Cycling Through Portneuf: A Taste Adventure
Portneuf is a region to be savored as much as it is to be explored. Nestled between river and countryside, it brings together a community of restaurateurs, artisans, and producers who celebrate the richness of the local terroir every day. Here, you might stop at an artisanal bakery, a microbrewery, a reinvented snack bar, or a fine dining restaurant — each place telling the story of the region in its own way.
And the best way to discover it all is by bike: as you pedal from one village to another, you take the time to taste, to meet, and to soak in the beauty of the landscape. In collaboration with Oberson, Tastet presents to you a 73-km gourmet route through Portneuf. With its gravel paths and quiet backroads, the course is perfectly suited for gravel biking — less so for road bikes, but ideal for those who love venturing off the beaten path.
More than just a ride, it’s an invitation to experience gastronomy differently — at the pace of the scenery and the flavors of the land. To see the Strava route you can click here. Bon voyage, and bon appétit on the road!
La Dinette du Cap
La Dinette du Cap is a charming little spot set in a heritage house in Deschambault-Grondines. Chef Étienne McKinnon (formerly of Sardines) serves up simple yet always flavorful cuisine that highlights local products. Whether it’s for breakfast, a gourmet sandwich, or a pizza, this place delights at any time of day. With its cozy décor and inviting terrace, it’s the perfect stop along the road to Portneuf when you’re looking for a quick yet delicious gourmet break. 🚴🏽♂️: It’s truly a sweet stop to make along the way. The outdoor space is shaded by a large maple and a mountain ash, surrounded by flowers and tomato plants. While you eat, you might even catch a glimpse of hummingbirds stopping by for a visit.
Deschambault
Julie Vachon Chocolats
For nearly 15 years, this Deschambault spot has been delighting sweet-toothed visitors. At once a chocolate shop, pastry counter, and ice cream parlor, it’s the perfect stop to recharge on sugar before getting back on your bike. Fine chocolates, handcrafted ice creams, and seasonal pastries are all made with care, always using high-quality ingredients. They even have chocolate bars stamped with the image of a bicycle!
Deschambault
Boulangerie Le Soleil Levain
Located in Deschambault, Le Soleil Levain is a charming artisanal bakery that works exclusively with Quebec flours, without added sugar or fat. Even before stepping inside, the smell of freshly baked bread awakens every appetite. It’s the kind of place where you stop for a quick coffee or take your time enjoying a bite on the terrace before getting back on the road. Alongside classic baguettes and sourdough loaves, you’ll find specialty breads — walnut and hazelnut, onion and poppy seed, cheese and chive — as well as sweet treats like the chocolate–orange loaf. The pastries — almond cakes, apple turnovers, croissants, and pains au chocolat — are simply irresistible. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., a selection of ready-to-eat options rounds out the offerings. 🚴🏽♂️: Free parking is available at Parc municipal de Deschambault. From there, it’s an easy ride or walk to the three previously mentioned stops as well as the public market. Public washrooms are available on rue de la Salle, inside the P. Benoit building. As you leave Deschambault, Chemin du Roy offers stunning views of the St. Lawrence River.
Deschambault
Fromagerie des Grondines
La Fromagerie des Grondines crafts flavorful cheeses made exclusively from raw, organic whole milk. The milk comes from their own herd of Brown Swiss cows, raised with care, gentleness, and respect. In summer, the milk takes on the aroma of fresh pastures, while in winter it gains richness from dry hay. The fromagerie also uses sheep and goat milk from Ferme Mafix, located just 3 km away. Here, flavors are authentic and bold, and cheesemaking is a well-mastered art. This is also a great stop for a refreshing break, with local cold drinks such as kombucha and original flavors like sea buckthorn or spruce needle. You’ll even find artisanal chocolate — perfect for a quick energy boost. It’s a gourmet pause where you can stock up on delicious treats to take with you. 🚴🏽♂️: Picnic tables under a large shelter make it easy to take a break while enjoying the pastoral scenery.
Grondines
Microbrasserie - Les Grands Bois
A stop at Microbrasserie Les Grands Bois is an absolute must along your route. Housed in a former 1946 movie theatre, this Saint-Casimir gem is the perfect place to enjoy a crisp, artisanal beer brewed with care and creativity. It’s the ideal pause to recharge your energy while chatting in the riverside park. And as if that weren’t enough, the second floor hosts a one-of-a-kind performance hall, where music and the performing arts bring the walls to life. 🚴🏽♂️: After crossing the bridge on Chemin de l’Île-des-Grandbois, make a stop at Parc de la Statue to admire the confluence of the Noire and Sainte-Anne rivers, with their rapids and strong currents. On the way to L’Alvéole Bistrot Champêtre, you’ll pass through Saint-Marc-des-Carrières. The safest path follows Boulevard Bona-Dussault, Rue du Collège, and Rue Beauchamp, where signage and wide shoulders make the ride cyclist-friendly. Along Chemin Gravel, a short downhill followed by a steep climb — both narrow and strewn with large rocks — adds a touch of mountain biking and requires a bit of finesse on a gravel bike. They can also be crossed on foot without difficulty. Before reaching Rang du Coteau des Roches, a long stretch of forest gravel awaits, with a series of gentle descents on smooth, fast-rolling roads — a true joy to ride.
Saint-Casimir
L'Alvéole Bistro Champêtre
L’Alvéole is a small, no-reservation counter run by Miel&Co, an apiary that practices synergistic beekeeping. The menu showcases seasonal products, harvests from Miel&Co’s hives, and ingredients from other local producers — simple, fresh, and flavorful cuisine. Beyond this gourmet pause, you can also take the time to visit the beekeeping site! While enjoying your meal, you can observe the hives set in a fallow field. You might even come across Chantal, the friendly hen who scratches around and roams freely across the grounds. The site also features educational panels about bees, along with the story of Miel&Co and its owners, who first met on the TV show L’amour est dans le pré. 🚴🏽♂️: For your meal, you can sit under a hexagonal, honeycomb-shaped shelter in the lush vegetation of the fallow field. It’s an original way to dine in nature, with your bike right by your side and safely in view.
Portneuf
Casse Croûte du Roy
At Casse-Croûte du Roy, poutine and burgers take on a royal twist thanks to local Portneuf products. The menu changes with the team’s inspirations, featuring seasonal specialties like seafood poutine and wapiti burgers. Of course, the classics of Quebec snack bars are also on the menu — and they’re truly excellent. An unmissable gourmet stop along the historic Chemin du Roy!
Deschambault
Deschambault Public Market
To end the ride on a high note, the Deschambault Public Market is the perfect stop. Beneath the tall trees in the heart of the village, some thirty regional producers and artisans showcase fresh vegetables, cheeses, charcuterie, sweet treats, and much more. It’s the ideal opportunity to fill your bags with local discoveries and bring a taste of Portneuf home in your panniers. The market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., until October 4, 2025.
Deschambault
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