I did not expect to find something like Farouche - Tremblant. This review could be titled "A…read moreComedy of Errors." I also thought it would be appropriate to put up on the first day of spring.
It was a Sunday last fall and I was headed to the village at the base of Mont-Tremblant. I did not expect there to be so many people and that parking would be difficult ... and that it would be expensive. It looked like I needed to amend my plans. I kept driving east into the national park, where the entrance fee is acceptable, and would later worry about where I would eat. As I drove a little ways east of Mont-Tremblant, I saw that there was a casino and that it, too, had quite a few cars in its parking lots. I don't like casinos, so I wasn't thinking of eating at one, even if they had a buffet, especially since I don't like the idea of there being a casino at or near Mont-Tremblant.
Right before driving into the national park, there was a small cluster of buildings that looked "new." There were some parked cars in the parking lot. It looked like there might be food. I went into the national park and then returned to this location upon exiting the park. I had found Farouche.
Inside, I found a bistro, a bar and counter, and a small area with some groceries and supplies. I was given a very friendly greeting by the proprietors. (They even told me that my French was good.) I asked about what they had to eat. They had several things to choose from, so I sat down. Note that there are tall windows all around, so this brought the surrounding mountain scenery into the modern, woodsy space.
Given that I would be eating again later, I had squash soup, a chocolate chip cookie, and hot tea. The squash was sourced at their own farm that is in close proximity to Farouche's bistro-store. It was the best squash soup I have ever had! It was served with tasty bread that had olives in it. The chocolate chip cookie was good and, with the small teapot, I was able to make a few cups of tea. This is what I call comfort food! They also had other things, with a nearby table having ordered a charcuterie board and wine. They, too, were taking in the beautiful autumnal mountain setting.
Farouche also has a unique type of "hebergement" (that would be lodging to Anglophones). This lodging is offered in these strongly vertical A-shaped cabins, which may be actually called something else. Be it the hebergement or the bistro-store, they have that look that is a fusion of Nordic and "recycled '70s," the latter of which has been coming back into style, albeit updated for the 2010s and looking less hippie-dippy in the process. Farouche has been featured in the local and professional press for its avant-garde and interesting lodging facilities in tune with their natural surroundings.
They also have options for "plein air." I believe that, in French, this means "the (great) outdoors." That would imply that they can supply and you can rent things with which to recreate. You would have to look into that and their lodging arrangements. I stopped by to get something to eat.
I have been leading into a 4 star rating all along. Yes, I found Farouche to be a 4 star experience. And, for how natural and organic everything is, I could even attempt to be funny and come up with 4 makeshift French words to support this:
"Un petit peu granole"
Farouche is immediately before the Parc National de Mont-Tremblant's Lac-Superieur entrance. There is a small parking lot in which there will undoubtedly be a place for your Subaru. In this area, one could actually justify owning one.
