The foodie guide has spoken.
Chez Truchon has been declared a “gourmet treasure.”
The foodie guide has spoken.
Chez Truchon has been declared a “gourmet treasure.”
How does one become a food critic? How does one prove the keenness of one’s tastebuds and the breadth of one’s culinary knowledge? By education and by experience… Or by the passion conveyed by our words when we sing the praises of the dishes we’ve eaten? It’s up to you, dear readers, to decide, yes or no, whether you trust the self-proclaimed expertise of the Foodie Guide… But we certainly hope you do! Because this is a dream that we’ve worked hard to achieve, by lifting many forkfuls over many years of deliberate indulgence!
Within these pages, we don’t give out stars. Nevertheless, we can bestow, with full confidence, the seal of “gourmet treasure” upon one of the dining spots that has taken full advantage of Charlevoix residents’ positive word of mouth: Chez Truchon, Chef Dominique Truchon’s eponymous restaurant, awarded a Renaud Cyr prize, having made its reputation in Quebec’s culinary scene, and in the founding of the pioneering agritourism entity, the Flavor Trail. On his own for 15 years, he is supported in the kitchen by his associate, Chef Jean-Christophe Tremblay. What does this mean at the table, practically speaking? Intuitive, contemporary, decidedly gourmet cuisine that blurs the lines between inventive fine dining and classic bistro, invariably revolving around the love of terroir and of local products.
Generosity and knowledge around the table for Chefs Truchon and Tremblay
Having grown up on a farm in Saint-Hilarion, Jean-Christophe makes his blood sausage using a family recipe. Seasonal vegetables come from Guillaume, an organic farmer in Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs. The exquisite duck is raised using the Basque method in the heart of the village of Saint-Urbain. These are but a few examples from a whole menu full, setting the tone for what can be found on the plates in this large house on the rue Richelieu, in Pointe-au-Pic. In the dining room, the attention to detail continues with the attentive, friendly but professional service, into the sober and elegant setting of an historic and opulent residence updated for the 21st century, and in the selection of an impeccable wine list. At Chez Truchon, you get the whole package, with a more-than-satisfyingly flavourful prix fixe menu; with quality that’s always just right, you can have a big breakfast here, too, every day of the week… You can overnight here, as well, given that the upper floors include 8 well-appointed rooms, designed by a team that put their own signature touch into all the renovations, to say nothing of the spectacular cocktail, wine, and tapas bar next door at L’Île Mystérieuse (winner of the Grands Prix du Design Gold award) that, with its arts and crafts gift shop and its great, ready-to-eat take-home food, complements the Chez Truchon entrepreneurial venture: a treasure to discover, and to savour, over and over again!
Mixology
L'ÎLE MYSTÉRIEUSE [The Mysterious Island]
The mixologists at L’Île Mystérieuse await you in surroundings that are breathtaking, yet perfectly suited to lingering over cocktails inspired by Jules Verne’s world. At this spot, which you should mark as a favourite, ASAP, the drinks card is created with the same care as the seasonal menu, by an executive chef: creative cocktails, well-crafted classics, mocktails, wine by the glass, Menaud beer on tap… Created and served by Brandon: the daring Paper Plane. A soaring mix of whisky, Aperol, amaro and lemon juice… And, for the grown-up kids, a paper airplane!
