Quebec

Spending the day at Intermiel

December 16, 2016 by Ariel 3 Comments

As I look through my window, I notice the snowstorm. The cold and grey weather has officially settled itself over the city of Montreal, plunging it in to a deep sleep. Although the sunshine is hiding more and more each day, it doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to reminisce about the incredible time Max and I had the chance to spent at Intermiel, at the beginning of November, when the sky was still blue.

Situated about an hour by car off the island of Montreal, in a region call Mirabel, this gem is must see and well known institution in the area. Founded in 1976 by a passionate French couple, newly moved in Quebec, they created what is today the biggest bee keeping company in north America, who recently won the price for the best bee keeping company in the world by World’s Greatest and, with a brand new awesome website where they ship their products worldwide.

Open all year long with more than enough allowed space to sit inside and outside where you may go to enjoy the breathtaking view, taste their vast selection of artisanal products, learn about bee keeping or just enjoy yourself in nature. One of the main aspect that triggered something inside of me was the palpable passion of each individuals working there.

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Sucrerie de la Montagne #SugarShack

April 13, 2016 by Ariel 6 Comments

Spring is here! …and even if the weather over Montreal would sometimes make us believe that we’re still in January, some days are sunny and warm enough to remind us that the best of nature has yet to come.

In Quebec, it’s sugar shack season and, like a few years ago, it was time to go stuff our faces in maple deliciousness and heavy comfort food which is exactly what we did a few weeks ago. On the opposite side of the spectrum of my first sugar shack review, the Sucrerie de la Montagne was like a refreshing and comforting trip back in time.

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Classic Potato Candy

June 22, 2013 by Ariel 5 Comments

…and it’s that time of the year again! 🙂 For many of you around the world, the long week end of the St-Jean Baptiste might be something you never heard of but here is Quebec, it’s a national holiday and it’s this week end! yoohoo! On June 24, everybody in the province of Quebec is going to take it easy and relax because they are going to be on vacation and hopefully remember why we celebrate this holiday. What will most probably be the reason of this relaxing mood, will be because the day before, they partied like CRAZY and they are super hung over LOL … That’s probably what I’m gonna be doing anyways 😛

To celebrate this long week end and our national holiday, I thought a classic Quebec recipe was in order… Now to be honest, I had problems choosing witch one I was going to share with you because there is a LOT of delicious and easy recipes that have been invented here (but again, I’m from Quebec so I’m sure everybody says the same thing from their roots).

…since it’s for a celebration, why not sharing a sweet candy recipe right?! Plus Max had never tasted potato candy before and I thought it was the perfect occasion to make him taste this easy and decadent desert or snack. If you have a sweet tooth, these are for you but watch out because the recipe I’m giving you is making 40+ candy!

The potato candy was first invented back at the beginning of the colonization in Quebec and like many other recipes of that era, they were made around 3 basic ingredients (potatoes, ground beef and carrots) because they were easy to found around that time. Good thing our gran-gran-gran-gran mothers had a lot of imagination because during the holiday, most people were too pore to buy candies for their kids so instead, they tried to make some with what they had around the kitchen and this is how the potato candy was born. Pretty sweet story right?

I remember my sister and I being so anxious while looking at my mom preparing these candy once in a while. It really was a special treat that we didn’t see often so it made them so special. Because of the insane amount of sugar content, it’s not something you want to be making every weeks but everybody needs a treat once in a while!

Hope you enjoy this classic Quebec recipe and don’t forget to visit the Quebec category on the side bar to check out other classic Quebec goodness 🙂 Bon appetit!

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A day at the Jean-Talon farmer’s market, in images….

June 2, 2013 by Ariel 6 Comments

After yesterday’s post, I thought it was only normal to show you a bit more about this amazing farmer’s market in Montreal called the Marché Jean-Talon. There is quit a few farmer’s markets around the city but it is one is by far my favorite. I love to just go walk around to look at all the organic fruit stands, the plants and flowers stands and talk to the farmers about their passion and their products.

Everybody is always so nice and so open to discuss cooking and educate you on the different products and recipes you can do with their products. During the summer, the market is enormous because the whole structure is open and you have sellers on the inside and the outside of the market smiling at you and inviting you to taste their fruits and veggies.

These photos are covering maybe 20-30% of the beauty of the market and I’ll keep taking new photos next time I’m in the area to show you more of it… For the moment, I hope you enjoy this trip at the Jean-Talon market in Montreal…

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The amazing date cookies…

June 15, 2012 by Ariel 9 Comments

I’m calling those the amazing dates cookies because they are literally amazing. I found the recipe in a “Quebec classic recipes” book and I tweaked it to make them perfect for my own taste. Max who doesn’t like dates BEG me to make them when I buy dates at the grocery. They are soft, sweet and healthier than some other cookies you buy or make 🙂 It’s a MUST try!

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Sweet and Salty Maple and Walnut bars

April 23, 2012 by Ariel 1 Comment

One of the things I like the most in life is to cook sweet stuff. I don’t know why but I’m obsessed with deserts. Clearly not something you want to indulge in too often but once in a while it’s ok to cheat! Enjoy this terribly delicious recipe that is worth cheating on your diet.

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