There have been several waves of “dusting” of the sugar shack menu. The first, led by Martin Picard, Vincent Dion-Lavallée and their team, gave impetus to the quintessential Quebec tradition. Other sugar factories and restaurants have followed suit. So much so that today, a large number of establishments offer refined “cabin meals” during the months of March and April. Here are some of the most tantalizing ones of 2023.
Perles et Paddock has a sugar brunch on Saturdays and Sundays until April 2. For $45 per person, the table will receive three hefty courses of several courses, some of which are vegetarian, such as baked beans with hydnae mushroom, tomato and molasses, beet tagliatelle and enhanced coleslaw. The base is traditional, but the interpretation, very free.
For the same price, the Artisans Market at the Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel showcases products from the Virgin Mady sugar refinery in the Eastern Townships. There’s a homemade cassoulet, soft-boiled eggs with truffle oil, pea soup, roasted vegetables with maple syrup, ears of crisse with smoked ketchup, sweets and a taffy station. A full vegetarian menu is also offered, and kids eat for $18. The season runs until April 10.
In the Richmond, we also gorge ourselves on the day, the weekends of March 25 and 26 and the 1er and April 2, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. For $55 ($25 per child), the table shares homemade pork, cheddar and maple sausage, smoked maple trout, a maple millefeuille, pudding and foie gras , bacon and ham. There will then be a choice of main courses and a dessert.
The famous Maison Boire, in Granby, has its own small maple grove with around a hundred taps. She has only one meal, on the evening of Sunday, March 26. The $85 menu (add $60 for wine pairing) includes foie gras cromesquis, pea soup, Brussels sprouts and bacon entrée, maple trout candies, old-fashioned pork pâté with vegetables and unconventional chômeur pudding.