Lately I’ve been inspired by the quality cheeses from nearby Province de Québec where I was born (Montréal) in 1948. My hysteria is a combination of superlative taste and the very warm feeling knowing it was made in Canada. The Americans and the French aren’t the only overt nationalists! When one can at last get past the daily absorption of educating oneself then putting it into practice, the ascent though not as rocketing goes through the very predictable stages of furnishings, jewellery, art and technology and finally cheese (and wine for those who swill). This rarefied atmosphere translates to a refinement or distillation of one’s sensory being – sight, smell, touch and taste.  It eclipses a good deal of trivia which might otherwise threaten a preferred enterprise of delectation.

Portneuf is a municipality in the Portneuf Regional County Municipality, in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is located on the Saint Lawrence River, between Quebec City and Trois-Rivières. The Portneuf River runs on the east side of the town centre.

In 1636, the area was granted by the Compagnie de la Nouvelle-France as a seignory to Jacques Leneuf de La Poterie (1606-after 1685), who arrived in Quebec only some months later and became substitute governor of Trois-Rivières from 1645 to 1662. The first colonizers came around 1640 and settled at the mouth of the “Port Neuf” River (meaning new harbour).

It was here in 1842 that young Alexis Cayer and his wife, Jane Skinner, decided to settle. The village became known as Saint-Raymond de Portneuf, Quebec. And this is where his family chose to stay.

LA SAUVAGINE