Sutton Re-Visited

By CadyLuck Leedy on October 31, 2013

This morning we are up and at ‘em very early to make our way into Canada and our second stop after the French-Canadian hunk, who checked our passports and asked us a bazillion questions, is one of my favorite villages, Sutton. This year we are staying at Le Pleasant, the village’s turn of the century grand home of the local doctor turned restaurant, hotel/bed and breakfast.  We were greeted warmly by Micheal and shown to our bright front room-second floor guest suite in modern black and grey decor.

The entire home was lovingly restored by Bertin and Michael who moved from Montreal to Sutton to start their bed & breakfast business. The hotel is centrally located in the village, which is easily walkable in fifteen minutes. After settling in we headed over toLe Cafetier, the local cafe for my coffee fix.

This is cafe au lait that I can drink from a bowl here. The Canadians have got coffee right. We ordered sandwiches and enjoyed the ambiance of the small French village.

Our next stop was Au Couer des Saisons, a beautifully decorated shop for all seasons owned by Elaine.  She is the owner of the kitchenware and gift shop which includes being the local florist, and jeweler.

We spent a lively time translating, talking and laughing with Elaine (I hope I am spelling her name correctly) while discovering the credit card safe wallets, new kitchen gadgets and every soap and fragrance! This is what is so magical about a locally owned shop and small village, you get to know the locals and feel part of the neighborhood.  That afternoon Micheal suggested a restaurant in nearby Frelighsburg, since their restaurant is closed on Monday evenings. He made the reservation and printed out a map for us.  Traveling in the country, at night, can be a challenge for the map impaired like I am.  My car had a GPS system that did not know where I was either!  So early evening, while it was still light, we set off for Frelighsburg and the Lyvano Restaurant. Now, I want you to know it is VERY DARK in the country here.  There are no country light posts and the homes are few and far between. However, they have the most amazing guard rails where needed. Believe me when I say they glow in the dark!  They glow in the dark BRIGHTLY and can be seen only when your headlights shine on them. I couldn’t figure out how they worked.  Were they actually small lights?  Reflective tape?  I slowed down and pulled over to take a closer look.  Reflective tape!!!!!!  It is truly amazing. This stuff should be slapped on your child at night!  I kept thinking how very dark it was with no lights. Is this the dirt road where I turn left? It crossed my mind, “Is this where flying saucers land and abduct you”?  Just as I was getting a little nervous I would see the reflectors. “Hmm…… This would make an excellent landing area for those space ships and here is the way!”  I pointed out markers to help me remember where to make critical turns on the way home when it would be REALLY DARK!  Turn left at that thingy that looks like a white cross swooping in the woods, turn right at the thing on the fence that looks like a scarecrow, turn left at that sweet woman’ s house (that I know must live in that one house) that has it’s porch light on.  We made it into Frelighsburg as the mist and light rain set in.  Now where was the parking lot?  I didn’t see one and there was no parking in front of the restaurant with the “Ouvre” flag blowing in the breeze.  Hmm.  I pulled into a tiny shopping area parking lot to a few blocks away to sleuth. I waited.  Surely, there would be others going in the restaurant?  I had time to wait. Finally, a car rolled slowly down the street and pulled between two buildings across the street from Lyvano. I watched as several people walked to the restaurant from those buildings and then drove my car to the buildings as well.  There was no parking there unless you wanted to park in someone’s driveway.  I went back to the grocery parking lot, parked and got out.  As we walked to the restaurant I heard the rushing of water and noticed there was a roaring river or stream on the backside of the restaurant where tables with umbrellas were set up.  How beautiful this setting would be on a clear night! Tonight was a Halloween night, misty, windy and spooky.  We entered the tiny restaurant decorated as a Paris bistro, including a twisted tree vine intertwined with soft white twinkle lights on the ceiling.

After the waiter helped us interpret the menu we were delighted to eat one the best meals I have ever eaten.

After that we had to try the desert.

We enjoyed talking with the waiter, and talking to Elizabeth, the twenty something chef, who is also the owner of this superb restaurant. Completely satisfied we ventured out into the night to make our way down the twisted country roads between forests and cornfields. Following my girl-map markers we found Le Pleasant again and took the staircase to our warm comfy beds. In the morning we were again greeted by Bertin and Micheal at breakfast, served in their lovely restaurant on the first floor of the hotel.

The food was delicious, but it was time to say goodbye for this year to our good friends in Sutton. We travel north to Quebec City on some roads with fields marked with Celtic rock mounds!

For details about Le Pleasant Hotel, 1 rue Pleasant, Sutton, Quebec, Canada  see: http://www.lepleasant.com

For the best shopping in Sutton see: Ou Couer des Soisons, 4 rue Maple, Sutton, Canada

For an incredible meal see Lyvano Restaurant, 4 rue Principale, Freilighsburg,Canada and Le Cafetier is the best cafe in Sutton, found on the main street, Sutton, Canada.