Ange and her family stroll through the Parc Pointe-De la Martinière and treat themselves to a spring aperitif

Less than ten minutes from the park, we went to discover the Distillerie des Appalaches, a local company inspired by nature and how it changes with the seasons, which seemed an ideal continuation of our outdoor outing.

We were immediately taken with the friendly, welcoming atmosphere! After tasting various products (several of which won awards), we were invited to visit the distillery. Clearly, it’s a team of enthusiasts who create the spirits on the premises. We chose to bring back Kepler Bord de mer, a gin flavoured with strawberries and rhubarb, a homemade ginger syrup, and some delicious non-alcoholic ready-to-drinks. In fact, their very good non-alcoholic gin is called Alphonse, a reference to Mr Desjardins, who legend has it was a sober man.

We then took a short diversions to stock up for a gourmet aperitif at Alicia Sanchez – Épicerie fine, where the service is warm and personalised.

Artisanal charcuterie, fine cheeses, top-quality marinades, as well as prepared dishes, bakery products and other carefully selected delights make this a popular destination for a tasty Mediterranean treat. I’ve fallen in love with their delicate burrata, their artichoke hearts on the stem and the children love their cashews with ketchup.

Back home, we wanted to make the most of the last rays of this beautiful March day, so it was by the fire in the courtyard that we shared our first picnic of the year and raised our glasses to the beautiful season to come!

Photos: Ange Hébert-Corriveau