Outaouais Gourmet Route | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Canada |
|---|---|
| Region | Quebec |
| Official site | |
| Touristic site | |
the Outaouais Gourmet Route is a tourist route that brings together agri-food businesses from the Outaouais region.
The route is divided into four circuits which bear the name of the cardinal points. This course was created to promote agrifood development in the Outaouais and to encourage local businesses and artisans. In addition, the Parcours Outaouais Gourmet is a non-profit organization. The main objectives of the course are to get to know local agri-food artisans, to allow the population to discuss with the artisans, to allow them to know where the products they eat come from and can be instrumental in raising their quality standards.
Understand
Story
The route was created in 1997 thanks to the Table agroalimentaire de l'Outaouais (TAO), the Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), Tourisme Outaouais, the Regional Conference of Elected from the Outaouais (CRÉO), the Center Local de Développement de l'Outaouais (CLD) and Canada Economic Development. Since its creation, several companies have joined the course according to specific criteria.
Participation criteria
The participation criteria are:
- Touching food.
- To be able to offer a service such as, for example, explanations on the manufacturing method, a visit to the places where the product is manufactured if the laws allow it, as well as tastings of the type of products sold on site.
- Take training courses on customer service. Businesses need to know first and foremost how to serve a customer, how to respond appropriately to their questions, and also adhere to hospitality protocol so that they can provide the best possible service to the customer.
Course categories
In 2013, the Parcours Outaouais Gourmet included 54 companies. They are divided into six categories: on the farm, gourmet shops, gourmet artisans, public markets, regional cuisine and tableware.
At the farm
In the on-farm category are classified all companies that offer farm products or even that offer farm activities such as pick-your-own as well as local products.
Gourmet shops
In the gourmet shops category are found all the companies that have a delicatessen within their walls. In the gourmet artisans category are all the companies in which it is possible to visit the place of manufacture depending on the product manufactured or to obtain information on the method of manufacture.
Public markets
The public markets category includes street markets. Several merchants gather to sell fruits, vegetables, jewelry, local products or clothing as well as other products produced or cultivated by them.
Regional cuisine
In the regional cuisine category are placed all pubs, restaurants or microbreweries in the Outaouais. In the table craftsman category are classified all the places where tableware such as dishes such as plates, cups are made. or even vases.
Promotion and marketing of the circuit
Smaller companies tend to help each other out: companies sell the products of others on the journey in their boutinque in order to promote products that they do not produce in addition to those they produce themselves. The Parcours Outaouais Gourmet tries to promote and encourage. This is why each company that is part of the course must keep in its shop, farm or store leaflets listing the traders as well as the category in which they have been classified. They are also required to have a sign in their window to indicate that they are part of the course.
In 2012, 50,000 brochures containing the list of businesses as well as a map of the Outaouais were printed and distributed through the various stations appearing on the list in question.
Steps
West Circuit
- Domaine Pontiac Village
- Mountain Farm
- Coronation Hall Cider Mill
- Ferme Andrew Simms Farm
- The Wood Fairy Herbalist
- The Eardley Garden
- Vieux-Alymer Public Market
