La Porte Arrière

This was one thing I’d been looking forward to since I read about it back in February: a Michelin-referenced restaurant in Rivière du Loup called La Porte Arrière (‘Michelin-referenced’ just means it made it into the Michelin Guide, but doesn’t have a star).

We are staying at an absolutely beautiful municipal campground out on the St Lawrence – views across to Tadoussac and the Charlevoix mountains – and we took a taxi into town.  I don’t want to talk about the shopping – I really did need new winter boot and they’re Canadian-made, so I shouldn’t feel guilty.  (You know, for a woman who does not enjoy shopping, I have somehow worn my credit card down to a nub over the past few months.)

The restaurant was lovely and we practiced our French – we’re assuming they understood us, as the food that arrived looked like what we had hoped for when we placed our orders.  Unusually, they charge for bread – not typical for high-end restaurants.  That would have put me off, but it simply made LL more curious, so of course she ordered it.  Glad she did – see below. 

My starter was quite possibly the best steak tartare I’ve ever had, and the main was homemade pasta with homemade ricotta, homemade focaccia croutons, and homegrown tomatoes and basil.

Anyhoo – this was one highly anticipated venue that truly did live up to (and beyond) my expectations.  Nice way to wrap up my adventure.  Five days to go!!!!!