Le Coureur des Bois: Local cuisine and an exceptional wine cellar

Taken over more than 10 years ago by Mathieu Duguay, Le Coureur des Bois is a staple address in Montérégie. Thanks to its succulent menu that highlights local products, as well as its superb wine cellar — one of the best in Canada — it is certain to amaze.

According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the “coureurs des bois were itinerant traders who engaged in the fur trade in New France without a permit. (…) Free and independent, they played an important role in the European exploration of the continent and established essential commercial relations with the native peoples.”

The name of the restaurant brings us back to our roots and refers to the primary function of a coureur des bois: hunting and fishing. This significance offers a taste of what is served here. In fact, the wonderful team aims to be self-sufficient in regards to food thanks to the superb resources in the area.

Le Coureur des Bois is proud to have immediate access to greenhouses, beehives, a sugar shack, and even its own mushroom cultivation.

In a space that seats 90 diners, the knowledgeable team offers superbly executed dishes for lunch and dinner, accompanied by stunning bottles of wine.

The chef — Jean-Sébastien Giguère — offers a constantly evolving menu. The cuisine is locally-focused, and is punctuated by the seasons to the point of following the precise harvests of each month. In perfect harmony with our northern climate, the chef and his team demonstrate their creativity with the products available on the market to limit the carbon impact as much as possible. With a maple grove of the same name, the chef also aims to replace sugar in all his recipes with maple syrup.

We strongly advise you to order the tasting menu which will allow you to taste the best of what is grown in Quebec.

And now for their renowned wine cellar. Headed by award-winning sommelier Hugo Duchesne, the restaurant’s wine cellar is an attraction in and of itself. A stop in Beloeil is a must, if only for this small paradise that leaves no wine lover indifferent. “It’s a jewel, a treasure… It’s well built and contains many collectible wines, great iconic wines, classic values over several vintages. It’s a wine cellar like you see in Paris or London,” explains Hugo. While you can find superb, extremely rare, and sought-after bottles from the four corners of the world, the wine list has also evolved a lot since Hugo Duchesne became chef sommelier, and especially in the last few years. In fact, we find more and more wines from artisans, from small producers who work with respect for nature and the vine.

In 2018, the establishment received the Grand Award, given by the Wine Spectator, for the excellence of its wine cellar.

From the glassware to the food and wine pairings offered, the sommelier team takes care to ensure that nothing is overlooked.

On the cocktail side, the menu was created by Élodie Salmon, who is inspired by the local focus embedded in the restaurant’s ethos.

Le Coureur des Bois now has a small sister restaurant in downtown Montreal, h3. Like Le Coureur des Bois, h3 offers local cuisine orchestrated by chef Jean-Sébastien Giguère, and also has a wine cellar housing many gems.

Written by Inès Duguen
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: January 03, 2024

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