{"id":4275,"date":"2026-04-09T14:52:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/destinationlacsaintjean.ca\/tour-gourmand-tour-fascinant\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T12:37:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:37:27","slug":"a-culinary-tour-a-fascinating-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/destinationlacsaintjean.ca\/en\/a-culinary-tour-a-fascinating-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"A culinary tour, a fascinating tour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Yvan Martineau, cycling journalist, tourism and outdoor activities correspondent for the program \u201cLes week-ends de Paul Houde,\u201d cycling tour guide, and media ambassador for the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Culinary Tour Along the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I loved it! I absolutely loved taking part in the very first Gourmet Tour on the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets<\/a>, that famous cycling route and major tourist attraction in the Lac-St-Jean region! The participants thoroughly enjoyed it too. Especially since we took our time (I\u2019m exaggerating a bit), stretching the fun out over four days. At every stop with local producers, the cycling tourists asked questions, showed great interest in our hosts, and were fascinated when they talked about the origins and mission of their family businesses or their attachment to their animals. And what can I say about the pride they expressed when describing their products! The Gourmet Tour is an experience with the potential to become a tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the very first pedal strokes as we set off from Alma, the group I was guiding for the Ekilib cycling tour agency was already soaking up that vacation vibe, with sections on bike paths, a first visit to a marina, and the crossing of the Grande D\u00e9charge aboard the Le Maligneau water shuttle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vergers de Velours, \u00e0 St-Henri de Taillon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And the first stop on the itinerary was\u00a0Vergers de Velours<\/a>\u00a0in St-Henri-de-Taillon, where the co-owner herself, Bianca Voyer, came out to greet us. What a determined woman! She and her team have racked up numerous accolades. In 2018 alone, they won seven medals for their beverages made from berry spirits (they own 2,000 fruit trees) at an international wine competition in New York State. The shop also makes foodies like me drool with its displays of homemade chocolates, chive blossom vinegar, green tomato ketchup, pickled cucumbers, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cycling from St-Henri to Dolbeau-Mistassini<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We hop back on our bikes. The weather is gorgeous as we ride for miles right along the lake\u2019s edge in Pointe-Taillon National Park (a S\u00e9paq park). The view is spectacular. Several of us remark, \u201cI didn\u2019t realize the lake was this big.\u201d At the end of the trail, there\u2019s nowhere to go. It\u2019s a dead end. After a swim in the shallow, warm water for dozens of meters, we board another water shuttle that drops us off on the other shore, in P\u00e9ribonka. The charming forest sections take us to Sainte-Jeanne-d\u2019Arc and then to Dolbeau-Mistassini. The power of the elements at the Chute des P\u00e8res is breathtaking. People often talk about Lake Saint-Jean, but in my view, we too often forget that the region is home to large, impressive rivers with strong currents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Microbrasserie Le Coureur des Bois<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once we arrived at the hotel, we headed out to one of the region\u2019s microbreweries,\u00a0Le Coureur des Bois<\/a>.\u00a0We received another warm welcome there, where one of the owners took great pleasure in treating our group to a tasting experience. This \u201cmicrobrewery\u201d crafts 26 varieties of wild beers inspired by the region!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like the day before, we have about 60 kilometers ahead of us on Day 2 to reach St-F\u00e9licien. A gourmet stop at l\u2019\u00e9conomus\u00e9e Les D\u00e9lices du Lac-St-Jean<\/a>, another family-owned business. I\u2019ve been a big fan of their wild blueberry and maple jams for a long time. The management shows us the wide range of products they make, such as wild blueberry tea and wild blueberry BBQ sauce. \u201cAnother deeply moving moment because we get to meet people who love what they do and are proud to share their knowledge,\u201d one of the participants tells me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Albanel, we head next to Chute \u00e0 l\u2019Ours in Normandin, then on to \u201cSt-F\u00e9.\u201d The diverse landscapes, farmland, and forests make for a delightful journey. Later, what a pleasure it was for me to see the Bouchard family again\u2014from\u00a0Bouchard Artisan Bio<\/a>\u2014who gave us a royal welcome. Val\u00e9rie, with great kindness, recounted the roots of this family of local producers who have been based in Lac for five generations, describing and offering samples of their famous cheeses and yogurts. My clients ask questions and show their curiosity. Carl (Bouchard) has been standing off to the side for 30 minutes when, finally, he joins the conversation. And off we go again\u2026 Our group is touched by the sincere devotion these farmers have for their craft and their cows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then came the request: could we visit the barn? Sure! Imagine about fifteen cycling tourists, in cycling shorts and clipless shoes, wandering through the aisles, enchanted by the sight. And especially by the baby calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Truly, such warm, friendly people\u2014the extended Bouchard family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We park our bikes in St-F\u00e9licien<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since time had flown by, we missed the planned aperitif at the\u00a0micro-brasserie La Chouape<\/a>\u00a0in St-F\u00e9licien\u2014which is also well-known\u2014and headed instead to dinner at a divine spot I hadn\u2019t yet discovered despite my fifteen or so trips along the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets: the\u00a0restaurant O Pied marin<\/a>. The menu draws inspiration from local specialties, so some opt for the parmesan fondue with blueberry chutney, others for the flank steak with blueberry sauce, and still others for\u2026 poutine\u2026 with blueberries! It\u2019s also divine because the restaurant sits on the banks of the Ashuapmushuan River, next to a marina, with a view of the sunset. Magnificent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day 3: A Day of Culture and Cheese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ekilib, Destination Lac-St-Jean, and the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets recommended stops like these every day as we cycled along, notably at\u00a0Fromagerie Perron<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Boulangerie et Fromagerie M\u00e9dard<\/a>. And at the\u00a0mus\u00e9e am\u00e9rindien de Mashteuiatsh<\/a>, which everyone takes the time to visit on Day 3. It is in this area, in fact, that the V\u00e9loroute returns to run alongside Lac St-Jean, charming us all over again. One scene among many: in Roberval, picnicking in a park on the shores of Pi\u00e9kouagami (the name given to Lake St-Jean by the Indigenous peoples), where the lake takes on the appearance of an inland sea, two of the participants relax, sitting in the sand, barefoot in the water. They chat. They appreciate the calm and the splendor of the surroundings. A moment of communion with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Bit of History in Val Jalbert<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But we had to hop back on our bikes to head to the historic village of Val-Jalbert <\/a>and get a taste of our ancestors\u2019 way of life, spending the late afternoon and the night there. How charming\u2014these old houses, their rooms furnished with antiques, tools, and artifacts from days gone by, and streets lined with wooden sidewalks just like in the John Wayne Westerns. The high waterfall is impressive, transforming in the evening under lights of various colors. When it comes to dining, Val-Jalbert offers one of the best restaurants in the region, located in the old stone mill. The decor and atmosphere are sublime!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the morning of the last day, some of the most breathtaking natural viewpoints along the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets on the lake draw gasps of wonder and prompt photo stops. It\u2019s also wonderful to cycle through Desbiens, M\u00e9tabetchouan-Lac-\u00e0-la-Croix, and St-G\u00e9d\u00e9on before heading back to Alma via another water shuttle to return to La Maison du v\u00e9lo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A wonderful gourmet bike tour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This gourmet tour was made even more memorable by the wide-open spaces, the natural attractions, and the warm hospitality of the proud residents and producers of the Lac-St-Jean region. It was also enhanced by the quality of services along the V\u00e9loroute, as well as by Ekilib\u2019s support\u2014including luggage transport, healthy snacks, and the van and trailer that follow behind in case of need, and more. Finally, it was made even more special by the camaraderie that quickly developed within the group\u2014groups that came alive with the rhythm of their shared passion for a common hobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you can imagine, with such a positive experience, I hope the Gourmet Tour becomes a tradition. Likewise, I wholeheartedly wish this enriching human experience upon as many cycling tourists as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out other cycling attractions on our website!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

*This culinary tour was created by Destination Lac-St-Jean and the V\u00e9loroute des Bleuets, in collaboration with the Ekilib agency, for which the author, journalist Yvan Martineau, leads tours all over the world.<\/em><\/p>\n