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Kamouraska: several outings (4 seasons)

Côte-de-Beaupré (Fall)
The Côte‑de‑Beaupré is one of the oldest settled territories in North America. As early as 1626, Samuel de Champlain established a farm there to supply the town of Quebec. The territory was shaped by the Seigneurie de Beaupré, a major agricultural and religious engine of the 17th century. There are several attractions to explore in this small MRC, in the Capitale‑Nationale region, on the north shore of the St.‑Lawrence River, between Quebec City and Charlevoix.

Au Bon Boc (Montmartre)
At the foot of the Butte Montmartre, the restaurant opened its doors in 1879. It quickly became one of the landmarks of the artistic Paris of the Belle Époque, where Manet, Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh and Apollinaire could be seen crowding in over a glass of absinthe. Today the place has been taken over by Benjamin Moréel and Christopher Prêchez — the same pair who turned around Le Petit Bouillon Pharamond — with the aim of making it a refuge for aesthetes, locals and passing visitors alike. The soul of the place has been preserved: candles, woodwork, frescoes, a grand bar, paintings by the dozen on the walls and, at the back, a piano bar available for private hire for piano-and-voice evenings. In the kitchen, French tradition rules, with even a semainier — a long-forgotten practice — offering a market dish for each day of the week: Normandy côte de bœuf to share on Wednesday, grilled sweetbreads on Thursday, Breton lobster à la parisienne on Friday. A timeless Montmartre institution, at once a restaurant with character and a gathering place, ideally set a couple of steps from the Théâtre de l'Atelier, between the Anvers and Pigalle metro stations.

Les Fines Gueules (Vieux Lyon)
In the heart of Vieux Lyon, in the Saint-Paul district, Les Fines Gueules is an authentic Lyonnais bouchon, known for its traditional cooking, its craft and its commitment to making everything in house. At the entrance and on the walls, graffiti lays claim to "sincere cooking," dishes "with no showing off." Behind the project is Joël Salzi, for 11 years deputy manager under Paul Bocuse at Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or. On the menu, the great classics: poultry liver terrine, andouillette gratin, beef tripe cassolette, pig's trotters in crépinette — all of it prepared with fresh seasonal products, entirely house-made. Supply comes directly from local producers in the neighbouring départements (Ain and Isère), and the wines are selected from winemakers in Beaujolais, the Rhône Valley and Burgundy. The restaurant carries the "Bouchons Lyonnais" label and belongs to the Toques Blanches Lyonnaises and the Maîtres Restaurateurs — serious guarantees of authenticity in a district where tourist traps are not in short supply. A sincere and generous address, not to be missed on a visit to Lyon.

Buvette Scott
The restaurant serves contemporary cooking rooted in local ingredients, with house-made dishes and plates to share. The menu, which changes often with what comes in, is written on a slate. The atmosphere is convivial and intimate, with a decor all its own (including tapestries of rabbits and cats) and music played from vinyl on two turntables. La Buvette Scott offers an eclectic wine list, along with a selection of craft beers and ciders. The restaurant has been praised by critics, and is notably recommended in the MICHELIN Guide. The service is beyond compare, with outstanding guidance on the wine pairings. Excellent value for money.