Are the herbs in your garden ready and has the July heat ripened the tomatoes? It’s the ideal moment to try out the recipe for tomato and caramelized onion pie by our chef Serge Ronck of Sélection Retraite St-Jérôme.

If you don’t have a garden, look around the public market closest to you to get seasonal food from local producers.

Ingredients

• 2 puff pastry shells
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 250 ml onions, caramelized
• 2 eggs
• 200 g gruyère cheese, grated
• 10 g strong mustard
• 10 g basil
• 5 g thyme
• Chives, to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375˚F.
• In a pan, caramelize the onions.
• In a bowl, mix the cheese, herbs, mustard and eggs. Add salt and pepper.
• Place the tomato slices on the bottom of the pastry shell.
• Add the cheese mixture.
• Bake in oven for about 45 minutes or until pie is a light golden colour.
• Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing. 

One pie makes 6 servings. Bon appetit!

Aromas of freshly prepared pastries, unique encounters with local producers and a festive atmosphere, shopping at your local market has become an activity in itself, especially during the summer months.

We are therefore taking advantage of Public Markets Week in Quebec, which takes place until August 16, to suggest a few places not far from some Sélection Retraite complexes.

Marché public de la Vallée-de-l’Or
1300 8e Rue, Val-d’Or

Nice weather, bad weather, the brand new pavilion that houses the market is absolutely worth the detour! For the latest news and the producers who are there each week, visit their Facebook page.

Marché public de Rimouski
Parc de la Gare (corner of Avenue de la Cathédrale and Rue de l’Évêché E.)

Nearly 45 producers and farmers from the Lower St. Lawrence meet every Saturday from May to October. Recently, it has even become possible to have your orders prepared directly via their website.

Marché public de Sainte-Foy
920 Avenue Roland Beaudin, Quebec City

Every day until November 15, take advantage of the wide variety of seasonal food available at the Sainte-Foy market. Take a look at their Facebook page for the latest arrivals.

Rendez-vous gourmand
247 Rue Notre-Dame E., Victoriaville

This seasonal public market in Victoriaville enlivens the neighbourhood every Friday in July and August. Drop by after work to stock up on fresh, local food. To find out more, click here.

Marché public de Magog
132 Chemin de la Plage des Cantons, Magog

Located a stone’s throw from the beach, a park and picnic tables, this market is ideal for your Sunday family outing! Stay abreast of the upcoming products and activities on their Facebook page.

Marché public de Gaspé
8 de la Marina, Gaspé

Sailboats in the background, the market’s merchants will welcome you in the picturesque setting of the Gaspé marina. It’s a date every Saturday until October 10. For more information, consult their website!

Pour connaître l’ensemble des marchés publics qui se trouvent dans votre région, consultez le site web de l’Association des Marchés Publics du Québec!

Reconnect with your Quebec roots by eating seasonally! Fresh, tasty and healthy, local food has nothing to envy food from elsewhere. Here is a summary of the fruits and vegetables on offer until the end of summer.

July

Berries, beets and green vegetables are the stars of July! Broccoli and zucchini will be your greatest allies for your evening BBQs, while kale and beets will nicely garnish your salads.

As for raspberries, it probably isn’t necessary to mention that they are delicious at any time of day! 

August

In August, there is something for every taste! After the heat of July, the harvest is in full swing and it’s the turn of carrots, tomatoes, beans, leeks and eggplant to decorate our plates.

As for fruit, blueberries, cantaloupe and watermelon are on the menu. In fact, they make an excellent trio in a fruit salad!

September
The hot season slowly gives way to autumn days. It’s the ideal moment to go for a walk in an orchard and taste the freshly gathered apples. And don’t pass up the sweet peppers which are also at their best in September!

Throughout the year!
Even though summer is the best time to add local foods to your diet, certain fruits and vegetables are available all year! Cranberries, mushrooms, potatoes and cabbage are some examples. What’s more, the variety of greenhouse vegetables offered in Quebec, the preserves or jams, allow us to eat our favourite fruits and vegetables, no matter the season.

On June 23, residents in several of our Sélection Retraite complexes had the chance to taste 100% Quebec dishes for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. A varied menu of different types of poutine to please everyone’s taste buds was offered on site! At Sélection Ile des Soeurs, the residents chose from traditional poutine, General Tao poutine or another made with Quebec pulled pork.

All in all, it was good-natured fun, the first event since the beginning of the quarantine. We also took the opportunity to ask residents a few questions. Take a look at our video highlights!

Ingredients

Preparation