FOR THE FOOD LOVER
FAIRMONT CHÂTEAU FRONTENAC (1 rue des Carrières) If you can’t afford to stay here, at least experience a taste of the castlelike luxury hotel perched on a cliff atop Cape Diamond. Built in 1893 and itself a National Historic Site, the Frontenac is where Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and William Lyon Mackenzie King met in 1943 to plan an Allied invasion of occupied Europe. Hit the 1608 Wine & Cheese Bar (named in honour of the year Samuel de Champlain established the first French foothold in North America) for a classic cocktail, a plate of organic charcuterie, grilled flatbread, and spectacular views of the St. Lawrence River.
L’ATELIER (624 Grande Allée est) While you can find items like oysters, poutine, and truffled mac ’n’ cheese on the menu, the reason to visit is the beautiful mounds of salmon, bison, lobster, tuna, and beef tartare that you scoop up with crispy cracker-size croutons. Outstanding.
J.A. MOISAN (695 rue Saint-jean) A must-hit for food lovers (leave some room in your suitcase), the oldest grocery store in North America, with its original wooden counters and brick walls, is crammed with items from all over the world, including craft and speciality beers and exotic spices and teas, as well as locally made confits, pâtés, syrups, sauces, jams, tapenades, chocolates, and more. There’s a deli and small eating area with items like sandwiches, soups, cheese and charcuterie, and pastries.
CHEZ ASHTON (various locations) This is back-to-basics poutine served cafeteria-style. This chain’s most exotic variations come with chicken and green peas or with ground beef. The ultimate comfort food, it’s highly recommended in the wee hours following a night of clubbing.