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Vineyards, orchards, sugar bushes and cheese factories… Take the whole family on a trip through the back roads of Montérégie to visit some of the producers who will be more than pleased to share with you their passion for fine food, drink and conversation.
1. Domaine Labranche: an orchard, a vineyard and a sugar bush
Domaine Labranche, in Saint-Isidore-de-Laprairie, is the ideal year-round destination for food-loving families:
• In the spring, the sugar shack serves various gourmet versions of traditional fare such as pea soup, home-smoked pork sausages, maple-smoked ham and grilled salt pork.
• From June to October, you can come and pick your own strawberries, plums, pears, apples and pumpkins, and take your time wandering along the nearby walking trail. The younger children won’t get bored because they can tour the mini-farm and have fun on some of the play structures.
• In the fall, the Domaine opens its friendly “apple shack” with a copious gourmet menu for people to share, all based on local products such as smoked Lake Saint-Pierre sturgeon, turkey wings with BBQ sauce, apples and cranberries.
• Coming soon: next winter, the team will launch a “holiday shack” with a menu that celebrates all the tastes and smells of Christmas.
Before returning home, be sure to visit the boutique to stock up on locally made goodies (such as apple doughnuts, apple chutney, pies, apple syrup and maple jelly) and alcoholic beverages (maple raspberry rosé, sparkling cider, wine, maple dessert wine and so on) – many of which have garnered major international awards!
2. Fritz Kaiser Cheese: Swiss expertise for made-in-Quebec cheese
Since 1981, Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser has been making delicious cheeses that reflect both its owners’ Swiss origins and Quebec’s terroir. Every day, no less than three tonnes of cheese, made with fresh milk from neighbouring farms, leave its facility in Noyan, in southern Montérégie.
The master cheesemaker contributes to the production process, and never hesitates to pitch in, whether with firm, semi-soft or soft varieties! The fact that his excellent Le Douanier was the Grand Champion at the 2004 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix competition is a tribute to his ability. Last year, Fritz Kaiser Cheese took first place in no less than five categories at the Sélections Caseus awards for the best Quebec cheeses.
In fact, the factory has won numerous awards around the world.In the boutique, you’ll discover 33 of the factory’s varieties on sale – including various raclettes – as well as other fine local and imported products: maple syrup, crackers, chocolates, fresh bread, kitchenware, oils, jams, preserves, condiments, tapenade, honey and tea. It’s heaven for gourmets of all ages!
3. Potager Mont-Rouge Halte Gourmande: all the fruits and vegetables you can pick
To load up on vitamins and fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, head for Potager Mont-Rouge Halte Gourmande in Rougemont. From June until late October, you can come and pick your own strawberries, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, apples and pumpkins, in that order. In July and August, the farm also sells sell freshly gathered ears of corn in both sweet and peaches & cream varieties.
Children can have fun visiting the farm’s chickens and alpacas, or try their hand at successfully working their way through a huge maze in the corn field! There is also a play area with swings, a slide and a giant trampoline. During apple season you can tour the farm on a tractor-pulled wagon. Nobody can resist the boutique, with its farm-fresh pies and pastries, jams and jellies, apple butter, homemade doughnuts, apple juice, apple slush, maple syrup and honey!
Are you tempted by the local specialties of Montérégie? Be sure to drive carefully! And if you have any questions about your auto insurance, don’t hesitate to give us a call.