THE LAND OF PLENTY

Posted on 2010-09-06

Autumn has traditionally always been a time for harvest and feasting. Our favourite destination to honour the changing of the seasons would have to be somewhere you could witness a full colour explosion as the leaves turn. For us, the fall in Québec is second to none: huge swathes of forest shed their leaves and in the amber autumnal light the tranquil lakes glisten just that little bit more.

Down tools and escape to Québec to mark a year of hard work with a feast of home-grown delights. For starters, sample the apple cider. Québec’s first settler literally planted the seed for the province’s love affair with all things apple related on the site of what is now the hub of Canadian contemporary culture, Québec City, and they haven’t looked back since. By October the apples have ripened and are ready to be pressed: cue mellow evenings enjoying the fruits of the springtime’s labour. For something even more refreshing, hold out till January to swig the regional ice cider: the apples are left to freeze naturally resulting in a drink that is 100% pure. Prefer your apples non-alcoholic? Try a steaming apple and maple syrup tart freshly baked at one of the pâtisseries in Montréal’s Mile End neighbourhood and you’ll be converted.

Québec is also famous for its farmhouse and artisan cheeses, uniquely combining French and English cheese making practices to perfect the semi-firm surface-ripened cheese. The Quebecoise take their fromage very seriously indeed, hosting the prestigious annual La Fète des Fromages d’ici in Montréal. (This year’s event saw sixteen Québec cheese masters showcasing over 40 of their expert Quebec cheeses for public and panel scrutiny). Our local favourite has to be the famous Pied-De-Vent.

And what could go better with a slab of creamy blue than a glass of local wine? In the last 20 years Québec’s small but perfectly formed wine industry has emerged as a strong contender on the world wine map, with many vineyards family run for that personal touch. Pitch up for something straight from the cellar.

Cultivate your appetite in Québec this autumn. For more information and to book, visit www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.