By Gaëtan Vaudry
I knew that stopping in Baie-Comeau, an industrial-port city on the North Shore, would give me the chance to meet friendly people. This was indeed the case with Frédéric St-Laurent Garon, one of the three shareholders of the Boucherie les trois p'tits cochons. Getting to know Fred, as everyone calls him, is to meet a passionate craftsman. For him, meats hold no secrets, not to mention sushi, of which he became a master over a good decade. The most loyal customers praise the impeccable service of the butchery's team, as well as the great variety of numerous products, their quality, and the much-anticipated return of the sushi counter.
Fred and his partner make it a duty to offer a good dozen products from local producers (including those from Les jardins de Carmanor farm), and several products from Boucherie les trois p'tits cochons also feature on the menus of Manicouagan restaurants: "It's important for us to promote the work of local artisans," the main interested party emphasizes. "We're even thinking of proposing to another butchery in the region to create a new sauce with us. Simply to demonstrate the beautiful fraternity that exists between the businesses of Baie-Comeau."
Well worth the detour!
Among the top sellers at Boucherie les trois p'tits cochons are, of course, classic beef, but also marinated meats, a wide variety of sausages, charcuteries (including those from Charcuterie Le porc-épique), beef and salmon tartares, not to mention the veal and haskap berry tartare, a real lightly fruity delight, and the house's cheeseburger tartare. During my visit, Fred had just finished preparing stuffed jalapeno peppers with cheese and wrapped in bacon... who can top that?
Always in search of novelties, Fred is very happy about his new collaboration with Pinto's MC Wagyu, offering Wagyu beef of exceptional quality, originating from Japan. "The quality of this beef is incredible," the young businessman points out. "And its flavor, highly enhanced. It's not cheap, but it's worth the detour!"
Fred and his team have many projects. The return of the popular sushi counter shows just how much this product is in demand at the Baie-Comeau butchery: "The boxes disappear almost the moment we place them in the counter," explains the expert. "We are therefore in constant production, to meet the high demand." I personally had the chance to experience a dish of 10 sushis, specially prepared by dear Fred. And I can now understand the enthusiasm of aficionados for this excellent product of Boucherie les trois p'tits cochons!
Boucherie les trois p'tits cochons
873, rue Bossé, Baie-Comeau
418 294-0804
Visit the butchery's Facebook page
By Gaëtan Vaudry
Tadoussac is arguably one of the most beautiful summer tourist regions in Quebec. However, this North Shore region is much quieter in winter. Fortunately, thanks to our friends at Chalets-camping Domaine des Dunes, it is possible to have very pleasant moments there, even in the winter season!
Located between the tourist village of Tadoussac and the famous Dunes (two huge marine sand terraces exposed by the last ice melt about 10,000 years ago), the Domaine des Dunes site, nestled in a birch forest, is simply enchanting. It offers both camping and chalet rentals that can accommodate up to six people, as well as the rental of a kamook and even a wooden tipi... nothing less! "We resume service in winter, to the delight of our customers," says co-owner Bernadette Roduit Bender, with a broad smile. "The experiences in kamook and tipi are done in camping styles, that is, with access to a sanitary facility with toilets and showers, washer and dryer, as well as a community room."
Several activities are available even in winter at Domaine des Dunes, including a highly appreciated welcome for snowmobile enthusiasts in the boreal forest, trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. In summer, the region abounds with activities, including whale watching cruises, black bear observation, sea kayaking, marine mammal interpretation center, the region's fine dining, and much more.
Bernadette, who is joined by her daughter and son for all aspects of Domaine des Dunes, has worked very hard in recent weeks to welcome you this winter. During my short visit to Tadoussac at the end of November, the family was busy making final adjustments to welcome numerous clients for the beautiful winter season. Moreover, Bernadette and her team invite you to book your chalet, kamook, or wooden tipi for the holiday season before December 10th. They even promise a nice surprise!
Domaine des Dunes (Chalets-camping)
585, Chemin de la Rivière-du-Moulin-à-Baude
Tadoussac
418 235-4843
domainedesdunes.com
By Gaëtan Vaudry
Tadoussac is arguably one of the most beautiful summer tourist regions in Quebec. However, this North Shore region is much quieter in winter. Fortunately, thanks to our friends at Chalets-camping Domaine des Dunes, it is possible to have very pleasant moments there, even in the winter season!
Located between the tourist village of Tadoussac and the famous Dunes (two huge marine sand terraces exposed by the last ice melt about 10,000 years ago), the Domaine des Dunes site, nestled in a birch forest, is simply enchanting. It offers both camping and chalet rentals that can accommodate up to six people, as well as the rental of a kamook and even a wooden tipi... nothing less! "We resume service in winter, to the delight of our customers," says co-owner Bernadette Roduit Bender, with a broad smile. "The experiences in kamook and tipi are done in camping styles, that is, with access to a sanitary facility with toilets and showers, washer and dryer, as well as a community room."
Several activities are available even in winter at Domaine des Dunes, including a highly appreciated welcome for snowmobile enthusiasts in the boreal forest, trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. In summer, the region abounds with activities, including whale watching cruises, black bear observation, sea kayaking, marine mammal interpretation center, the region's fine dining, and much more.
Bernadette, who is joined by her daughter and son for all aspects of Domaine des Dunes, has worked very hard in recent weeks to welcome you this winter. During my short visit to Tadoussac at the end of November, the family was busy making final adjustments to welcome numerous clients for the beautiful winter season. Moreover, Bernadette and her team invite you to book your chalet, kamook, or wooden tipi for the holiday season before December 10th. They even promise a nice surprise!
Domaine des Dunes (Chalets-camping)
585, Chemin de la Rivière-du-Moulin-à-Baude
Tadoussac
418 235-4843
domainedesdunes.com
By Gaëtan Vaudry
If you find yourself near Sept-Îles and are looking for an exceptional relaxation experience, you must stop at Spa Renaissance, a favored location offering a vast terrace with a breathtaking view of the water and the most beautiful sunsets.
This relaxation center offers a variety of packages to its clients, ranging from medical aesthetics to fitness, including relaxation, aesthetics, wellness, and much more. What sets Spa Renaissance apart from its competitors is that couples can receive treatments simultaneously, benefiting from very advantageous packages: "We indeed offer several package options that you can enjoy side by side," proudly states the owner Martin Carrier. "You can choose from several treatments: pedicure, manicure, facial, massage, hydrotherapy, neuro spa thermal sector, and much more!"
Another special feature of Spa Renaissance, located in the popular Hôtel Sept-Îles, are the tailor-made packages, which often include a variety of treatments, a gift card for the Bistro, and an overnight stay at the hotel. Spa Renaissance also offers two well-equipped training rooms, delighting many customers. A package that catches my attention is the Thermal Plus for $316, offering two three-hour accesses to the thermotherapy sector, a $50 gift card to the Bistro, and a double occupancy overnight stay at the hotel. Truly interesting! Additionally, I suggest inquiring about the Tropic and Havana packages, available until December 24th and perfectly fitting into a Christmas card, to offer your loved ones a special moment.
Spa Renaissance
451, avenue Arnaud, Sept-Îles
418 968-0606
sparenaissance.ca
By Gaëtan Vaudry
On November 24th, Montreal's gay scene lost one of its pioneers. Armand Monroe - born Armand Larrivée - passed away in his sleep at St-Raphael's Palliative Care Home. His death sent shockwaves through those who admired him, a standard-bearer for numerous struggles for gay and lesbian rights over the years. These included the right for men to dance together at a time when homosexuality was criminalized in Canada, as well as the very first gay pride parade and much more.
Born in Saint-Henri in 1935, young Armand left his family home at 18 to move to the bustling downtown of Montreal, fully aware of the difficulty (and even the shame) of being gay at that time. However, he refused to hide his true self, stating that he never needed to come out of the closet because he had never been in it. Rejected by his mother, he created a new family with his gay friends, becoming an emblematic figure of the homosexual scene.
For ages, everyone affectionately nicknamed him La Monroe for his boundless admiration for actress Marilyn Monroe, especially since the release of the hit movie "How to Marry a Millionaire." It wasn't until 1957 that he was offered a job as a host at the Tropical Room on Peel Street. The venue would become Quebec's first exclusively homosexual establishment, where La Monroe introduced bingo, drag queen shows, and Mister Muscle contests. Notably, for his 23rd birthday, he persuaded the owner to allow men to dance together, which was, of course, forbidden at the time.
Growing in fame, Armand Monroe worked in several establishments including the Hawaiian Lounge, Quartier Latin, and Café Beaver. At the PJ's cabaret, he entertained with his role as the "flamboyant liberated fool," achieving immense success. In 1974, still at PJ's, La Monroe hosted the New York Dolls, opening the door of Montreal's underground to glam rock, and later to punk with the band Les 222. In 1980, he hosted the National Day celebrations at Carré Dominion, drawing many curious to discover who he was. In 1983, he produced a mega drag show at Vieux St-Vincent in Laval and, years later, appeared in the historic show Vice & Virtue, presented by Les 7 Doigts de la Main.
In March 2017, Armand Monroe confided to Hugo Lavoie, during the Gravel le matin radio show on ICI Radio-Canada Première, stating: "I thank all the homosexuals from 1957 to 1969 who, at the risk of losing their freedom, came to support me. They are the real pioneers."
By Gaëtan Vaudry
During our brief stay of a few days in the city of Saguenay, we couldn’t help but stop at Café Cambio on Racine East Street four or five times. Firstly, to enjoy the atmosphere of this downtown Chicoutimi solidarity cooperative, and secondly, to savor affordable and healthy dishes that showcase products from various local producers.
As soon as Virginie Simard-Dufour starts talking about the products available at this fair-trade and organic micro-roastery founded in March 2005, her eyes light up. She speaks passionately about the tireless teamwork of 32 members, including 10 worker-members: “
Under the label, we embody a vision of a better world—one where farmers and workers sit at the negotiating table as equals
,” proudly notes the service manager, restaurant coordinator, and barista.
Café Cambio, a key gathering spot for students from the Chicoutimi CEGEP and the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), is also a venue for showcasing young Saguenay artists. The establishment regularly hosts art openings and intimate acoustic concerts of emerging music.
During my visit last November, I had the chance to enjoy some excellent dishes at this establishment, which was the brainchild of two young Montrealers and childhood friends, Guylaine Pelletier and Geneviève Demers. To start, I had a comforting mushroom soup, perfect for that time of year. I followed it with the spicy Bedi panini (Cajun-seasoned chicken, caramelized onions, spinach, mozzarella, and vegenaise), served with salad, corn chips, and salsa. For dessert, I enjoyed the daily special, all accompanied by one of their excellent fair-trade coffees. To my surprise, the bill for this delicious three-course meal was very affordable!
What also struck me during my first visit was their “Pay it Forward” concept, where customers can anonymously donate a soup or coffee to someone in need. Given the growing issue of homelessness in downtown Chicoutimi, this gesture of generosity is truly admirable and meaningful.
Café Cambio’s coffee and products are available at various points of sale across the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, including Chicoutimi, Jonquière, La Baie, Saint-Ambroise/Saint-Honoré, MRC Lac-Saint-Jean-Est, MRC Domaine-du-Roy, Bas-Saguenay, Saint-Fulgence/Sainte-Rose-du-Sacré-Cœur, Tadoussac, Les Bergeronnes, Les Escoumins, and even the Côte-Nord!
Café Cambio
414, rue Racine Est, Chicoutimi
418 549-7830
cafecambio.ca
