Celebrate summer with outdoor food, drink in the Beauce region of Quebec

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Summer in Quebec is a special time.

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After months of cold and snow, sunshine and warm weather is something to celebrate and enjoy.

In those pleasant conditions, there’s nothing better than fresh food and beverages, enjoyed with friends and family in an outdoor setting.

My wife, Ruth, and I were able to enjoy three of the venues in the Beauce region, south of Quebec City, which embrace that mixture of fresh air, fresh food, and fresh drinks.

Le Verger à Ti-Paul (levergeratipaul.com) is an excellent place for an afternoon family outing.

Hitch a ride on a tractor-pulled wagon to the fields, where you can pick your own fruits. Depending on the time of year, there are blueberries, raspberries, pears, apples, pumpkins and squash waiting to be harvested.

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There is a sign in front of each row of apple trees describing the type of apples, when they are best harvested, their taste, and what to use them for (such as in a pie).

Back at the main compound, there is a petting zoo for young children.

For socializing and relaxation, there’s Le Fumoir (serving chicken and ribs), a bistro, and a picnic area. This year, there’s also live music performances on Thursdays.

Le Verger à Ti-Paul also sells ciders, pies and other pastries, such as queue de castor (beaver tails). You can’t get away from the enticing smells of the just-baked pies inside their main building.

There is a pick-your-own option for strawberries, blueberries and hascap berries as well at Bleuetière Marland (bleuetieremarland.com), but the best reason to visit is for Neapolitan pizza and ice cream.

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Stephane Fortier learned how to prepare pizza in Australia. He uses the produce of the season to create his pizza menu. He even “went to Naples to eat pizza for three weeks” to refine how he wanted to present his creations.

While waiting for the pizzas to cook, guests can sit at one of the many picnic tables nearby, head to the kids’ play area, or walk by an enclosed area where goats, chickens, sheep, rabbits and ducks are kept.

A soft-serve waffle ice cream cone was a sweet way to conclude the visit.

Frampton Brasse (framptonbrasse.com) is a nearby brewery, which sells its products to local bars and restaurants (including Bleuetière Marland). The owners brew and bottle their 17 brands on site, and even grow their own barley.

Its outdoor terrace, situated on a hill, provides a very nice view of the forest below.

Food is not served there normally, but on select summer Saturdays this year a food truck will be there for “Bière et Bouffe.”