Eating Italian Food in a French CIty

Just across from the Chateau Frontenac on rue Saint-Louis is one of Quebec City’s favorite Italian restaurants, Au Parmesan. The décor is what I would call Franco-Italian, with a warm bistro feel and eclectic memorabilia like the owner’s extensive collection of limited edition liquor bottles in the shapes of cats, buildings, Victorian ladies, and other unique shapes. These are displayed on a shelf near the ceiling that runs around the perimeter of the dining room.

The menu is full of hearty Italian classics, like the meat-filled cannelloni I tried. Spaghetti and meat sauce, penne with red sauce, and veal are a few of the other selections, sure to please anyone in need of a pasta fix.

On the day we lunched at Au Parmesan, the Winter Carnival Dogsled Race was being held out front on rue Saint-Louis so we had an excellent viewing spot right at the starting line. (www.auparmesan.ca )