Quebec Food - A Foodies Guide to Quebec Food addresses a good reason to travel to Quebec. Lovers of French food, haute cuisine and culinary travelers who may not want to travel all the way to France will find much to enjoy here in terms of "gastronomie".
From top restaurants in Quebec's major cities and country inns to centuries old grocery stores to food festivals and microbreweries, there is always a tasty reason to visit North America's seat of French civilization.
1. A "Certified Quebec" Experience
Quebec Certified Saveurs-Terroir
Throughout the province, look for the blue and yellow oval signs that signifies a certified Quebec experience. Inns, restaurants, farms and attractions displaying this sign have passed rigorous inspections to guarantee a "made in Quebec" service, food or other product.
2. Top Montreal Restaurants
Sherel Purcell
Over 6000 food establishment licenses were issued in Montreal in 2008. Of course not all of these represent fine dining, but in general, compared to other large metropolitan centers, bad restaurants do not last long here. Quebec actively pursues immigrants from French speaking countries including amazing chefs.
3. Choosing a Restaurant in Montreal
Here are some tips on choosing restaurants in Montreal. Do you want to save money? Then bring your own wine or beer. Just look for "Apportez- Vtre Vin" signs or ask as you enter. Hint: these are usually found in the Plateau district mostly on Prince Arthur. Read more for extra tips.
4. Jean Talon Market Montreal
Montreal's favorite outdoor market open year round features produce from around the world as well as Quebec specialties. The best part? Everything is available for sampling including the city's best ice cream, cheese, chocolate and exotic barbequed meats.
5. Top Quebec City Restaurants
From restaurants featuring old world charm and traditional cooking to "top chef of the moment" places, Quebec City is a great place to eat. Mind you, since most of the cuisine is of the French persuasion, the city is more meat-eater friendly than it is vegetarian. Nouveau cuisine places offer interesting vegetarian specialties though usually as appetizers, in Quebec better known as entrees.
6. Gatineau Restaurants
Unlike other Canadian provinces where good food can only be found in the major centers, Quebec comes as a pleasant surprise. Good food is a way of life here where people of all stripes live to eat and not the other way around. Traveling around the province will result in great restaurant discoveries and foodie events off the beaten tourist track.
The Gatineau region (across the river from Ottawa, the nation's capital) has the AAA five diamond Baccara Restaurant hidden behind the Lac Leamy casino. A short drive away in the tiny town of Chelsea sits Les Fougeres Restaurant and for a lighter vegetarian option, Soupe L'herbe.
7. Best Food and Drink in Quebec City
A stroll down the rue St Jean will reveal a grocery store choc full of fine Quebec specialty food products. While in the Old Oort farmers market the best of Quebec produce, cheese, beer, fish, honey and wild berries can all be found throughout the year.
8. Pictures of Quebec City's Best Markets
Take a visual tour of Quebec City's best markets along rue St. Jean and the Old Port to see some of Quebec's local food and drink products.
9. Quebec's Favorite Bakery/Deli/Restaurant
All over the province, Premiere Moisson (First Harvest) is the name Quebecers associate with quality, healthy breads and deli sandwiches. With 15 locations and growing this Quebec chain makes a great lunch spot. Good news for the rest of Canada: breads from this chain have started showing up in large urban centers across the country.
10. Quebec Comfort Food
While Quebec is arguably the seat of haute cuisine in Canada, comfort food is to be found in abundance too. Many of these favorites including street or "junk " food items cannot be found anywhere else in North America, and if they are, they're sure to be a pale imitation.