In Québec, dessert isn’t just a course—it’s a cultural ritual. And no one embodies this joyful indulgence more than Martin Picard, the wild genius behind Au Pied de Cochon and its legendary Cabane à Sucre. For Picard, maple syrup isn’t merely a topping—it’s a foundation, a philosophy, a sweet rebellion that seeps into every crevice […]
Tradition – Maple syrup pie Read More »
Everytime I would see my grandmother, she would have a sweet snack for me at the moment we said hello. Even as I got older, she would ask me: “So what’s your favorite chocolate bar or candy these days.” When I would want something different, she would diligently write the name down. I knew what
As a gift – Sugar Fudge Read More »
The Vachon bakery, founded in 1923 in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, Québec, bakes treats that have earned a permanent spot in the province’s collective memory. For many Québécois, unwrapping a Jos Louis or May West brings back vivid memories of school lunches, dépanneur runs, and family road trips. These cakes became rituals of recess, often traded, hoarded, or
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When I was bikecamping down the coast of Vietnam from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min in 2007, I loved to spend long lunches out of the sun in restaurants. I enjoyed a meal and then wrote my adventures in my journal. One day, there was a tv in the restaurant playing a familiar TV show.
In the 1960s, Quebec cracked open. The Révolution tranquille wasn’t loud, but it was deep. It was also swift, stubborn, and total. It wasn’t a revolt in the streets; it was a reshuffling of everything under the surface: who held the power, who had the voice, and what kind of future could be imagined. A
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In the early 1900s, Quebec’s economy was still largely resource-based, and timber was one of its most valuable exports, especially softwood (pine, spruce) for the U.S. and Britain. Logging provided seasonal work for thousands of men—farmers in winter, unemployed laborers, and immigrants alike. It was often the only cash income for rural families. Beyond raw
The fight for equality of rights for both sexes is well established. Historians have described Quebec as a matriarchal society. Mothers taking care of their dozens of children demonstrated their management capabilities and expected their say in family decisions. The right to vote was established in 1940 in Quebec by the pressure groups led by
Again there is a japanese word for a practice that is beneficial yet uncommon. Shinrin-yoku is the direct translation for a forest bath. In Quebec, there isn’t quite an expression or even a conscious moment for going to nature as a means for resourcing yourself. However, nature is omni-present and even a daily part of
Bienvenue au pays de la vie ordinaire (“Welcome to the Land of Ordinary Life”) by Mathieu Bélisle is a 2017 essay. Bélisle explores how Quebec culture is fundamentally shaped by the “prosaic”—the everyday, the humble, and the modest—as opposed to romanticism or lofty idealism. In it, he argues that Quebec society is anchored in routines, common
You’ve most certainly heard of happy hour in bars where they attract customers with promotions on drink prices. Typically held between 5 and 7 p.m., these informal get-togethers bring colleagues, friends, or even strangers together in bars, cafés, offices, or on terraces, often with a glass of wine, a pint, and a few shared snacks.
