Salut! Do you like spring? If so, how do you celebrate it? In Canada, people live in the province of Quebec (such as Montreal and Quebec City) welcome it with a hearty feast at Quebec cabane à sucre, which means sugar shack in English. Although the city is still covered under the snow, Quebecois people are already in the mood to send away winter and greet spring, and the most traditional way to do it is EATING!
When to have it?
Every March and April is the opening period of the sugar shacks in Quebec. Families and friends would go together, enjoy Quebec soul food, and celebrate the coming arrival of spring (even though Quebec spring comes very late in early May). Some sugar shacks are March/April limited, and some others may open longer.
What is Quebec Sugar Shack?
You may hear that Canada is the largest producer of maple syrup in the world. Not surprising, right? After all, no other country would put a leaf of maple on its national flag ;). But do you know that Quebec alone accounts for nearly 90% of the country’s production? And it’s all produced in Quebec maple sugar shacks. Now you know what to expect, MAPLE sugar and syrup!
What’s in a Quebec Sugar Shack Dinner?
A meal of maple sugar shack is really bountiful. Pea soup, pâté (spread on bread), pickled vegetables (e.g., cucumber, beetroot, broccoli), omelet, baked potatoes, maple ham, fried bacon, oreilles de crisse (deep-fried pork fat), baked beans, together with locally produced cider or maple wine. Sounds satisfying?
It’s not the end yet, there are still desserts. Maple sugar pie, pouding chômeur (bread pudding), and pancake with maple syrup. What a rich and wonderful meal!
That’s all for the meal? Not yet, honey (or we should say maple syrup here lol). Don’t forget the classic maple taffy on snow! Pour the hot maple syrup on the clean snow, wait a few seconds to roll it up with a stick, and enjoy it!
What else to expect?
Most sugar shacks have a variety of activities for people to have fun, such as traditional dance performances, farm experience and else.
Do they only have it for dinner?
It depends on the sugar shacks. Some have both lunch and dinner menus, some have either one.
Farewell to winter
Have you eaten at a sugar shack? If so, do you like it?
