COUNTRY ROADS
ROCHELLE LASH
Bromont - Claude Massé is a master craftsman in two métiers-capentry and cooking-and he puts both to work at Auberge Le Madrigal.
Massé co-owns the inn with his wife, Jeanne, and they share the kitchen and housekeeping duties with a small staff and their two daughters, who occasionally pitch in by welcoming guests. The Massés have owned le Madrigal for 13 years and they have gradually added to the 125-year-old farmhouse by opening a fine-dining restaurant, 11 charming guest rooms and a spa.
While its location on a busy Bromont access road has become more commercialized-a shopping centre with stores like Mexx and La Vie en Rose has opened near the inn - Le Madrigal has remained sheltered by trees.
Claude Massé - this time the master carpenter - has enhanced the fine old house with his own touch. He has hand-crafted woodwork throughout the building - 70 door and window frames of pine, staircases of white pine and mahogany and wide-plank pine floors.
"It took more than six years," Massé said, "and I don't consider it finished. It's a work in progress."
The inn is impeccably maintained. Everything is shiny, fresh and polished to perfection. The guest rooms have a homey look-uncluttered and attractive. Again, Massé's hand-hewn armoires, dressers and bedside tables are the star pieces, all in Quebec-style pine and tinted green, mahogany and soft blue.
ROCHELLE LASH
Bromont - Claude Massé is a master craftsman in two métiers-capentry and cooking-and he puts both to work at Auberge Le Madrigal.
Massé co-owns the inn with his wife, Jeanne, and they share the kitchen and housekeeping duties with a small staff and their two daughters, who occasionally pitch in by welcoming guests. The Massés have owned le Madrigal for 13 years and they have gradually added to the 125-year-old farmhouse by opening a fine-dining restaurant, 11 charming guest rooms and a spa.
While its location on a busy Bromont access road has become more commercialized-a shopping centre with stores like Mexx and La Vie en Rose has opened near the inn - Le Madrigal has remained sheltered by trees.
Claude Massé - this time the master carpenter - has enhanced the fine old house with his own touch. He has hand-crafted woodwork throughout the building - 70 door and window frames of pine, staircases of white pine and mahogany and wide-plank pine floors.
"It took more than six years," Massé said, "and I don't consider it finished. It's a work in progress."
The inn is impeccably maintained. Everything is shiny, fresh and polished to perfection. The guest rooms have a homey look-uncluttered and attractive. Again, Massé's hand-hewn armoires, dressers and bedside tables are the star pieces, all in Quebec-style pine and tinted green, mahogany and soft blue.
The spa on the lower level is a more recent project. With only five treatment rooms, it does not compete with larger places, but it has built a steady clientele of locals and tourists. With Bromont's wellknown Musée de Chocolat just down the road, the Centre de Santé l'Équilibre specializes in treatments using chocolate, reputed to have anti-oxidant properties. The prices are attractive : a generous half-day with a health snack and three chocolate-based treatments- a body scrub, a body wrap and a water bath- costs $150. Hot-stone therapy that costs up to $120 elsewhere costs $80 here, and a 60-minute body massage costs $65.
The Massé's are personable and effusive, good traits in a host.
"I think our strength is that we're small," Jeanne Massé said. "We do everything on a one-on-one basis.… You could say we specialize in an intimate and private experience… that way we don't worry if there is a lerger hotel health centre in the area."
Claude Massé the cook is inspired by French cuisine but committed to using regional foods. "We try to have at least 80 per cent of our meat, fis hand vegetables from Quebec producers. Our seafood comes from Îles de la Madeleine or Gaspé, almost always fresh, not frozen - venison comes from the Ferme de Boileau in the Saguenay and lamb from Rivière du Loup, and all of our vegetables come from Townships, even in winter when small farmers grow in greenhouses."
The Massé's are personable and effusive, good traits in a host.
"I think our strength is that we're small," Jeanne Massé said. "We do everything on a one-on-one basis.… You could say we specialize in an intimate and private experience… that way we don't worry if there is a lerger hotel health centre in the area."
Claude Massé the cook is inspired by French cuisine but committed to using regional foods. "We try to have at least 80 per cent of our meat, fis hand vegetables from Quebec producers. Our seafood comes from Îles de la Madeleine or Gaspé, almost always fresh, not frozen - venison comes from the Ferme de Boileau in the Saguenay and lamb from Rivière du Loup, and all of our vegetables come from Townships, even in winter when small farmers grow in greenhouses."
Dinner is a delight - and a bargain at $38 for six courses. It starts with an amuse-bouche and ends with cheese and sweets. His specialities include shrimp in garlic butter, smoked duck breast, foie gras, sweetbreads, filet mignon flambé and roast venison, lamb or buffalo. The Brome Lake duck is a big seller. Jeanne Massé is the sommelier, and she is happy to show off a list od privately imported wines that offers a few special treats at moderate prices.
While Le Madrigal has been growing, the town of Bromont has been booming with sports, culture and shopping. At Ski-Bromont.com, the chairlift is carrying people up the mountain to see the broad vistas, and the thrilling downhill trails have opened for mountain biking. The Parc Aquatique, at the mountain's base, will open its slides, water luges, rafting and swimming pools next Thursday, June 8.
While Le Madrigal has been growing, the town of Bromont has been booming with sports, culture and shopping. At Ski-Bromont.com, the chairlift is carrying people up the mountain to see the broad vistas, and the thrilling downhill trails have opened for mountain biking. The Parc Aquatique, at the mountain's base, will open its slides, water luges, rafting and swimming pools next Thursday, June 8.
Local artists like Michèle Kramer, Jean Cousineau and Armande Fecteau will join about 70 other artists for the july 7-9 Bromont en Art Symposium. Painters will set up their easels in an arena and start working - it's fascinating to see the artworks take shape. Visitors are invited to express themselves artistically by adding to a giant canvas, a collective work of various designs.
Bromont also is a haven for shopping. A few antique stores sell a variety of wares along the town's main street, but the big action is on the outskirts of town. With more than 1,000 kiosks selling everything from handicrafts to antique furniture, the Bromont Flea market is the largest in the Townships.
Countryroads04@aol.com
Le Madrigal is sheltered by trees from a busy Bromont access road.
Bromont also is a haven for shopping. A few antique stores sell a variety of wares along the town's main street, but the big action is on the outskirts of town. With more than 1,000 kiosks selling everything from handicrafts to antique furniture, the Bromont Flea market is the largest in the Townships.
Countryroads04@aol.com
Le Madrigal is sheltered by trees from a busy Bromont access road.
