Today – after a unintentional but much needed blog hiatus – I am so happy to share with you some photos from my experience at a completely vegetarian sugar shack.
The last few weeks, between my full time job, packing, moving, subletting my apartment, designing my sister’s wedding invites and more, I couldn’t find the time to sit down and blog. But I knew that I would need to document and share this experience on the blog.
When I first heard of La Pause Sylvestre, it was early last spring while researching sugar shacks here in Quebec with vegetarian options. Sugaring season is big around here and you will even find ‘pop up’ sugar shacks downtown for those who want the experience without needing to go to a remote shack in the woods. When I found an article about this sugar shack, which offers a 100% vegetarian experience (if you rent the whole place – roughly 20 seats – they will make the meal completely vegan), I knew I wanted to try. Unfortunately when I called them up last March, they were completely booked for the season. The woman on the phone (Carole) suggested calling next January to secure a place.
I almost forgot to book early but I managed to get a reservation for 4 on one of the last weekends of the season. La Pause Sylvestre is about 2 hours from Montreal if your google maps is being cooperative. We arrived at our destination a few minutes before dinner. After settling down to a long table (family style) we walked around the grounds to explore. The “bathroom” is a cute little shed with a composting toilet and windows on 2/4 walls. Pants should be pulled up before standing fully up. However the view was pretty magical from the toilet seat.
Facilities aside…
The food was cooked up and served to us by the 2 owners. We enjoyed baked beans, 3 types of savoury pies (millet, tofu and black bean), omelet, potatoes from their garden, and a side of pickled beets, sauerkraut, coleslaw, sour cream and maple syrup (duh). Food was passed around from one end of the table to the other, we made conversations with our neighbours while trading the maple syrup for the sauerkraut. After dinner, we had a few minutes to get a breath of fresh air outside as the coffee brewed inside and our hosts prepared dessert. Then we were offered crepes with syrups and seconds for the more courages few (me). I also saw some buckwheat pancakes going around so I believe anyone with gluten allergies could make a special request.
Since the sugar shack is BYOB, we brought along some beers, wine and non alcoholic beer for the mother to be. With the small space, flowing drinks and endless amounts of food, the atmosphere was almost intoxicating. You almost felt like you were in the middle of a Tolkien novel, though the (french) folk songs came out of a radio rather than from the dinner guests (though we were encouraged to sing if we felt inclined). Though the heat and wine might also put you to sleep. Which is why stepping outside after dessert, with a popsicle stick in hand for some sugar on snow is a good way to wake up before the drive home.
La Pause Sylvestre doesn’t have a website – in fact they don’t even need one as they have no problem filling seats, 20 years after they first started their sugar shack. They are open for lunch and dinner fridays, saturdays and sundays in March and April.
cabane à sucre la pause sylvestre
58, 11ième Rang-de-Dudswell, Dudswell, QC J0B 2L0
(819) 828-0049