Joie de Fromage

Duck paté for breakfast? Sign me up. I spent last weekend at the Montreal High Lights Festival and managed to eat my weight in bagels, rabbit, fèves au lards (baked beans), cretons, olive oil, smoked meat, ice cider, chocolate, and of course, rounds and rounds of fabulous cheese. The handmade Cap-Rond (shown here) from the award-winning Ferme Tourilli cheesemaker has subtle nutty, earthy flavours. And the heavenly hunk of creamy, raw-milk Vacherin from Fromages Chaput is not going to be in the fridge for too long, to be sure. (Can’t say the same for the gooseberry jam, which ended up with the lovely customs agents.) Lumière is a mix of outdoor fun, cultural events, light shows and culinary delights running in various spots throughout Montreal to March 2. Visit montrealenlumiere.com. - Doug Wallace, Deputy Editor