The Meal Began With a Foie Gras Cake. It Ended With Snow and Maple Syrup.

Just wondering if anyone is served this menu or was it special for the author.

I grew up visiting my Quebec family from the states a few times a year in the 70s and 80s. My gastronomic experience did not involve foie gras. It was indeed poutine but also St. Hubert chicken, meat pies, cheese curds, crepes, Laura Secord packaged puddings, 7-Up, maple cookies, milk in a bag and pizza with funky pepperoni.

Going back for a fourth time this April, making the pilgrimage from Toronto. Reservations always sell out within five minutes or less and open at midnight, so very hard to get. Not just an incredible feast but also an incredible bargain - 12 marvelous dishes for C$65 or so!

It's sad that foie gras, which is generally condemned for the cruelty of it's productioon methods, is given kudos here for it cultural significance. Cruel is cruel, and while we are horrified by the culture of people eating dog meat in China, perhaps we should save some of that horror, for our local, not so nice luxury "delicacies".

One of the best things about living in the northern part of Vermont is our proximity to our Québécois cousins. I long for the days when we could drive the back way over the border with a hand wave! Good food. Good wine. Good neighbors!

I've been and it's incredible! The drive up through Montreal through the Adirondacks is beautiful. Wear good boots, dress warm and make reservations months in advance.

what a meal -- surely jim harrison is salivating in his grave!

My mom and late stepfather, who appreciated all manner of French, used to like to road trip up into Canada. One time in Quebec my stepfather upbraided the waiter for not having served a proper French meal to which the waiter replied, "we're Canadian, not French."

This reminds me of Italy when I lived in Florence for year in the 1970s. I had an Austo-italian friend who would invite me to all his friends' and relatives homes for lunch or dinner. He would sit beside me and whisper in my ear, you must have more to show your appreciation of the hostesses cooking. He once invited me to his aunt's for Easter lunch. I was obliged to eat three pasta dishes plus additional helpings, three meat dishes plus additional helpings and so on. When we went out onto the streets of the town where she lived at around 4:30 pm after lunch was over, I honestly believed I would die, I felt so unwell. I had read once in the newspaper about dozens of ambulance calls to Polish homes for over eating at Christmas. I don't know what accounts for Europeans' propensity to eat so much, especially during feasts and celebrations, but It is insane to eat so much. Now, when I am placed in a situation of being offered copious quantities of food, I say NO! IMPOSSIBLE!

Bear in mind, Dan, that you are visiting a province that was heavily influenced by Catholicism. And this is Lent. So they were probably serving the light version of the meal...

What is a Quebec road trp?