Chez Boulay Bistro Boréal is a MICHELIN-recommended restaurant in Québec City from chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand. Open since 2012, it serves French bistro food shaped by ingredients from Québec’s northern landscape. Local fish, game, mushrooms, wild berries and northern plants appear on the menu.
The name translates roughly to “boreal bistro,” referring to the forests, waterways and colder climate that influence the food.
It was the last day of my Québec City trip, and I had wanted to try Chez Boulay before heading to the airport. I told the staff before sitting down that I only had about an hour before I needed to leave. They were accommodating and kept to my schedule.
I ordered the Gaspésie Halibut. Gaspésie is the coastal region of eastern Québec commonly known in English as the Gaspé Peninsula. The halibut was a thick piece with a browned surface, served over finely shredded squash and pumpkin seed pistou.
Pistou is a French herb sauce similar to pesto, and this one was made with pumpkin seeds. The plate had plenty of green vegetables too, including both leafy greens and firmer cruciferous vegetables.
Underneath was a boreal génépi beurre nantais. Beurre nantais is a French butter sauce usually made with shallots and wine or vinegar. Génépi is an aromatic herb that gave this version a mild herbal note. The sauce sat around the fish rather than covering it, so I could add as much as I wanted as I ate.
Bread and butter came on the side, with the bread served upright on a small stand.
I sat outside on the patio and watched people walking along Rue Saint-Jean. The staff was very lovely and worked with my tight schedule, and I made it to the airport on time. I would love to return in the future.
Chez Boulay Bistro Boréal
1110 Rue Saint-Jean, Québec, QC
