The Magdalen Islanders, with a livelihood mostly consisting of fishing and agriculture, have developed a gastronomy, specific to their region. Discover the diversity of creations and goods available, during your cruise of the Magdalen Islands aboard the CTMA Vacancier. Several businesses, as varied as they are unique, offer products that will delight you.
Gastronomy, terroir and local products
Here is a complete list of the places we selected for you to satisfy your tastebuds. The majority of the gourmet destinations listed below are included in the package offered to epicureans, as a complement to the cruise.
La Fromagerie Pied-De-Vent
This cheese factory, situated in Havre-aux-Maisons, made its first cheese, Pied-De-Vent, in 1998. Its name is inspired by the local expression « un pied de vent » illustrating sunrays piercing through the clouds. As it is semi-firm, this cheese is perfect to spread on bread or croutons. Due to its manufacturing method, the cheese has a flavour of hazelnut and mushroom. Four other cheeses are also produced there: Tomme des Demoiselles, Jeune-Coeur, Cheddar Art Senau and cheddar cheese curds. Although they are all suited for different tastes, each one is made of whole milk, taken from a herd of Canadian cows raised on the Islands. The enterprise also offers prepared dishes and local products.
Besides being able to purchase their excellent products, you can also enjoy guided tours of the Pointe-Basse dairy farm. You can see the farm, learn how it operates, encounter the animals and visit the cheese factory. The tour ends with a product tasting. The visit lasts 1 hours and 30 minutes and is available from the end of June to mid-September.
Le Fumoir d’Antan
The Fumoir d’Antan is a family business that has been passed down to generations since 1942. Located in Havre-aux-Maisons, the smokehouse developed its products depending on the fishing, usually salmon, herring and sometimes mackerel. Your taste buds can discover the results of the three used techniques : smoking, drying or pickling. Let us know which one you prefer.
The ecomuseum can introduce visitors to the art of smoking, a trade elaborated and refined by the Arseneau family.
First of all, you will visit the interior of an old smokehouse. You will learn the secrets of herring fishing and the different stages of preparation for smoking. This immersive experience will allow you to relive the daily life of the workers who smoked fish in the past. You will then try to resist to the smell of coppery herring when you visit the smokehouses. Upon returning to the boutique, after a short video presentation, you will be rewarded with a delicious tasting of smoked products.
À l’abri de la tempête Microbrewery
Men are not the only beer lovers! The two women behind this microbrewery proved it in 2002 when they opened their business. They found an old fishing factory in L’Étang-du-Nord and started their production. Why there, you ask? To benefit from the magnificent view of the River it offers. You won’t find a better terrace to relax and cool off.
In addition to highlighting the landscape and the beauty of the Islands, they use local products. Each of their beers is made with regional herbs, flowers or seaweed. They also have a partnership with Le Fumoir d’Antan for the smoking of their malt.
In addition to a brewery section which offers a large selection of beers, this small haven has a restaurant featuring typical dishes of the region. If you fall in love with some of their products, do not fret, you will be able to purchase them at the souvenir boutique.
La table des Roy
It’s an ancestral home located in L’Étang-du-Nord where you can enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience. Established since 1979, this restaurant offers a gourmet meal in a quaint and elegant setting. Chef Johanne Vigneau and her team are committed to greet you with efficience and care.
Although the menu offered is somewhat limited, you will rarely find the same dishes. Each recipe is frequently revisited to please the finest taste buds. A vast product selection is offered, highlighting products from land and sea. Based on the inspiration of the moment, you may have the opportunity to taste delicious seafood such as the Princess scallop or oysters. You can also opt to try the catch of the day and enjoy mackerel or fresh cod. If you are more down to earth, you will have prefer local meat such as veal sweetbreads or young beef. Wine and cheese will also be served, to complement your meal. Any sweet tooth will be delighted with the variety of gourmet treats offered.
Since this restaurant is very popular, we strongly recommend that you place a reservation, if you don’t already visit it, according to your cruise package.
Miel en mer
Botanists are not the only ones to have noticed the diversity and richness of the local flora. Therefore, in 1995, Miel en Mer established itself in Havre-aux-Maisons. Located in a majestic setting, the beekeeping company is responsible for harvesting honey from wild flowers exposed to the salty air. These conditions give the product a unique taste. Bring your picnic and enjoy local wine or cheese in an enchanting landscape.
If you wish to maximize your experience, in addition to being able to observe bees through a glass hive, you can enjoy the sweet nectar and other products at the boutique or take part in a workshop. You will be able to learn how to make candles, composed entirely of beeswax. They burn longer than standard candles found in stores, while retaining the subtle bouquet of flowers that bees have pollinated. It’s a great product to bring back as a souvenir.
Aucoin des sangliers
Meat lovers will want to discover the village of Fatima. Since 1991, this small farm breeds different animals and offers a wide range of products.
A guided tour of the farm is available. You will learn about daily operations as well as learn the ropes of the trade. You will be able to observe pigs, boars, calves and boar-pig hybrids. Beware of those animals, they can be quite voracious, make sure they don’t confuse your finger with a carrot! Product tasting will end your journey. Need more than a sample to satisfy your appetite? Don't worry, you can purchase more at the boutique or service counter.
Art and culture
Arts and culture have blossomed in the region. During your trip to the Magdalen Islands, you will encounter several artists who have established their workshops. The rhythm and atmosphere of the Islands surely inspired them. The workshops are as varied as the artists and the art type they pursue. Here are a few that have caught our attention. If you are passionate about art and culture, Voyages AML also offers a tailor-made package to help you discover the unique gems created on the Islands.
Verrerie la Méduse
Active for more than 30 years in Havre-aux-Maisons, the Méduse is a blown glass workshop as well as a boutique and an exhibition gallery. It is in this century-old building that craftsmen have developed and refined their skills since 1985. They offer unique works of art that will amaze you.
If the art of fire, also known as glassmaking, interests you, come in and admire the work of the blowers. You can see them in action in front of their 1200 degrees Celsius furnaces. If you would like to try your hand at it, you can also take part in one-hour classes.
If the atmosphere gets too hot for you, you can always take a walk in the boutique. Who knows, maybe you will find the perfect souvenir for someone to bring back home?
Atelier Côtier
Formerly known as Artisans du Sable, Atelier Côtier, is a landmark for a group of versatile, free-spirited artists. Their inspiration comes from nature and the marine environment offered by the Magdalen Islands, which is why their favourite creative material is sand. They enjoy exploring all its possibilities by creating, with care, different objects such as cups, lamps, jewelery pieces and decorative objects.
Their boutique, located on Île de Havre-Aubert, offers a great vantage point on the River. Several production pieces are exhibited, as well as the works of other artists, reminding us of the friendly atmosphere as well as the typical landscape of the region. Parents can peacefully explore the boutique while the kids enjoy the indoor sandbox.
Stop by the shop on sunny Monday afternoon and see the artists at work while learning about the art of sandcastle building. Sand castles competitions also take place for any person willing to participate. Free initiation workshops are also taught by experts and offered on Thursday afternoons.
Galerie d’art le flâneur
This enchanting place, both a workshop and a tea room, is in fact, a window to the artist's imaginary world. In this extraordinary landmark of Cap-aux-Meules, Pierrette Molaison exhibits figurines and sculptures in the likeness of different Madelinots who have inspired her. She also offers visits of her gallery, complete with anectodes and explanations about her work. The visit is made even more agreeable with a few pastries and sweets.
If you prefer to browse, sit back, relax and sip one of the fifty kinds of tea available. Several works of art, watercolours and portraits will entertain you. It’s the perfect place for dreamers and creative people looking for inspiration. Make sure to try a ''petit pain'' and let yourself be carried away by the fantastic imagery surrounding you.
We hope that the places proposed will please and charm you as much as they have delighted travelers cruising aboard the CTMA Vacancier in the past years. Whether you are passionate about art, culture or gastronomy, Voyages AML has the packages you need to make you discover the great treasures of these unique Islands. Enjoy your visit!
