If you’re not a quebecer then you will most likely not have heard of this. But it’s tradition over here to visit a Cabane à sucre (sugar shack in English) in the springtime. I think these places are where maple syrup is made (or at least was made prior to electricity, industrialisation, commercialisation and all that). In anycase, apparently it’s something to do with the sap running in the maple trees, celebrating the end of the winter, and generally larding it up with lots of stodgy food. (Maple flavoured, naturally). Think beer-hall without the beer (at least while I was there).
It was a nice change and introduced me to some quebec staples - soupe au pois (pea soup), l’oreille de cris (Christ’s ear (!) - basically pork scratchings), tarte au sucre (sugar/maple pie). maple ham, etc.
All followed up by a walk in the snow, a ride on a horse and carriage and rollowing ‘la tire’ (thick maple syrup) in the snow to make maple syrup lollipops. Very traditional! And a definite break away from every Les Cousines (the name of our ice cream parlour in case you didn’t know it.)
Cabane à sucre photos in the photo gallery, there’s also some updated photos of week 3 & 4 of our big renovation project, which is progressing well (although we’re of course impatient and want everything completed yesterday!) Photos here: 
