Manoir Hovey, 575 Rue Hovey, North Hatley, QC J0B 2C0, Tel. 819-842-2421
On the shore of Lake Massawippi, an hour and a half drive east of Montreal, Manoir Hovey was modeled on George Washington’s Mount Vernon in Virginia. It is presently part of the Relais & Chateaux association.
Since Manoir Hovey and its surrounding Eastern Townships have inspired the setting in some of mystery novelist Louise Penny’s chief inspector Armand Gamache books, we decide to take a stroll before dinner through quaint Hatley.
We left Hatley and headed to Manoir Hovey’s fine dining restaurant, Le Hatley, named, you guessed it, for the nearby charming town. We came here to enjoy the cuisine of Chef Francis Wolf, who, after 17 years at the helm of Le Hatley was ready to pass the baton to two younger chefs. Before taking the helm at Le Hatley, chef Francis Wolf honed his skills at celebrated New York restaurants under the auspices of chefs like Alan Ducasse, Daniel Boulud and Charlie Palmer, and then, later, in San Francisco with Gary Danko.
Passionate about the region’s bounty the chef works extensively with local foragers and farmers, including a sausage maker who feeds his pigs with the restaurant’s scraps.
Amuse-bouche
Gaspe Penisula Bluefin Tuna, Baby Beet, Salad Burnet, Birch Syrup, Lovage
Laurentian Bison, Sea Spinach, Shive Bearnaise, Wild Mushroom, Shalion
Duck Magret, Beet, Fennel, Huskap berry
Quebec Strawberry & La Esmeralda Chocolate, Buckwheat, Yogurt cake, Larch Ice Cream
Guayaquil Chocolate with Sweet Clover, Sour Cherry, Coltfoot, White Chocolate & Vanilla Mousse
Wine – Le Arche Valpolicela Ripasso 2015
Since my visit, Chef’s Francis Wolf place in the kitchen had been taken over by the talented team of Alexandre Vachon, an Ottawa native, and Paul Roberts, a Brit from Staffordshire. I am looking forward to my next visit to Le Hatley to experience what the two young chefs are bringing to the table.
It’s cool to live in Montreal.
The epic epicureanism experience continues …
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