Sortez les canons!: Wine Bar and Local Cuisine in Vieux-Belœil

Sortez les canons, this charming establishment opened in 2021 under the guidance of two former sommeliers from Coureur des Bois. The menu features local products, a relaxed atmosphere, and a wine shop.

After starting in the kitchen, Pascal Paradis naturally fell into the world of wine. He notably worked at the famous Toqué!, Laloux, and then at Coureur des Bois in Beloeil, which has received the Grand Award from Wine Spectator since 2018. It was here that he met Guillaume Nadeau, who grew up in the restaurant industry and recently graduated from ITHQ. Guillaume shares the same dream: to one day have his own restaurant. Sortez les canons was coming.

The two sommeliers decided to embark on this adventure with a wine bar, located just a stone’s throw from the water in Vieux-Beloeil. Then the pandemic hit. No matter— the co-owners took advantage of this imposed downtime to refine their restaurant. They crafted custom furniture and created a string of lights made from wine bottles. “We wanted a place that reflects who we are, in terms of décor, music, and the menu,” Pascal explains.

Quebec on a Plate

Finally, in 2021, Sortez les canons come out. Far from the white tablecloth ambiance of the establishments where they previously worked, the two partners offer a wine bar with a family-friendly and relaxed atmosphere, featuring soft lighting, bar-height tables, and an open kitchen. You can smell the homemade goodness, and not just in the dishes. However, in terms of service, their professional habits remain intact, combining rigorous professionalism with evident enjoyment.

Pascal has returned to the kitchen to create the menu. On the plate, he offers warm market cuisine in generous portions. Aside from the bread, everything is made in-house. A special mention goes to the gravlax, which is also served at brunch. Sortez les canons! also offers a tasting menu that changes every week, along with food and wine pairings upon request.

The owners take pride in working as much as possible with local producers, preferably from the region. This way, they feature ingredients and products from places like La Bête à Pain, Le Pain dans les Voiles, Toi, Moi & Café, Frampton Brasse brewery farm, URUBU cider house, La Rabouillère, Les Fermes Gaspor, Côté Plumes farmers’ market, and Vallée du Wapiti.

Wine Space

Let’s talk about the wine. The cellar also highlights a few local producers, such as Domaine du Fleuve and Clos des Cigales from Montérégie. The venue also features a boutique space, Les canons TRINQUE, where you can purchase one or several bottles to take home, with recommendations from the sommeliers who are happy to suggest pairings.

The wine selection is primarily organic, with cuvées sourced from all over the world. The list is not very extensive due to the limited storage capacity of the place, but it is well-curated and gets straight to the point. Pascal and Guillaume have one guiding principle: “These are all bottles that we personally enjoy.” In short, it’s a true neighborhood gem.

Written by Jean-Philippe Tastet
Photography by Mikael Lebleu

Last update: October 11, 2024

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