La Gastronomie
Poutine, smoked meat, pea soup and tourtière (meat pie) are some of the most notable dishes that Québec is known for. Having access to fresh, local ingredients is what makes the cuisine in Québec City stand out. La Bûche is situated in the heart of Old Québec and features traditional Québec cuisine with a twist. One unique feature is the year-round sugar shack in the form of a long snow bar where patrons can enjoy as much maple taffy as their heart desires. For a mix of fine dining and French cuisine, Le Champlain, inside the Château Fontenac, serves French and local cuisine based on traditional ingredients and local produce. With rabbit being their specialty, Lapin Sauté is in Québec's Petit-Champlain district. This lovely little neighbourhood restaurant delivers delicious grilled meat and gratins and on the weekend is known for its brunch menu. Bistro St Malo is situated by the Old Port and specializes in French cuisine include blood pudding, duck confit, rabbit bourguignon risotto with ratatouille and beef check with bacon and maple—because when in Rome.
The list of fine dining restaurants in Québec City are as bountiful as they are unique. Chez Muffy l’Auberge Saint-Antoine prides itself on being a farm-to-table restaurant inside an old warehouse from the 1800s; for 30 years, Laurie Raphaël has been working with Québec producers to develop authentic gourmet cuisine; restaurant Saint-Amour has been an institution in the city since 1978 plating French haute cuisine paired with regional local produce.
Agrotourism and local artisan producers go hand in hand when it comes to making up Québec City’s food scene. Whether it is visiting a local farmers or public market like Le Grand Marché de Québec, a hub for local flavours, visiting a cheese monger like Les Fromages de l'isle d'Orléans where their cheese is handmade solely on the island, taking in the smells of freshly baked artisan breads and pastries, and for those with a sweet tooth, stopping at Érico, a chocolate factory and museum all in one. With more than 30 microbreweries lining the streets and surrounding area, beer lovers can explore the city and sample the local flavours; in the Saint-Roch neighbourhood, La Korrigane brews high-quality suds using original and all-natural beer, incorporates local ingredients into its dishes, features a beautiful terrace, live entertainment and exhibitions; La Barberie blends wild creations in a relaxed atmosphere while local brewery Noctem Artisans Brasseurs opened its doors on rue du Parvis in 2015 pairing dishes of house-smoked meats with their cat themed beers like All Cats Are Beautiful Sour - Fruity Gose, the Kitty Kitty IPA Session and the CatKenny Cream Ale—meow!