Up Up and Away: Tips and Reviews from Edmundston

      Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few days up in Edmundston. Having recently returned to NB after being away studying, I'm pretty excited to get this blog going again and so, naturally, when I knew I was going to be in a whole new part of the province for a few days, I made sure to make a list of places to check out and review. As I continue working on this blog, I've decided that it's time to make the format less review-centric, and more a true blog. Therefore, this post is going to contain sort of all of the details, from getting around to food etc., rather than breaking them up into separate posts.
    For those who don't know (and that's precisely who I write for after all!), Edmundston is located in the very tip-top of New Brunswick, on the Northwest corner. It's not inaccurate to describe this place as the end of the province-Québec is less than twenty KM away, and MCafaine is literally right across the river. Around 16 000 people call Edmundston home, and they're primarily French-speaking. On a small cultural note, Edmundston is not, strictly speaking, an Acadian community; rather, most people from Edmundston are actually Brayons, a separate francophone group. On that note, Edmundston is also considered the capital of the "Republic of Madawaska," which is a sort of historical reference to the fact that, early after the US became independent, this region was disputed between the US and Great Britain, leaving locals to declare themselves independent (though that never was recognized by either power, and, with the border now firmly settled since a while, "La république" is a symbolic term rather than a boat fide separatist movement).

So, with the introductions over, let's get straight down to a few of the places that I can recommend.

Le pirate-This restaurant came highly recommended on Trip Advisor and other similar websites, and so it was my first stop for dinner while in the city. I'm glad that I had read the reviews in advance-I probably wouldn't have stopped and eaten a lobster roll there once I realized it was a truckstop but, reassured by numerous claims that they have the best lobster rolls in the Maritimes, I headed in. The menu carries a fairly extensive list of standard small take-out food (sandwiches, burgers, etc.), while also offering some great variations (lobster poutine, for example). The real star of the show are the lobster rolls, which are fairly reasonably priced at around $7 for one, $14 for two, or $10 for a lobster roll and a crab roll, which was the option I went for. I have to say, I definitely think this place is worth the hype-this was the most generous lobster roll I've ever been served at a restaurant, with entire chunks of meat and minimal fillers. Something that flew under the radar on the online reviews but which I think also deserves a shout out here are the onion rings-things, crispy, and greasy (which, here, is very much a good thing). Le Pirate is located in the Edmundston Truck Stop, just off exit 19 off the Trans Canada (Highway 2). Very clean establishment as well.

Café Lous Bleu-This spot was the one that caused me to reconsider whether I really want to put all of Edmundston in one post. Café Lotus Bleu is precisely the kind of little gem that inspired me to write this blog. Right downtown Edmundston (it can be a tad hard to spot), Lotus Bleu is an organic, vegetarian café with the decor and vibe that go with that. The staff are incredibly friendly, and the menu offers many options. The soup "velouté aux legumes" (more or less a veggie bisque) was the perfect thing for an icy winter's day, but it was the combination of the delicious coffee (a latté served in a big ol' bowl) and great ambiance that brought me back the next day to just sit there, sipping coffee and watching the world go by outside the window. Prices are a little on the steep side, but they reflect the quality. Also a good availability of products like veggie pâté from the fridge. Highly recommended.

Brasserie Petit Sault- One of the suggestions that I kept getting was to check out the local brewery, Brasserie Petit Sault. Their "Boutique" is located right downtown, and allows you to sample an array of locally-themed beers. The prices were fairly reasonable for a tasting, and it offers a fun attraction to go spend some time at. Also, if you find the cases in stores, they tend to be quite comical.Pictured to the left is a glass of their pilsner, La Kedgwick.

Sucré Salé NB-I was specifically directed to Sucré Salé to enjoy their Ployes, a type of crêpe local to the region. For around $5 one can enjoy a rather large ploye accompanied by creton (a sort of meat spread not unlike the filling of a meat pie) (pictured left). They also sell numerous sweets, and the attached store boasts a variety of kitchen-related items.

So, that's my shortlist for Edmundston. Being in the Winter, I wasn't able to check out the outdoor-oriented attractions like the Botanical Gardens. Overall, I was very impressed with how friendly the community is (in fact, when I tweeted to ask for suggestions of places to check out, I had several responses from the mayor!), and I would definitely like to return in a warmer season.