Pollen & Nectar is a casual canteen set in the heart of the High Laurentians. It showcases a simple, flavourful menu aimed at highlighting the beauty of Miels d’Anicet’s wild, organic honeys. Owners Anicet Desrochers and Anne-Virginie Schmidt devote their lives to beekeeping, they also specialize in rearing queen bees, and market beauty products made from edible ingredients. Their Pinterest-decorated porch reflects the passion and attention to detail every member of the Desrochers family possesses. 

Les Têtes de Cochon is a butcher, artisan grocery store and restaurant in the heart of Sainte-Adèle. The restaurant serves Quebec beef, generous charcuterie platters and sweet, sweet desserts in a lively pub-like atmosphere. The menu also includes signature appetizers like house-made cold-smoked salmon, while oysters paired with private import wines are worthy of attention. The venue also features an outdoor heated terrasse.

Les Jardins Sauvage is a raw, authentic and personal encounter with nature. What François Brouillard picks (flowers, herbs, mushrooms, etc.), chef Nancy Hinton cooks. Close your eyes and learn the experience of authentic wild flavours, devoid of added fat and sugar. Reservations are a must, and be sure to bring your own wine and some cash (credit cards are not accepted here).

Opened in February 2018, this is the most recent addition to the family of Montreal’s famed Au Pied de Cochon. As its name suggests, it’s located on the next lot over from the Pied-de-Cochon sugar shack in Mirabel. The main difference between the two is that Cabane d’à Côté serves rustic Quebecois food year-round with a commitment to producing 50% of their offerings on-site (the sugar shack, in comparison, skews less traditional).

Just under an hour outside of Montreal lies the idyllic town of Hudson, where you’ll be happy to find this haven of all the good things in life: meat, bread, and wine. The menu is refined without being pretentious and changes monthly, featuring hearty dishes like lamb agnolotti with ‘nduja broth, and asparagus with morels, a cured duck egg, bread, and chili.

Spa Eastman is the perfect environment for a vegan-friendly weekend. No gluten or milk products; there’s only what they call “tonic cuisine”: mostly organic, non-GMO, local and seasonal ingredients featuring products from neighbouring farms.

The beauty and elegance of nature are at the heart of this Relais & Château institution, located inside quaint Hovey Manor. Le Hatley’s ingredients are sourced from the rivers, lakes, fields, and forests of Quebec. Every taste is carefully studied while enhanced through texture and colour. The cuisine from chefs Paul Roberts and Alexandre Vachon is deep-rooted in classic French techniques, revisited in a way that morphs it into modern edible art. 

Another Vermont favourite, the much-buzzed-about Hen of the Wood now has two locations for diners to choose from, with a second over in Burlington. But the O.G. location is really the ultimate destination, housed in an old gristmill that dates back to 1806. Expect elevated dishes that feature all kinds of local goodness.