This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Once is not custom, the notepad comes out this week of gourmet news to make you discover some little tourist jewels of the Côte-Nord not to be missed if you are exploring this region in the weeks to come.
1. Cozy nests with a view
Even if it is often visited by RVs and wild camping enthusiasts, the Côte-Nord now has, especially along Route 138, a range of welcoming, comfortable accommodations… and equipped with a view of the breathtaking river!
Whether we choose the formula glamping or chalet in Essipit, occupying a yurt at the Purmer mariculture farm on Île Grosse Boule (with the added bonus of a sandy beach, as well as tastings of lobster, mussels and seafood), or even staying in a charming inn like that of the Port d’Attache in Natashquan, we are amazed. And for even more comfort, in addition to the renowned Hôtel Tadoussac, the Château Arnaud offers very elegant rooms that allow you to watch, speechless, the magnificent sunsets over the port and the bay of Sept-Îles.
2. Legendary Beers
In 1932, when the St. Lawrence River was the scene of alcohol smuggling, a ship intercepted by the authorities dumped its cargo in Saint-Pancrace Bay. It is this drinkable little story that kicked off the Microbrasserie Saint-Pancrace in 2012, which decided to exploit this anecdotal concept by linking each of its beers to a legend or a piece of history. popular on the North Shore.
The microbrewery’s hoppy creations, in addition to their original names and visuals, pay homage to the region by incorporating small Nordic fruits (cloudberry, sea buckthorn, haskap, rhubarb) into their recipes. The most surprising of all is without a doubt the seasonal Crâââbe beer, a slightly amber bitter, one of the ingredients of which… is crab shell cooking water!
3. Craftsmen’s landmark
If the Marché des Saveurs in Montreal can be considered a showcase of choice for Quebec products, the local shop Chez Julie, located in Havre-Saint-Pierre, is unquestionably that of the producers and artisans of the North Shore. Inside this blue and red wooden house facing the wharf, you can find a great range of gourmet products: ready-to-eat seafood, sweet spreads with Nordic berries, small pots of lobster or marinated mussels , Saint-Laurent salt, birch or balsam fir syrup, chocolate or vinaigrettes with boreal flavours, etc. These delights mingle with other finds, such as Les Dériveuses clothing with messages or Natuku marine clay-based body care products. Impossible to come out empty-handed from this landmark.
4. Off-road soaps
When passionate and dreamy pickers from Baie-Trinité, in the Manicouagan region, decide to embark on craftsmanship, the results are surprising. Just look at the soaps produced by the small house Boréale Hors-piste to be convinced. Beautifully presented in dark tissue paper, these body breads are handmade with responsibly harvested fruits, plants and shells. Totally natural and full of active ingredients, they are as beautiful to look at as they are good to use.
5. Northern Female Alcohols
More and more women are interested in the production of alcohol. This is the case of the fiery Catherine Blier, a former police officer who wanted to promote Côte-Nord products. She therefore teamed up with a master distiller and founded the Le Vent du Nord microdistillery, which offers Norkôtié gin, with hand-picked local herbs and a surprising sweetness on the palate, including in its version aged in oak barrels. Oak.
We find this same elegance, with more fruity notes, in Arkosa gin with cranberry and sea buckthorn. But our favorite goes to Églantine, a unique liqueur made from rosehip, balsam bayberry, haskap and aronia berry. At once floral, herbaceous and slightly sweet, this delicious Eglantine is a good representation of the Côte-Nord region and its creator.
6. Premium Native Boots
Another woman closes this North Coast list. Born in Uashat, an Innu community near Sept-Îles, Josée Leblanc had the idea of encouraging the craftsmanship of her nation by creating the Atikuss brand of boots and accessories in 2014.
In addition to traditional moccasins, she designs models of boots made from leather, natural rubber, responsible furs and pearls. Entirely hand-sewn and beaded by Aboriginal craftswomen from the North Shore, the superb mukluks and Boots of Hope — the latter are made to measure — are popular in Canada and abroad, since they can be ordered online.