Submitted by LaVieilleBranche on January 9, 2005 - 9:24am.
donerail: I like Siberian huskies. Actually, I like most animals, as long as they are kind. If they are nasty, then I don't go near them. These puppies were very friendly and wanted everybody to pet them.
As you can see from the market photos, the Quebecois have wonderful French food, but using regional products. Unlike Americans, they aren't banning foie gras. They fatten up the ducks and geese the old fashioned way. As for the cheese, I didn't bring any back with me. I had in my suitcase foie gras for my Parisien boyfriend (we didn't risk him carrying this in his suitcase because of his visa) and other assorted types of meats in jars that aren't exactly "OK" to bring into the USA. I figured that would be enough on this trip. During the last trip to Quebec, I was searched, all my bags were dumped out and the US customs agent in Montreal hand searched EVERYTHING. I wasn't going to risk it.
However, I did eat quite a bit of nice things at the markets. The Quebecois have this type of artisan cheese that is meant to be roasted before eaten, so it has a low fat content. This way it doesn't melt all over the grill. I had quite a lot of "tastings" on that cheese. It was delicious and quite an unusual idea. I also tasted various cremes de cassis, many hydromels and other assorted libations from local growers. I brought back 7 bottles of fruit wines, etc. from the markets. I also tasted many artisan breads (I bought 2 loaves to eat while there), meats, smoked fish and sausages. In other words, I had a nice lunch from all the "degustation" at the markets. My fridge benefitted, too. It was rather full from the sausages, choucroute, vegetables and fish from the Christmas market.
At Newark International, I wasn't searched at all. They allowed everybody in and didn't search a single person from my plane. Had I known this would happen, I'd of brought back in many more French/Quebecois products. I was on a non-stop express jet. Things are different if you transfer planes at Montreal. Security is tighter then.
As you can see from the market photos, the Quebecois have wonderful French food, but using regional products. Unlike Americans, they aren't banning foie gras. They fatten up the ducks and geese the old fashioned way. As for the cheese, I didn't bring any back with me. I had in my suitcase foie gras for my Parisien boyfriend (we didn't risk him carrying this in his suitcase because of his visa) and other assorted types of meats in jars that aren't exactly "OK" to bring into the USA. I figured that would be enough on this trip. During the last trip to Quebec, I was searched, all my bags were dumped out and the US customs agent in Montreal hand searched EVERYTHING. I wasn't going to risk it.
However, I did eat quite a bit of nice things at the markets. The Quebecois have this type of artisan cheese that is meant to be roasted before eaten, so it has a low fat content. This way it doesn't melt all over the grill. I had quite a lot of "tastings" on that cheese. It was delicious and quite an unusual idea. I also tasted various cremes de cassis, many hydromels and other assorted libations from local growers. I brought back 7 bottles of fruit wines, etc. from the markets. I also tasted many artisan breads (I bought 2 loaves to eat while there), meats, smoked fish and sausages. In other words, I had a nice lunch from all the "degustation" at the markets. My fridge benefitted, too. It was rather full from the sausages, choucroute, vegetables and fish from the Christmas market.
At Newark International, I wasn't searched at all. They allowed everybody in and didn't search a single person from my plane. Had I known this would happen, I'd of brought back in many more French/Quebecois products. I was on a non-stop express jet. Things are different if you transfer planes at Montreal. Security is tighter then.