Last night was a late one. I had to edit and post a few items, and finish a giant to-do list concerning our Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube account. The Mac clock timed out at 3:38 am and my wake-up call was for 8:30 am. Regardless, I can’t complain, because I am travelling the country and blogging about it. I figure a little suffering on the road will do me good.
With that thought in mind, I decided to go for an early run and started the day with a nice breakfast. As far as breakfasts go, I have to tell you about this one, because it’s the highlight of my Quebec breakfast experience so far. (Gasp!)
Even the lady at the reception desk was surprised when I told her that this was the BEST breakfast I’ve had since arriving in Quebec. In Charlevoix! Not Montreal or Quebec, but in the village of Baie-Saint-Paul. How about this for a locals-know tip? Get the Healthy Breakfast at Le Gourmet restaurant in the Hotel Baie-Saint-Paul. It’s an organic poached egg sitting on top of a slice of toast (to drain the water), neatly arranged by a circle of the thickest and fluffiest whole wheat toast (sans butter) I have tried in a while. The best part? It was included in the room rate. Moving on….
Our first stop after breakfast was visiting the Maison D’Affinage Maurice Dufour cheese farm. This house of cheese is famous for two distinct personalities: a mild blue that lingers on the tongue called Le Ciel de Charlevoix. It won this year’s Canadian Cheese Grand Prix. The second is Le Migneron, a popular creamy semi-hard cheese that is pale yellow and buttery textured.
Our second stop was in the heart of the village at a unique cosmetics store called Shamane. Its products are fortified with donkey milk. The owner explained that even Cleopatra bathed in it, because it is filled with nutrients and doesn’t irritate the skin. A quick salad-loop later, followed by nibbles of dark cocoa at the chocolate museum ended our food trail on a sweet note.
Now at the airport, I’m a little exhausted. We’re off to Nunavut tomorrow, beginning our next leg of this unique adventure. I’m sad to leave Quebec. I truly love the culture, the spirit of the people, and the beauty of this province I still know very little about. One thing I do know? The locals enjoy everyday to the fullest by focusing on what’s important: family and friends, food, and of course, having fun.
Tell me what you think about Quebec. What makes it special?
