This has been the 2nd best dining experience I have ever had in North America, even knocking out…read moreMichelin star restaurants. Everything about this place is so perfect: a. The food - wow wow - very local and to die for b. The staff - so fun and so much personality, enjoyed every interaction c. The vibe - it was a combination of out in the wild and Nordic modern with a very Quebec/Canadian flare. This is a hidden gem and worth the extra drive.

Maison Soma is most definitely worth the drive from Montreal to Mont-Tremblant, from the front door…read moreto the table, you will be transported into this peaceful atmosphere. The service was amazing, they have an extensive selection of natural wines as well as non alcoholic beverages. We had the Buvette menu with most of the ingredients directly from their farm. You can eat in the gorgeous field or on the patio (especially on rainy days like yesterday). Loved every bit of my experience there. I strongly recommend it!

1500th review. Full thoughts in the blog. A $35 destination meal. Highlights below…read more Located in Plantagenet, Ontario - a small town approximately an hour east of Ottawa Mariposa Farm likely doesn't register a blip on most 'foodie' radars, but to fans of duck, goose, and particularly foie gras it is a name that should be synonymous with a Homer Simpson-esque drooling sound. Set in the rolling countryside where the quacks and honks of Barbarie ducks and Embden geese are the only sounds punctuating the serenity of hundreds of acres Mariposa is a functional farm for168 hours a week - but for two hours each Sunday it is also a $38 three-course prix fixe brunch for ~40-50 diners lucky enough to experience Chef Mark Currier's handling of the farm's bounty. The Service: Having already met one half of the ownership team, Ian Walker serves as the dining room's host, captain, and maître d'. A pleasant man more than happy to share a story the rest of the service falls in line - each dish delivered hot from the kitchen with both the servers and Ian stopping by frequently to check in and make sure you haven't any wants or needs aside from, perhaps, a little more history about the farm or their many travels to farms across North America. Foie Gras Mousse Crepe with Apple Blue Cheese Salad and Parsnip Mustard: While the ladies were welcome to skip on the very reason we traveled to Mariposa Farm, I most certainly was not - I came for foie gras and with the rich liver in this case pureed into a smooth mousse and stuffed into a buckwheat crepe I can say without a doubt it was worth the drive. Starting first with the pancake, delicate yet toothsome and moving on to its ample filling the wooden board was further dressed with thin slices of sour Granny Smith apples tossed with bitter greens, black pepper, and funky blue cheese while a light layer of smashed parsnip tinged with mustard added a subtle heat. An excellent composition served in ample portion and touching on nearly every part of the palate it would not be hyperbole to say this was the best savory crepe I've ever tasted. Bison Flank Grilled and BBQ with Pulled Pork Mashed Potatoes, Black Pepper Aioli, Duck Reduction, Carrots: Served 'pink' but so lean that it was as dry as my aunt generally prefers in her well-done steaks the overall flavor of this particular cut was not dissimilar to prime rib and with the rich aioli and duck jus serving to add both fat and flavor the richness of the dish was bumped up another notch by the locally grown smashed potatoes mixed nearly 50/50 with savory BBQ pork. An overhand smash of flavors with both my mother and I fancying the potatoes over our respective carbohydrates my aunt ate nearly all of the flank on her own - another testament to the quality of the proteins coming from Mariposa's wood grill. Duck Confit Leg glazed with Maple Mustard with Sunchoke Spaetzel, Carrots and Rhubarb Reduction: Again noting that our trip to Mariposa was predicated on their signature birds I overlooked the fact that mustard was included in both my appetizer and my main course and simply smiled and savored the subtlety of it as enjoyed one of the best duck confit dishes I've had in recent memory. Reportedly rendered in duck fat for 8 hours prior to a brief visit to the wood oven the phrase "falling off the bone" came to mind with each bite and with a sweet lacquered exterior that literally crunched on mastication before the succulent interior melted in the mouth the accoutrements hardly even mattered aside from adding a touch of fibrous vegetal undertone to help balance the otherwise intense richness of the fowl. Quebec Cheese Plate with Apple Cranberry Puree - Unable to buy many of Quebec's raw and unpasteurized options in The United States I just couldn't justify passing this up for a mere brownie and with each cheese impressive while the Tomme de Joyeux was a sort of revelation in its floral sweetness I don't regret my choice one bit - particularly as some of the better restaurants in Montreal focused their collection on non-domestic options. The Verdict: If one were to rank restaurants as Michelin does with the concept of "excellent cuisine, worth a detour" constituting two-stars then by simple default of location Mariposa would garner deux etoiles even though the setting, service, and concept certainly are not targeting such lofty goals. Focused on rustic cuisine made on a hearth by a passionate team of people hosting weekly brunch in their home Mariposa Farm remains to this day the meal my mother remembers most fondly from our trip to Canada and while I cannot quite share that degree of enthusiasm considering some of the other meals we had I would not hesitate even a second to return or to give it my strongest recommendation for others in the area - it is definitely a special place committed to doing things not only well, but more importantly doing things the right.

One of my new favourite dining experiences in the World. Mariposa is roughly 40-50 minutes…read moreNorth-East of downtown Ottawa. When I arrived, I passed by a fire and beautiful gardens into a home style restaurant with tall windows from the floor to the ceiling. The kitchen is open style so you can see the food being prepared. When you arrive, they ask you to choose an appetizer, main and dessert. One of the toughest choices you will ever have to make. Most of the food comes fresh from the farm. They are known for their foie gras, which was spectacular. Note that you need to book a reservation at least one week in advance as they only serve lunch once a week on Sunday's. It is worth the wait. Also BYOB. After we ate, the owner, Ian, happily gave us a tour of the barn and grounds. There was also a trail to take a walk down to top it all off. I look forward to going back!

Ok so it was really by fluke that we found this farm while driving through harwood street .. we…read morewere on our way to visit friends and decided to pull over to check this farm out.. they were closed on our first attempt grrr... not fun i mean it be nice to be open later during the summer season We finally attempted our second visit and boy we were glad to discover fresh local fruits & veggies! The prices are like half the amount they charge at grocery stores Food: vegetables : Tons of Fresh cucumbers, lettuce , radishes eggplants, broccoli tons and tons of variety veggies for real decent prices ! 75cents for a large cucumber the shallots were like 50cents for 2 bunches it was amazing.. Fruits & other stuff: I find theyre a little bit overpriced and its possible they don't grow it at their farm but everything seemed very fresh The have a whole lot of plants and gardening stuff outside as well. Service: Was a bit rude and the cashiers didn't seem like they wanted to be there .. they were very hostile :/ However, their products are great quality at very competitive prices so it's definitely worth the drive if you're in the area if you don't mind being serviced by rude cashiers lol

From the owner: Centre jardin et Fruiterie Garden center and fruit and…read morevegetable market

One of my favourite places to go to in the fall. Although they are open year round Quinn farm gets…read morethe most amount of people during autumn We had planned a family outing to pick apples and pumpkins. Because of covid you need to buy tickets ahead of time and you get a time slot to go enjoy the farm. The entry fee is 10$ per person. Once you arrive you get a bracelet and can pick up any prepaid bags for you apples or you can pay for them there. You can then check out some of the farm animals or let the kids use the slide and climb around the play area. Once your ready to pick the apples or pumpkins or even corn, you hop on the tractor and then pick your stop to get off at when they announce what fruits/veggies are available. You get to pick them and take them home ! They have washing stations for the veg as well. Once your done wait for the tractor to pick you up and head back home and bake your heart away !

I really enjoyed my experience at Quinn Farm. I came here with my family for pumpkin picking, but…read morethere was much more to see than just pumpkins! The entrance fee is 8$ per person. Once you're in the farm, you can go see some cute farm animals. There is also a big kiosk where they sell products made in-house, those are extremely overpriced! A truck brings you to a pumpkin patch. There are various kinds of squash and pumpkins, all priced very fairly. There was also apple picking available, but that is also overpriced. It costs $11 for a little bag, which is 3 to 4 dollars at the grocery store! Perhaps bringing the price down would entice people to buy more. In general, it's a nice farm with very friendly workers. A great place to go with your significant other, family, friends, kids, anyone! You just have to choose what you want to purchase.

If you're passionate about organic farming, organic food and buying local then you definitely owe…read moreit to yourselves to know about Windmill Point Farms and the work of Dr. Ken Taylor. Doc Taylor was also the subject of the NFB film, "Organic Prophecies". With a PhD in chemistry, Doc Taylor is no slouch when it comes to looking at the ills of agro-business, genetically modified seeds and produce and the effects on human and environmental health. You can read about Doc Taylor and his work here: http://eap.mcgill.ca/MagRack/SF/Summer%2093%20S.htm You can purchase organic seeds and or seedlings through the website but I personally prefer going out to the farm and looking over the vegetables and fruits myself and even chat with Doc Taylor. He runs the farm with his family and they are very nice and interesting people to talk to who are also concerned citizens and put their money where their mouth is.

I was self-isolating up north a few weeks ago and I was able to eat only thanks to Petits Oignons'…read morepick-up service, which they offered at a time when most stores were not. They have a small store on their farm in Brebeuf but this review is for their general store located along the 117, slightly north of St-Jovite and the big grocery stores. I love their emphasis on local and organic produce. In addition to selling vegetables from their own farm, they partner with multiple producers in the region, so I can always find fresh eggs or chicken that was raised in the next town over. They also try to be as zero-waste as possible, offering flours, nuts, coffee, etc in bulk, which is not easy to find in this area. The pick-up concept is simple- you make a list of items you need and someone does your groceries while you're on the phone with them. I was really grateful because one of the employees spent over 10 minutes on the phone with me and made a lot of suggestions when something was missing. It's a small store but they have everything you may need, from fruits & vegetables, frozen meats, dairy products to shampoo bars and cleaning products. The pick-up service is free but delivery costs $15 and they only deliver within a 15m radius. My order was ready within a few hours and I picked it up on their porch. It was safe and it felt nice to know that my parsnip didn't travel a billion km before ending up in my basket.

While staying in Montebello, we decided to visit Parc Omega, this reserve for assorted wild animals…read morethat enables you to drive through a car trail, where you can even feed select animals. It was a super time, even though not all the animals in the park come in close proximity to your vehicle. The park provides English and French FM radio narrations with interesting details accompanying you while advancing along the car trail. My family had been here 11 years before, but the last trip I made to a place like this was NJ's Jungle Habitat in my teens. They knew to bring along bags of carrots, since you can feed certain animals. (If you don't BYOC, i.e., "Bring Your Own Carrots," you can buy them there.) You're mostly limited to deer type animals and discouraged from feeding males, since it's mating season. That being said, the male deer seemed docile and everyone disregarded that instruction. (Of course, do so at your own risk!) With different habitats, there were wild boar, bears, white wolves, caribou, to name a few - but we didn't feed these. The park staff does keep those all well fed. An Alpine Ibex did approach our car, eager for carrots. We did bypass the petting zoo portion, due to adjacent parking lots being full. While I would have enjoyed looping around a 2nd time, the others were frustrated with the traffic and decided it was time. Even though we tried to avoid the peak times, it seemed that wasn't the case. Definitely, Parc Omega is a wonderful experience, more engaging than a zoo. It's especially great fun for kids of all ages!!!

Amazing experience. It's a great family spot, especially with younger kids. The safari is engaging…read morefor the kids and adults like. Be sure to get atleast 2 bags of carrots to get through the route. While staying at the lodge can be expensive, observing the wolves at such close range is a surreal experience. Overall, had a great time. Highly recommend checking it out.

La Maison Lavande in Saint- Eustache is one of my favorite places to take a drive to when visiting…read moreMontreal. It's best visited in July or August to fully enjoy the lavender fields (I can't imagine going any other time). It's absolutely beautiful and such a relaxing spot to hang out with friends or family - very picnic vibes, like a huge open park without the park. It's perfect for photos, seems pet friendly too (saw lots of dogs!), and you have to try the lavender ice cream. It's so good! Don't forget to stop by the gift shop for lovely home items before you leave. And, don't forget to check their website for entry fees before you go.

First time here at La maison Lavande! Just beautiful! You can bring your own little picnic! Kids…read morefriendly place! You can take lots of pictures! Provide big chairs and couch for pictures and relaxing. Beautiful scenery! Will be back next year! Recommend this place