan Brasseur (1970, rue de l’Interlude) for $26.80 or $29.40.
Pop-up mocktails!
“Ordinary doesn’t have to be” is the maxim behind the mocktails ready to drink signed Encanette. The new company from Louiseville, in Mauricie, revisits the classics of mixology by adding one (or more!) unusual touch. And to achieve this, the owners have been able to use their experience in winemaking and industrial automation, among others.
For Jean-Philippe Roussy, administrator and master distiller, it was important to renew the ready-to-drink offer with more complex aroma accords. Lemon Tom Collins, watermelon mojito, calamansi gin and tonic or blood orange amaretto; the long process of research and development by the Encanette team has made it possible to develop six recipes inspired by acidulous notes, a few touches of spices and a pleasant sparkling. Everything is made from natural flavors, gluten-free and without animal products.
The company has also created a range of cold brew coffees (cold brew) nitrogenous.
Available in various grocery stores in Quebec for $2.89 per can.