The sap is starting to run and the people of Quebec are flocking to cabane à sucres across the province to get their maple fix. The feasts are plentiful and the maple syrup is flowing. That being said, if you can’t make it out of an urban centre to enjoy the bounty of the sugaring off season, there are plenty of Montreal restaurants that offer special menus around this time of year. You can celebrate the maple sap harvest at these seven spots around town.
Maple syrup photo by QUOI Media Group from Flickr Creative Commons
Cabane Urbaine
A rural sugar shack in the heart of Saint Henri, this pop-up is the place to be from March 18 to April 30. For only $20, it’s offering all you can eat pea soup, eggs, baked beans, potatoes, and bacon (maple wood smoked, naturally). Pancakes may seem like a breakfast food, but in the case of the sugar shack feast, they’re everything you want for dessert, and come in endless supply.
Le Richmond
Take your brunch game to the next level with Le Richmond’s sugar shack brunch, a mix of genuine classics and creative spins on everyone’s favourite cabane à sucre dishes. How can you say no to offerings like mille-feuille comprised of maple syrup cream, black pudding mousse, and a foie gras emulsion to finish? If that doesn’t do it for you, the braised short ribs with maple syrup and fennel surely will.
Scena
Every year during the sugaring off season, Scena welcomes a guest chef to do a specialty menu in March and April. This year, it’s chef Laurent Godbout’s time to shine, and that he does. Enjoy five whole courses of maple syrup delight (dinner or brunch options available) for only $65.
Au Pied de Cochon
The cuisine at Martin Picard’s Au Pied de Cochon essentially evokes the nostalgia of a sugar shack all year long, but we’d be remiss if we didn't mention them at this time of the year. If you do want the full sugar shack experience, you can head to its cabane à sucre in Mirabelle and enjoy a feast of epic proportions. Just be sure to book well in advance in order to secure a spot!
Landry & Filles
Brunch is a big deal in Montreal and no one does it better than Landry & Filles, especially when it comes to dousing everything in delicious maple syrup. On April 2nd, you can indulge in all things sugar (maple sugar that is) for only $38 per person. Given the cost of maple syrup, that’s a steal! Frankly, we’d go just for the cassoulet alone.
La Récolte
Every Saturday for the month of April, La Récolte will be offering a four-course meal dedicated to all things maple, including the likes of pea soup; but not just any pea soup, we’re talking pea soup with corn and fried pork jowls. Then, there’s smoked pork with Scotch eggs and potato puree, but be sure to save room for its tarte au sucre beignets for dessert!
La Bête à Pain
On weekends throughout March and April, La Bête à Pain’s Ahuntsic location will be serving up brunch that’s an ode to all things spring, which thus entails all things maple. From maple crepes, to maple sausages, to maple éclairs, if you’re still craving maple by the time you leave, you should probably get that looked into…
