This spring, my sister sent me a photo of the cover page of the Journal Le Guide, the local newspaper from the eastern townships where we grew up and where my parents still live. It was an article about a new vegetarian restaurant in Cowansville called l’Archipel.
Fast forward to 3 weeks ago, we were heading down to visit my parents for lunch and decided to stop in for brunch. I arrived with low expectations, not sure what we were in for. Cowansville isn’t exactly the most gastronomical town in the eastern townships. And after the Chinese restaurant closed while I was in high school, my memories of dining out there consisted of McDonald’s, Valentine’s or (during special occasions) the Brasserie where I enjoyed many chicken caesar salads and undoubtedly ran into a schoolmate in the process. Needless to say, I didn’t have high hopes for a vegetarian restaurant in this town.
Luckily for me, my expectations were surpassed during the brunch we enjoyed. The menu was short and sweet, it consisted of a buckwheat crepe, a vegetable quiche, a bagel with cream cheese and chestnut spread, a fruit crisp with coconut yogourt and a chia pudding. I opted for the buckwheat crepes with fresh jam and fruit, topped with hemp hearts and syrup. Did you know buckwheat is in the same family as rhubarb? Interesting tidbit I learned a few years ago.
We sat outside on the terrace between the restaurant and the lake and ordered coffees while we waited for my parents to arrive. My sister and my dad had the quiche, which was filled with seasonal vegetables, had a nice spicy kick and it came with potatoes and salad. My mom had the bagel, which came with a little salad. After our delicious meals, I took a little tour around the restaurant, enjoying the charming little details. Fresh flowers on the tables, little drawings on the wall, the mismatched chairs and the way the sunlight gives the place a romantic feeling.
It’s a great option for vegetarian, vegan or gluten free meals in the eastern townships, a great stop on the way down from Montreal.
l’Archipel
406 Principal
Cowansville, QC
