Isle Madame
Today it is not as difficult as it once was to visit Isle Madame. It is connected to Cape Breton Island by a bridge, and Cape Breton Island has a causeway that joins to mainland Nova Scotia, and hence the rest of Canada. However, in the 18th century this small remote island that looks out on the cold blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean was the perfect refuge for the Acadians (the original French settlers of what is today Eastern Canada and the northern New England states) seeking a safe hide-away to rebuild their lives after power changed hands and English rule threatened their survival. Many of the fleeing Acadians from the French Fortress of Louisbourg and the surrounding regions in Cape Breton and mainland Nova Scotia found themselves here on this secluded island.
Chef Colin Roch at L’Auberge Acadienne on Isle Madame carries on many of the culinary traditions of his French ancestors. Colin is French on his father’s side and Scottish on his mother’s. This mixed heritage is not at all unusual in this part of Canada. Most of the original settlers that colonized Nova Scotia were French and Scottish.
Many of Colin’s cherished childhood memories are in his French grandmother’s kitchen. He learned to love Acadian recipes as he watched her prepare traditional dishes such as chicken fricot, beef and potato hash, fish cakes, and of course tourtiere (meat pie). Historically rabbit and other local game would have been used to make tourtiere, which today is often made with beef or pork.
Colin started out washing dishes and has worked his way up to head chef at this small quaint inn that overlooks the Atlantic. His menu will often feature his grandmother’s traditional recipes, and this way the recipes stay alive and are enjoyed by many who pass through this faraway island.
Fish, understandably, is a mainstay of the local diet. Colin’s fish cakes and a strong coffee are great way to start the day; a breakfast that will stick to your ribs and keep you warm and nourished as you explore nooks and crannies of the winding coastline of Isle Madame.
Grant Innes
Innes has never really considered himself a gourmet, but he does truly and sincerely live up to the title of gourmand. Having learned to embrace his indulgent love of life he has found his bliss. Born on the suburban outskirts of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Innes grew up surrounded by spectacular nature and Canadian goodness, yet always dreamed of a bigger and slightly less protestant world. Innes studied cinema in Montreal and followed that vocation for several years in various locations across Canada before discovering his talents as a painter, writer and illustrator. One children’s book, endless commercial gigs, and a dozen or so solo shows later, he now resides in New York City. Frequently, along the way, he has been spoiled by friends, family and a few world-renowned chefs, who in turn have delighted in his love of their gastronomic creations. Innes is always in search of his next delicious experience.