Celebrating Quebec Cuisine

With its 400th Anniversary kicking off on New Year’s Eve, Quebec will be party central during 2008, with loads of special events, exhibits on loan from prestigious museums like the Louvre, and incredible multimedia shows at the exhibit area in the Old Port called Espace 400.

So there’s no better time to share some insider picks for this fabulous French city’s cuisine. On a recent visit, I had a gourmet lunch at Gambrinus, a lovely restaurant located on Rue du Fort near the Place D’Armes Park and Quebec’s most famous hotel, the Chateau Frontenac.

Billed as “the businessman’s lunch”, the $10.95 prix fixe meal including a choice of soup or salad, an entrée, dessert, and coffee. I started with an incredible curried zucchini and apple soup, followed by beef medallions with baby vegetables and potatoes. I absolutely had to choose the decadent chocolate mousse for my dessert (“My name is Ginger and I’m a chocaholic!), although it was a tough choice with options like Quebec’s traditional Maple Syrup Pie and Maple Crème Brulée in competition.

Although I myself am not a gourmand, foodies will love entrees like deer-stuffed pasta medallions and caribou filet with cherries and maple syrup. www.gambrinus.restoquebec.com