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    Home » On the Road

    Visit Caraquet, New Brunswick and Enjoy the Acadian Way of Life #ExploreNB

    Published: Jun 24, 2019 · Modified: Nov 15, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley

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    Visit Caraquet and have the time of your life!

    Last summer on our vacation we decided to escape the heat and visited our neighbor to the north, New Brunswick, Canada. And what a great decision that turned out to be!

    Cliffs in Caraquet, New Brunswick overlooking the St. Lawerence Bay and a slate covered shoreline

    After driving from the Moncton Airport we made our way to the coast and Caraquet. I have to admit I didn’t know a lot about the Province of New Brunswick before our trip but couldn’t have picked a better location for the relaxed atmosphere, natural beauty of the area and the ah-mazing selection of fresh seafood that was served in their restaurants.

    oysters on ice with lemons

    Everywhere we turned we found plump juicy oysters, sweet succulent lobster and mussels by bushel full.

    lobster roll sandwich with a large lobster claw on top on a red and white diamond paper with french fries

    In fact, I had the best lobster roll I’ve ever tasted from La Homard Mobile ( a lobster food truck). You just can’t get fresher or sweeter than the Canadian lobster found in the waters off Caraquet.

    haggard sun beaten man standing on the bow of a small blue boat looking out across the water with gear for his oyster fishing

    But food isn’t the only reason to come to Caraquet. The friendliness of the locals and the natural beauty would make this the perfect spot for a vacation without the culinary delights.

    We were lucky enough to meet up with a local Oyster Farmer, Gaétan Dugas. The Dugas family has been harvesting oysters on the Bay of Chaleur in the northeastern reaches of New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula for generations, and their oysters are shipped all over the world.

    Mixed blood Acadian Oyster fisherman wearing a hat with a feather on his boat holding live oysters

    While speaking with M. Dugas, it was evident that he had a deep respect for nature. The Dugas’ farming methods allow the oysters to feed with the best natural nutrients from the sea by giving the right amount of time and care which is important to the quality and health of the shell. And that’s why their oysters are so flavorful and in such high demand.

    Kayaks on the mud flats of Caraquet, with one person looking out into the distance.

    But it isn’t just about the food. If you enjoy being one with nature, there’s no better place than Caraquet.

    woman in the front of a kayak paddling on calm waters with a beautiful blue sky in Caraquet

    The calm clear waters of the bay of Caraquet can provide you with hours of kayaking. Lisa and I kayaked to a sandbar where we dug for clams that we cooked up on the beach afterward.

    madame savoie placing coals on a dutch oven in front of large fireplace in the Acadian village in Caraquet

    One of the highlights of our trip was spending the morning cooking with Madame Savoie at the Acadian Village.

    white bowl of soup made in the Acadian village in Caraquet

    Mme. Savoie is a master in 19th-century cooking and taught this old chef a thing or two about cooking over an open fire and baking with hot coals.

    slice of molasses pie on a white plate sitting on a wooden table with a knife and fork along side

    It really was a lot of fun and the best of the day was getting eat what we made. The soup was so flavorful and the molasses pie was delicious and warm right out of the dutch oven.

    Sebastian Roy in front of Whiskey and other Spirit barrels at his distillery in

    Sébastien Roy, owner of the award-winning Fils du Roy Distillery in Petit-Paquetville, is the only northern producer of spirits. As is the case with any serious Whiskey producer, you have to make gin and vodka to keep the cash flow positive while your whiskey ages.

    pictures of a man and a woman, each on a beer bottle dressed in 18th century clothing

    Sebastian also produces some of the areas best beers and each beer has its own story that’s deeply connected to New Brunswick’s people and history. Here are pictured two star-crossed lovers Evangeline and Gabriel. Click on the link to Learn more about Fil du Roy, the spirits, and beers they produce from my friend Sherry at Otts World. She wrote a great post about the distillery and Sebastian Roy.

    Chef Dennis holding a white bowl of coffee in a coffee shop

    And if you’re missing Paris and all those delicious French Pastries you can find them at Grains de Folie which loosely translates into Beans of Madness (Crazy Grains). And Madness, I don’t think so? Anyone that serves me a bowl of coffee is okay by me! The pastries were amazing and I could’ve stayed there all day eating myself into oblivion……sigh.

    So when you’re planning your next vacation, think about New Brunswick, Canada and make sure to stop in Caraquet and experience the Acadian way of life .

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home. For more details, check out his About page.

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    1. Suzette

      September 12, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      just ran across this article while looking through for a recipe. Glad I did. Just what I was looking for and didn’t know it! thanks!

      Reply
    2. Elizabeth McConnell

      April 28, 2018 at 7:32 am

      I am happy that you enjoyed your stay in Caraquet but Caraquet is only part of our great Acadienne Peninsule(Péninsule Acadienne). If you ever have a chance to come back here are just a few amazing places to check out…..Miscou island, yes we have an island 🙂 and as soon as you cross over the bridge you will find ‘La terrease a Steve’ not only is the service amazing but the seafood will have coming back for more.Now the beaches, miles and miles of beaches with the warmest water in the Bay des Chaleurs and don’t forget to visit the Miscou light house with breath taking views of the Atlantic ocean and while you’re on the island ask about our legends.
      Not to forget the rest of our beautifull place, during fishing season you can get fresh seafood allmost anywhere, visit our beautifull beaches in Le Goulet and Val-Comeau, go kite surfing, boating and any water sport you like, you can even go whale wathing.During the summer the are festivals everywhere with amazing food,activities for everyone and even famous singers and music. Our Acadienne Peninsula is a must so came back and enjoy 🙂

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        April 28, 2018 at 9:47 am

        Thank you Elizabeth! I can’t wait to come back to enjoy more of the beauty of Caraquet and New Brunswick!

        Reply
    3. Aline

      April 27, 2018 at 5:16 pm

      Thank you so much for this great post Chef Dennis
      We will be waiting for you guys here in Caraquet
      Lot of good food and lot of fun too
      Caraquet welcomes you to great festivals all summer long
      Bienvenue

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        April 28, 2018 at 9:48 am

        Thank you Aline, I can’t wait to Visit New Brunswick again and spend more time enjoying Caraquet!

        Reply
    4. Susan

      April 19, 2018 at 3:42 pm

      Chef
      Thank you for making our next destination choice for us! We are checking flight information today for possibly September or should we hold til next Spring? Does the weather play into the seafood availability up there? Can not wait to experience this lovely place.

      Thank you again,
      Susan

      Reply
      • Sylvette

        April 28, 2018 at 9:04 am

        Hi Susan!
        The different fishing seasons rotate throughout the summer, but there are always many species available at all times.

        You should be aware that we have very late springs. There is still quite a bit of snow, at this moment. Real spring doesn’t start until May, sometimes mid-May. Also, in September, many tourist attractions close for the (very long) winter. Early September should be fine, though, but July and August are definitely the time where things are happening.

        The Chef didn’t mention de Acadian Festival which is held in Caraquet August 1-16. It is listed as one of North America’s top festival. Look up « Tintamarre de Caraquet ». 🙂

        I’m hoping we can welcome you soon.

        Reply
    5. Jazmin Williams

      April 18, 2018 at 8:08 am

      Wow, this looks like a beautiful place! I think my parents would love the Acadian Village in particular. As for me, I love French Pastries,so I think I’d need to visit Grains de Folie!

      Reply
    6. KAPILA RATTAN BHOWMIK

      April 18, 2018 at 2:08 am

      My husband is a big foodie and for him travel means enjoying local delicacies. I am sure your post will be a great guide for him. Thanks for sharing

      Reply
    7. Ray Ruzzo

      April 17, 2018 at 10:46 pm

      The coast line is stunning. Absolutely beautiful!

      Reply
    8. Holly

      April 17, 2018 at 4:14 pm

      Oh how fun…it looks like you had a blast. This is definitely a place worth visiting.

      Reply
    9. Angela Tolsma

      April 17, 2018 at 11:45 am

      I have always wanted to visit New Brunswick but I did not know about the Fils du Roy Distillery. I think my husband would love go there.

      Reply
    10. Stephanie

      April 17, 2018 at 7:41 am

      This place looks amazing indeed! The seafood itself is something I definitely want to go there for and not to mention that pie looks so good! Looking forward to exploring more of Canada soon

      Reply
    11. chelf

      April 17, 2018 at 6:45 am

      what an awesome destination! let’s pack our bags, I’m in a desperate need for a vacay and a glass of that aged whiskey please!

      Reply
    12. jillian

      April 16, 2018 at 11:34 pm

      Oh my goodness, first off I love all the photos but mostly that lobster roll. haha. it looks SOOOOOO good!!!! Like I want one right now!!!!

      Reply
    13. Marjie Mare

      April 16, 2018 at 10:57 pm

      My husband loves oysters and I can never get enough of lobster roll. Everything seems so appealing, I would definitely go for some vacation in this place

      Reply
    14. laura @ Mommy Dearest

      April 16, 2018 at 8:13 pm

      I have sadly yet to make it to the East Coast and Visit New Brunswick. It looks like you had the most wonderful time. The seafood alone would be enough to keep me there, turns out I have family out there I have never met. This might have to be our next family vacation spot. Thanks so much for sharing.

      Reply
    15. Stephanie

      April 16, 2018 at 3:18 pm

      This sounds like such an amazing trip! I haven’t been to Canada yet, but I want to go one day. We talked about going this summer but our plans changed. I also haven’t heard of this area before, so I’ll have to write it down for the future!

      Reply
    16. Anshika Juneja

      April 16, 2018 at 9:42 am

      I design my travels mostly around food. This place looks so amazing and the food look delicious to me. I could see gin and vodka.. would love to try them!!! I love how you shared every detail about this place. thank you for sharing all the information.

      Reply
      • Chef Dennis Littley

        April 16, 2018 at 10:34 am

        you’re very welcome Anshika, thanks for stopping by!

        Reply
        • Annik

          April 28, 2018 at 12:13 am

          The translation for Grains de folie is
          Crazy grains
          Not beans of madness

        • Chef Dennis Littley

          April 28, 2018 at 9:50 am

          thank you Annik, I rely on Google translator and unfortunately, that’s what it told me.

        • France Gionet

          April 28, 2018 at 4:55 pm

          I have to butt in. ‘Grains de folie’ does not translate to ‘crazy grains’. ‘Crazy grains’ would be ‘Grains fous’.
          ‘Grains de folie’ really does translate into ‘Beans of madness’ or ‘Grains of madness’.
          It’s also a play on word as it sounds like ‘brin de folie’ which means ‘a bit of madness’ or ‘a bit of fantasy’.
          France (from Caraquet)

        • Chef Dennis Littley

          April 29, 2018 at 9:47 am

          thanks for letting me know I got it right!

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