FALL 2012
celebratedliving.com
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TRAVEL
A World of Flavor
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nacityproudof itsFrenchheritageandculinary
tradition, theUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteofQuebecCity is famous for itsgastronomicexcellence.
Quebecers take their food—and itspreparationandpresentation—extremely seriously.Hereare
several standouts,mostwithinwalkingdistanceandwithin thewallsofmagicalOldQuebec.
— JANETTHOMAS
LECHAMPLAIN, FAIRMONTLECHÂTEAUFRONTENAC, 1RUEDESCARRIÈRES, (418) 266-3905,
FAIRMONT.COM/FRONTENAC
To seeChâteauFrontenac for theÿrst time is tobe transported toa
castle-and-turrets fairy tale. Theundisputed iconicgrandedameofOldQuebecCity, theFrontenac
stays currentwithmodern luxuries andamenities. Signature restaurant LeChamplain is aneve-
ning’sevent of ÿnediningwithFrenchandcontinental specialties likeduckbreast ÿlletwithhoney
from theChâteau’s rooftop, andclassics likechateaubriandandbananas fosterprepared tableside.
RESTAURANT INITIALE, 54RUESAINT-PIERRE, (418)694-1818, RESTAURANTINITIALE.COM
Sleekand sophisticatedwouldwell describeboth thedecor and the foodat thisÿneRelais&Châ-
teauxeatery situatednear theSt. LawrenceRiver inQuebecCity’soldesthistorical district. Chef Yvan
Lebrunandco-ownerRolandeLeclercmeticulouslyoverseedishes from the landand sea, including
theÿnest and freshest scallops, halibut, foiegras, andvenison.
RESTAURANTTOAST!, 17RUEDUSAULT-AU-MATELOT, (418)692-1334, RESTAURANTTOAST.
COM
Dine insideoroutat thismodern, lively restaurant tucked insideLePriorihotel inOldPortQue-
bec.Designaccentsofbright redandmartiniolivesaddpizzazz to thedecor.OwnersStéphane
D’AnjouandChristianLemelinboldlycoverall thebaseswith thecuisine, includingCharlevoixemu tar-
tare, grilledoctopus,bisonsirloin, andQuebec lobsterandhomemadeblackbloodpuddingcroustade.
LESAINT-AMOUR, 48RUESAINTE-URSULE, (418)694-0667, SAINT-AMOUR.COM
Formore than
35years, chef Jean-LucBoulayhasbeenwelcomingguests toLeSaint-Amour,which feels likeagra-
cious friend’s lightandairycourtyard. Foiegras isanabsolutespecialtyhere, andyoucansavor it in
manydi° erent forms— fromawhimsical cremebrulee-styleamuse-bouche toaclassicArmagnac foie
gras terrinewithapricotand redwinepearpuree. Eachdish isvisuallyartistic,withsmall ˛ owers, herbs,
andsaucesarranged just so. Sommelierassistant Jean-MichelBeaudetwillpairaÿnewine from the res-
taurant’sextensiveselection.
LEPANACHE, AUBERGESAINT-ANTOINE, 8RUESAINT-ANTOINE, (418)692-1022, SAINT-
ANTOINE.COM
Housed insidea19th-centurymaritimewarehousealong theOldPort, Auberge
Saint-Antoine, ahandsomeRelais&Châteauxproperty, Panache featureswarmnaturalwoodsand
exposedbeams thatmake the two-story interior feel likea rusticbut richchateau. Begindinnerwith
a specialtycocktail like theVal Ambrémadewithhintsofmaple sapandcontinuewitha starter of
delicate ravioli ÿlledwith shrimp.Maincourses includeclassicFrench specialties and impeccable
seafooddishes like lobsterwith tomatoes.
LAURIERAPHAËL, 117DALHOUSIE, (418)692-4555, LAURIERAPHAEL.COM
ChefDanielVézina is tres
popular, andhiscommitment toexcellenceand forward thinking isevident in the relaxed, sleeksetting
of LaurieRaphaël (namedafterhis twochildren). Theopenkitchen letspatronsview thechefsatwork
onspecialities likeballotineofguinea fowl fromBesnier farm.Alsoexpect toÿndexpertlyprepared foie
gras,ducksupreme, snowcrab, andoysters.Demonstrationdinnersandcookingworkshops roundout
theo° eringshere.
LETRAINDUMASSIFDECHARLEVOIX, (877)536-2774, LEMASSIF.COM/TRAIN
Businessmanand
co-founderofCirqueduSoleilDanielGauthierhasoutdonehimselfon thisproject. Foramultisensory
sojourn fromQuebecCity,board thisspacious luxury trainÿlledwith largeviewingwindows,music,
and livelyhistorical videoscourtesyof your table’spersonal iPad. Theextensivemenu is indicativeof
theCharlevoix region’s famed localgrowersandproducers thatcreatewhathas longbeenknownas
theFlavorTrail. Twooutstandingselections from the four-coursedinneronboard includeparsleyedes-
cargot terrineandbraisedvenisonossobuco. Thestate-of-the-art trainhugs theever-changingSt.
LawrenceRiver formuchof its87milesandmakesstops inquaintBaie-Saint-Paul (wherenewHotel La
Fermeawaits) andLaMalbaie (homeof thestatelyFairmontLeManoirRichelieu). Someguestschoose
tostayovera fewdays, oryoucanmake the trip toand fromQuebecCity inoneveryspecialday.
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