Ange and her boyfriend are enjoying a relaxing weekend

A romantic weekend away is the perfect way to recharge your batteries while you wait for spring!

We headed west to the Chaudière-Appalaches region, stopping first at Les Pères Nature (link in french) speciality grocery shop in Sainte-Marie. We were in the mood for a weekend entirely devoted to relaxation, so we opted for their delicious ready-to-eat dishes for our meals: cheese arancini, salmon pâté, quinoa salad, leek and goat’s cheese quiche, broccoli and raisin salad, zucchini bread, and so on. Everything is homemade, using fresh, local ingredients wherever possible. As much as we love to cook, a break from cooking and washing up was the perfect way to unwind.

Then, with our appetites whetted by our shopping, we headed to La Guadeloupe for dinner at Les 5 Moulins, a superb discovery in the Beauce region. We were charmed by the warm atmosphere and the ever-changing menu, which stands out from the local food scene. A number of local producers are partners in this bistro, where you feel welcomed like a friend.

The evening menu offers a gourmet menu to be rediscovered according to what’s available, while for lunch we sampled pub classics with a unique creative touch: fried chicken on maple-flavored French toast-style brioche (a special treat for maple syrup season) and a pizza with pesto, fior di latte and grilled vegetables, accompanied by their refreshing Mexican lager brewed by La Contrebande.

In the late afternoon, we finally landed in a little haven of peace in Disraeli. Our accommodation for the next two days, a brand new residence with impeccable design and a private mini spa. A dream come true!

On the programme: reading in front of the fireplace and the panoramic window, enjoying the sauna, the cold bath and the spa surrounded by the forest, sleeping in hotel comfort, relaxing, taking our time, having no schedule or plan after all. We really fell in love with this place, where everything was designed to soothe, a luxury in good taste that was greatly appreciated.

On Sunday afternoon, we wanted to stretch our legs before heading home, so we went to discover the hiking trails of the 3 Monts de Coleraine.This area of over 1,200 hectares has ecological reserve status to protect its unique flora and fauna. The soil has a unique composition, and rare species can be found here, making them more vulnerable. In short, an incomparable habitat to revisit in any season. We hiked up Mount Oak, which is very accessible even in winter and offers great views of the surrounding mountains.

It was the perfect way to round off a relaxing weekend in the Appalachians!

Photos: Ange Hébert-Corriveau