Short trip to Rimouski and Matane, and a few gourmet spots

Quebec just experienced its first real heat wave of the summer, but we missed most of it, Sweetie and me : we went to le Bas-St-Laurent for a few days. Since we were not camping and did not bring any cooking gear, this post won't be about some recipe I made on the road; instead, I will write about places to visit, go eat and have a drink while in Rimouski and Matane.

Monday morning, we took the road towards Rimouski. Later in the day, we stopped in Pointe-au-Père to visit the Empress of Ireland Pavilion. Tragically interesting.

In the evening, first pit stop at Le Bien, le Malt craft brewery, located in center Rimouski : while rather good, the two different beers we tasted somehow lacked presence. They were a far cry from those fantastic beers we can drink at the microbrewery Archibald in Lac-Beauport, so close to our home we could just walk up there; let's just say that the Grande Barbue does not compare to the Ciboire or the Chipie. Very nice place to have an apero nonetheless, warm and welcoming.

Nine pm : the rain stops long enough for us to walk to Yin Yan Sushi nearby, where the kitchen was open until ten on this gray monday. Here sushi is the star, but there is also a great assortment of asian entrees. Very curteous and efficient service, delicious food, contemporary and sober settings, and reasonnable prices. Sweetie chose the General Tao chicken, I went for the Madras curry chicken, and we shared some potstickers for appetizers. I would definitely go back there without thinking twice.

First night was spent at Hôtel des Navigateurs. Bad experience! Our non-smoking room smelled like an ashtray, bed was old and not firm at all, and pillows were thick and too firm. As a result, I almost did not sleep, and I still have pain in my neck. While the advertising outside said "entirely renovated", it was obvious that our room had not been refreshed in a very long time. Much too expensive for the whole thing. The only positive aspect of it all : the young women at the frontdesk were very welcoming and professionnal.

Tuesday had to be sunny : we planned to go to les Jardins de Métis, or Reford Gardens. What a splendid place to visit! At lunchtime, we stopped at the little Café Jardin : we shared a big grilled brie-like cheese served on dried apricot and cranberry bread, and beet salad. Simple and delicious.

Around 3 pm, we left the gardens to go to our final destination, Matane. That evening, since we were in seafood country, we decided to spoil ourselves and went to le Rafiot, a nice fish and seafood restaurant close to our hotel. We had Le Naufrageur craft beer to begin with (good taste, but just a little on the watery side), Rafiot's soup as an appetizer (exquisite : a fish soup full of fresh salmon, cod, shrimps, scallops, lobster, celery, carot, onion, cream and a pinch of curry), and tha gigantic Gaspesian plate for 2 as a main course. Everything on that plate looked so good I forgot to take a picture before starting to eat... For the finale : chocolate mousse and crispy chocolate, a superbe dessert as good as everything that preceeded.

We booked a room at Hôtel Motel Belle Plage; build directly on the beach, this hotel is well taken care of, very clean and comfortable. You won't find trendy looks there, but the staff is very nice, and the place has a charming, even if old, style. To my absolute satisfaction, mattress and pillows were a dream...! And the ocean view was peacefully beautiful.