Canada – Ideal spot to discover the best local specialties
The Québec City area is a hive of culinary excellence, with artisan producers specializing in everything from wines and ciders to maple syrups, breads, and cheeses. Ready for an edible experience nonpareil? Let’s go.
Farmer’s Markets
Nothing beats a farmer’s market for sampling everything in one spot. Enjoy fresh food and find out more about how it’s made as you chat with local farmers and artisans. Perfect example: Le Grand Marché, known throughout the province as an essential foodie destination in all four seasons.
Craft Breweries
Brewing is serious business in Québec, as can be seen by the impressive array of craft breweries using local ingredients to brew stand‑out beer. Craft breweries are an integral part of the local scene, so they’re a great place to meet people and spend a fun evening. Taking a guided tour is also an excellent way to see—and taste—what Québec’s craft brewers are up to.
Wineries and Local Liquor Producers
No survey of local whistle‑wetters would be complete without a nod to Île d’Orléans, an island known for its idyllic country vistas and numerous vineyards, cider breweries, and berry liqueur producers. Visitors to the island can sample unique products at their leisure, including Québec icewine and ice cider. Products of our northern climate, they’re made using a natural freezing process that yields heavenly beverages highly specific to the region. The past few years have also seen a rise in the number of artisanal distilleries crafting spirits (mostly vodka and gin) flavoured with ingredients sourced locally and from the boreal forest.
Ice Cream and Gelato Parlours
If there’s something the Québec City area has in abundance, it’s ice cream parlours. Dig into the unique flavours and toppings at La Bûche glacée, the chocolate ice cream at Érico, and the homemade ice cream at Cassis & Monna et Filles. Yum!
Cheese Shops
The Québec City area is home to numerous artisanal cheesemakers famous for the quality of their goods, like Fromagerie Des Grondines, located in the Portneuf area. These master cheesemakers produce a wide selection of cheeses made with raw milk from cows, goats, and sheep, as well as artisanal organic cheeses.
For a cheesemaker with a sense of history, try Fromagerie de l’Isle d’Orléans, which uses a recipe that dates back to the early days of the colony. Their famous cheese comes in three varieties: La Faisselle, Le Paillasson, and Le Raffiné. If you haven’t tasted them yet, the cheeses made here are a culinary treasure not to be missed.
Bakeries and Pastry Shops
When it comes to bakeries and pastry shops, Quebecers are said to have inherited their talent from their French ancestors. Indeed, bread and pastry-making skills have been transmitted from one nation to the other since Québec was founded. With the healthy rate of immigration from France to Québec and the many Quebecers who spend time perfecting their craft in France, our shared tradition is in good hands.
In these little havens of heavenly sights, smells, and tastes, you’ll find a wide variety of breads and mouth-watering pastries made with love, plus the kind of croissants that truly make life worth living!
Chocolate and Candy Shops
If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll love our local chocolates and candies, carefully crafted by experienced artisans. Érico is a beloved favourite, with exquisite pastries and a little chocolate museum to boot. If you happen to be on Rue Saint‑Jean, stop in for a moment of pure chocolate bliss. Not sure what to order? The shop is famous for its hot chocolate. We recommend the choco espresso—it’s thick, velvety, and intense.
Outside the city, but still in the Québec City area, there’s Julie Vachon’s chocolate shop in Deschambault. This creative chocolate maker was named pastry chef of the year in 2018 by the Québec chef’s association, SCCPQ. There’s also Praline et Chocolat in Château‑Richer, a tiny artisanal pastry shop with a vast selection of chocolatey treasures.
Treat the kids—and the kid in you—to specialty candies and chocolates at C’est si bon, a candy shop on Rue Saint‑Jean. On Île d’Orléans, you can satisfy your sweet tooth at La Nougaterie, which sells artisanal nougat (surprise!), marshmallows, and all manner of sugary delights.
