Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Published on Aug 1, 2024
A well-kept secret in the Eastern Townships, the Val-Saint-François region is home to a wealth of local producers who are eager for you to discover them. Microbreweries, vineyards, cheese makers, distilleries (and soon a cider house!) as well as many other producers you’ll find in the friendly environment of a public market or on the menu of a restaurant. With such a variety of options to satisfy your appetite for fine gastronomy, your stay in the Val promises to be a very tasty one.
Sea buckthorn and figs are original Val-Saint-François specialties! Visit the Jardins Zone Orange and Les Jardins Merridor during the sea buckthorn season (August to mid-September) and stock up on processed products made with this tart little orange berry. Then discover the secrets behind fig production in Québec on a guided tour of the Vallée du Moulin estate. The natural beauty of the site alone is worth the trip! Please note: in October, you’ll need to call before heading out to either the Jardins Zone Orange or the Vallée du Moulin boutique, since they’ll be closed starting on October 12.
This little Eastern Townships village is proud to have such a wide range of culinary attractions for you to discover! A local and regional treasure, the Fromagerie Nouvelle-France makes several delicious artisanal fine cheeses, mainly from ewe’s milk, including the famous Zacharie Cloutier (recognized time and again as the best cheese in Québec!). To accompany your cheese, you can buy sausages from the charcuterie Les Cochons Tout Ronds, and bread from the bakery Au cœur du pain, also in Racine. And that’s not all! Don’t forget the boutique Sojà D'ici, the farm boutique Au blanc marronnier and the MarchéLocavore (Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.). Please note: some Racine businesses are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
During the summer months, treat yourself to a day out in Val-Saint-François’s countryside. On Fridays (in summer only), the vineyard Les Vallons de Wadleigh, in Ulverton, offers musical evenings to brighten up your weekends. You should also visit l’Ardoise, Coopérative Brassicole and Confrérie Artisans Brasseurs for a laid-back vibe, live shows on the schedule, and where the only pressure comes from the beer! Other great gathering places and terraces include: Domaine Nokomis (spirits and beers), Brasserie Lac Brompton, the vineyard Les Farfelus, Bistro Brandy Creek and Les Cochons tout Ronds.
Colourful and lively, the local markets (open on Saturdays only) wonderful meeting places for the residents of Val-Saint-François and the producers who come to display their products. Spend some time at Melbourne’s Marché Champêtre or the Marché Locavore in Racine—there’s never a dull moment! Their summer calendar of events is as exciting as it is delicious. Be sure to check them out!
As you explore the Val-Saint-François region, there’s always a good local establishment where you can stop for a bite to eat. In fact, at the Ulverton Wool Mill, local flavours take centre stage in a charming countryside setting. On site, the Table de la Bergère bistro serves up gourmet sharing platters, homemade bites, and even English tea service on select days by reservation. In Richmond, for an indoor venue, the Café du Couvent welcome you inside a historic building. And for a snack on a magnificent terrace under the trees, try La Desserte bakery and pastry shop (which serves pizzas baked over a wood fire).
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