Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Saturday 23 March 2019
Culinary delights found along the Charlevoix Flavor Trail

By JOHN MARSHALL six varieties of tomatoes
Associated Press that have won numerous
LA MALBAIE, Quebec (AP) awards.
— Danielle Ricard was “I researched the best vari-
walking through the woods ety to adapt to our climate
not far from the shore of the here in Quebec,” Miche
St. Lawrence River when said. “I found the six best
her husband, Jean-Pierre, varieties, and to vinify it is
kicked a patch of mush- exactly the same process
rooms. It led to an epipha- as the grapes.”
ny. If you have time for the
Bankruptcies had hit the scenic route, take the Train
Charlevoix Region of east- de Charlevoix, about two
ern Quebec hard in 2002 hours roundtrip from Baie-
and the couple had been Saint-Paul to La Malbaie,
looking for another source which both have numerous
of income to get by. stops on the flavor trail.
“I know what we’ll do!” GETTING THERE: Montreal
Danielle told her husband. is about a four-hour drive
“We’ll grow mushrooms!” In this undated photo released by Route des Saveurs, a bottle of tomato-based wine waits to be from Baie-Saint-Paul and
It took eight years of re- sold at Omerto in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec in Canada. has direct flights from most
search and development, Associated Press major cities. Quebec City
but the Ricards finally got If you’re looking for some- look into La Route des and he didn’t expect it to is about 75 minutes by car,
it right, developing a deli- thing exotic, try salty duck Saveurs. It offers a com- be quite this scope,” said but may require a connect-
cacy with bucket-grown foie gras made according plete tour of the area from Vidricaire, who began de- ing flight.
oyster mushrooms in a red to traditional Basque meth- the river route, and you can veloping the farm in 2014. WHERE TO STAY: Fairmont Le
barn at the foot of the Lau- ods at La Ferme Basque de return to your base through “When I studied how much Manoir Richelieu, La Mal-
rentians. Charlevoix, or the toma- the mountain route.” sun I get on this land, which baie. The spectacular hotel
The mushrooms of Champi- to-based aperitif wine at Azulee sits on a heritage is between eight and 12 overlooking the St. Law-
gnons Charlevoix lie at the Omerto, or emu steaks and Charlevoix farm built in the hours, it was ideal for laven- rence has been a favorite
heart — stomach? — of the oils at Centre de l’Emeu de mid-1800s and is filled with der.” of celebrities and world
epicurean delights found Charlevoix. bright fields of purple — Pascal Miche created one leaders, and hosted the G7
along La Route des Saveurs Most growers and produc- when the lavender is in sea- of the most unique prod- Summit in 2018. It has five
de Charlevoix, known in ers are happy to provide son — and various plants, ucts on the Charlevoix Fla- superb restaurants and is
English as the Charlevoix samples and, in most cas- organic herbs and edible vor Trail — or anywhere — a short walk from another
Flavor Trail. es, demonstrations. The res- flowers. by building upon an idea stop on the Flavor Trail, Au-
Located northeast of Que- taurants, from bakeries to Vidricaire, a translator and of his great-grandfather’s: berge des 3 Canards.
bec City along the St. Law- bistros to fine dining, offer former English teacher, has tomato wine. WORTH SEEING: Old Que-
rence River, the Charlevoix foods from across the Fla- a drying shed/boutique be- Omer Miche had concoct- bec City. Set along the St.
Flavor Trail features more vor Trail and the region, ev- hind the main house, and ed a tomato-based elixir in Lawrence, you’ll feel as if
than four dozen local grow- ery bite leaving you want- offers food products rang- 1938, and long wanted to you’ve been transported
ers, producers and restau- ing more. ing from double chocolate make wine from tomatoes. to France, with the old
rateurs in an area known as “We are very proud to lavender brownies and Pascal did so, naming it in buildings and Fairmont Le
a rural vacation spot for the provide meaningful visi- blueberry lavender jam to his Belgian great-grandfa- Chateau Frontenac — site
wealthy in the early 20th tor experiences to people lavender essential oils, can- ther’s honor. In the moun- of the Quebec Conferenc-
century. who are definitely focused dles and lip balm. tains above Baie-Saint- es during World II — rising
Artisanal cheeses, craft around foodie interests,” “I told my husband I was Paul, Omerto produces above the lower portion of
beer, aperitif wines, home- said Louise Vidricaire, own- going to start gardening dry and sweet wine from the old city.q
made ciders, fine choco- er of Azulee, an organic
lates, fresh fruit and pro- lavender farm in Baie-Saint
duce, and organic meats Paul.
can be found all along “I think anybody who
the 89-mile (143 km) route. comes to Charlevoix should

In this Sept. 19, 2018 photo, a tourist tries a sample of cheese from In this Sept. 19, 2018 photo, lab technician Ginette Beaulieu describes how the cheese at
the Fromagerie Saint-Fidele in Saint-Fidele, Quebec in Canada. Fromagerie Saint-Fidele is made in Saint-Fidele, Quebec in Canada.
Associated Press Associated Press