Tag Archives: Les Terraces

A VERY warm welcome

Having worked very hard on renovation remediation at Les Terraces for 6 straight days, Graham decided that we were due an evening off from cooking.  Well I was, to be more accurate!  He, knowing that the lovely Aline would have his “distingue” in front of him before he could open his mouth to request it, suggested that we head off to the Globetrotter.  I, however, had other ideas.  On my many trips from the house to M. Bricolage (we didn’t make it out of Sainte-Foy /Port Ste Foy for the entire week) I had driven past a small, interesting-looking restaurant that is as close to the house as the Globetrotter.  I asked if we could please go there instead.  We did.

Les Sarments is situated on the junction of rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau and rue d’Alsace Lorraine.  Its doors and shutters are painted in the light grey that abounds throughout the town, and a grey-and-blue striped retractable awning holds hanging baskets along its length.  As long as the weather is fair, the pavement outside the restaurant is set with chairs and tables so that patrons can enjoy dining outside.

On the night that we ventured out to try the fare at Les Sarments (a Tuesday) there was only one other couple dining.  Once seated the customary “bonsoirs” were exchanged and we ordered a pichet of the house red while we perused the menu.  There was a wide selection of dishes from which to choose, which was a particular problem for me as many of them appealed and I couldn’t decide which I wanted.  This was more readily remedied than one might have thought as, being famished (and greedy, let’s be honest), I opted for the Menu Plaisir.  24 € for 4 courses was just what I needed.  Graham was significantly better behaved and elected to have steak frites (no surprises there).

The meal was excellent.  And so was the company.  The staff were attentive and welcoming. The couple with whom we shared the restaurant that night were friendly, particularly when we started buying drinks for each other and alcohol had lifted some of our hesitation to endeavour to converse only in French!  However, the star of the evening was without doubt the Patron – Catherine.

The two sources of the warm welcome you receive at Les Sarments - Catherine, and the open wood fire on which every meal is prepared.
The two sources of the warm welcome you receive at Les Sarments - Catherine, and the open wood fire on which every meal is prepared.

It was gone midnight when we finally made our way home from our first meal at Les Sarments (which means vine shoots, if you’re interested).  It was the first of many wonderful evenings there that have been shared with friends and family.  We have enjoyed great hospitality, appreciated the warmth of Catherine’s fireplace and her personality, savoured the fruits of her labours (and the fruits of the vine too).  And we’re looking forward to going back for more very soon.