Remember the Times... 105 Rue Saint Pierre, Old Quebec 🔪🥄

 

To those who know 🥰... know #105ruesaintpierre  Remember the times 🎵🎼🎶

It's been 20 years, and coming back to this very spot is more than nostalgic. I knew it wouldn't be here anymore but I couldn't help but walk down memory lane while here in Old Quebec.

2025

2005

One of the highlights in my past food career was working on-set of Kraft's cooking show- qu'est-ce qui mijote? from pilot to #1 cooking show in Quebec (aired 2004 to 2008) by providing themed recipes, directing their on-camera talent with tips, and adhering to healthy living guidelines. L'Artistes de la Table owned by the formidable Madame Louise Martineau was a gorgeous kitchen, where the qqm hosts, film crew and amazing behind-the-scenes peeps like prop and food stylists made magic for 5 years with themes like "de nombreuses façons de préparer le sirop d'érable (many ways with maple syrup)", "c'est la saison du barbecue" et "desserts d'été sans cuisson". 

Host Martin Champoux and Susan on the set of Quebec's qu'est-ce qui mijote cooking show in 2004!

Pretty co-host Claude and Susan in Quebec City.

In my last corporate role at Kraft's Test Kitchens for six years, I created hundreds of recipes and food content for Kraft’s quarterly What's Cooking magazines, and Quebec's version- qu'est-ce qui mijote?, kraftcanada.com and brand marketing advertorials. Recipes from the French version were selected and brought to life as part of the cooking show themes.

My Roasted Pork Loin with Pear Salsa recipe makes

the cover page of Quebec's What's Cooking magazine

Set in the heart of Old Quebec, the in-between shoot romps, nightly gourmet French dinners and cultural discoveries preciously added to the wide eyed adventures of this budding young girl building her culinary repertoire 😍.

Psycho Four! 😜

After a long long day.. we look at those kitchen knives a lot differently.

Toast! For their sexy yellow beets truffle oil and balsamic vinegar app.

A must visit is Cochon Dingue, a bistro institution for their delicious breakfasts/brunches and fun atmosphere. It may be the most simplistic thing but when in Quebec, I hear creton calling and baked beans beckoning 🤤🍽 ... 

The heart of Old Quebec

The classic of all classics for breakfast!

How will this look 20 years later...?

Blackcurrants and Cassis in Île d'Orléans, Quebec

Who loves blackcurrants and Cassis?? 

Cassis Monna & Filles

But first, I can't think of a better red and white food to celebrate Day with my family than with lobster #lobsterroll and being here in beautiful Île d'Orléans, Quebec.

Chez Mag

Our start-of-summer-holiday family trip to Montreal then Île d'Orléans (a serene and picturesque island in the St Lawrence River located 20 minutes downstream from Old Quebec City) is known for its blackcurrant (cassis) production, particularly by Cassis Monna & Filles. The island's ideal microclimate has this family-run business churning out incredible blackcurrant-based products, including spirits, wines, and gourmet items since 1992: Award-winning crème de cassis- a sweet, dark red liqueur, gin and vodka and blackcurrant wines such as their dry wine and a dessert wine.

Other products entice such as jams, syrups, vinegars, mustards, teas and various gourmet treats such as enrobed black currant chocolate, meringues and artisanal marshmallows.

Cassis Monna & Filles is also known for its artisanal dairy bar, offering black currant-vanilla soft-serve ice cream.

Absolutely delicious!

We loved visiting their cassis production plant and learning about the history of how these berries originated in France and how their delicious and nutritious content in refined products became popular the world over. 

Known in Quebec as gadelle noire, the black currant is a fragrant, tart and sweet purplish-black berry with a long history of both culinary and medicinal use. Brought to the Americas by the first European settlers, it was prized for its healing properties even then. Today, it's celebrated not only for its bold flavour but also for its health benefits- rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, polyphenols, and anti-inflammatory compounds that help boost the immune system and support eye health.

Cassis, also known as blackcurrant liqueur, originated in France, specifically in the Burgundy region. The modern liqueur we know as crème de cassis was first produced in Dijon in the 19th century (1840s), though blackcurrants had been used in medicinal and culinary applications in Europe long before that. A famous use is in the Kir cocktail (cassis + white wine), named after Félix Kir, a mayor of Dijon.

Monna & Filles story began in 1872 when Louis Monna founded the eponymous maison Louis Monna, which specialized in the distillery of fine wines and spirits in l'Hérault, France. His son in 1925 Émile Monna, sails for Quebec where he teaches his children all that he knows - among them Bernard, founder of Cassis Monna & Filles. Today, it is the 5th generation of the Monna family - sisters Catherine and Anne - who stand at the helm of their family business.

At Cassis Monna & Filles, several hardy varieties thrive in Quebec’s climate, including Titania and Ben Lomond. These cultivars are known for their intense aroma, juicy texture, and resistance to disease. Perfectly adapted to the province's cold winters, the berries are harvested in early August at peak ripeness, bursting with flavour and vitality.

A popular phrase "you have currant eyes" is a figurative expression referring to the dark purple, almost black colour of black currants, which is similar to the colour of some people's eyes which also has symbolic meaning, such as resilience or quiet strength.

My childhood memories of Ribena blackcurrant syrup mixed in water, blackcurrant pastel gummies coated in sugar and Asian blackcurrant boxed drinks forever etched and that deep tart and sweet grapey flavour has me yearning for more... 

Île d'Orléans is also known for their acres and acres of pick-your-own strawberries, and of course when in anywhere in Quebec, picking up pate, mousse and foie gras are a must and a chocolate or two!

Next time you are in Quebec, plan a visit to Île d'Orléans, located in the St. Lawrence River 5 km east of Quebec City, a historic and picturesque island known as the "cradle of French civilization in North America" connected by the Île d'Orléans Bridge. 

Stunning and Serene- a must for nature and countryside enthusiasts!

O Canada Day Feast With Newcomer Kitchen...

What a successful event it was with Newcomer Kitchen current Spring day program group Sisters Multicultural Kitchen and the one and only The Depanneur serving their curated O Canada feast menu 🇨🇦🍴 to a Sold Out crowd of 60! And that was even before our menu was posted 🤗! It was a beautiful Thursday evening- a celebration prelude just before the long 🇨🇦 weekend. 

The Bentway and Len Senator at The Depanneur have been teaming up again to bring you a fabulous lineup of diverse and delicious dinners. Newcomer Kitchen’s cohorts are made up of women from around the world who have come together to share their foods and cultures with Toronto. These ladies 🇲🇦🇪🇷🇮🇳 were excited to create a truly international meal just in time for Canada Day — a celebration of what makes this country home for so many.

Family-style dining in a truly unique urban setting. Communal Tables are seated, family-style meals, served and shared at 10 tables of 6, where you bring your own plates and cutlery.

Introducing themselves and the dishes they prepared, they were experiencing public speaking likely for their first time! They did so well 🤗!

Moroccan Mixed Vegetables Tagine anyone? Prepared with tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, zucchini, chickpeas and black olives slow simmered with preserved lemons 🇲🇦😋- the vegetarian option for the main meal...

Or do you want Harpreet's Punjabi Lemon Chicken with a lemony black pepper sauce 🇮🇳🍛🍋... 😋?

How the rest of the delish menu looked like 🇨🇦🍽!

Asmait's Eritrean bread was a major hit- perfect served with the Moroccan eggplant dip, with the main meals or on it's own. Usually this is baked on a special pan with lid called a magogo and served on special occasions. What a treat our guests enjoyed.

Some more kitchen prep and incredible event plating shots!

Sucharita preparing her Indian onion pakoras. To be served with Asmait's green chili data'aa.

Madhuri prepares her tasty cumin basmati rice, a harmonious complement to either mains.

Indian Onion Pakoras with a dip of Eritrean Data'aa

Zaalouk- a lovely Moroccan Eggplant and Tomato Dip

Refreshing watermelon, cucumber, shallots and mint salad sprinkled with black salt- the only way Indians eat their watermelon. The sulfuric flavour elevates the cool and sweet taste with a hint of salt.

Ahhh, a cool frozen fresh strawberry infused kulfi- an Indian delight in individual containers for a portable finish to an AmaZing 🇨🇦 meal!

Enthusiastically working together and volunteeringly serving the great crowd of guests with a smile on their face is what we call a Dream Team 💥! 

Congrats Sisters Multicultural Kitchen 👏👏👏!!