An Authentic Lunch at the Acadian Village near Carquet, New Brunswick (Canada).
As soon as I walked onto the dirt path, I was transported back in time to 1852. An Acadian woman dressed in period costume, in the midst of cooking lunch, greeted me at Mazerolle Farm, the first building I came across.
Over the stove she stirred the patates en rang as two children (also in period costume) came in licking their lips.
This 1852 house is part of the Acadian Village between Caraquet and Grande-Anse in north-eastern New Brunswick (Village Historique Acadien, 1-877-721-2200). Before I knew it, I was invited in for “dinner” (which is present day lunch) of steaming hot patate en rang, a clear local favourite.
The other tourists looked on enviously as I was given water, bread fresh out of the outdoor clay bread oven and a wooden fork. It’s all part of the time. The impeccably behaved children were part of a school program that brings in kids to participate in village life.
The Self-Sustaining Acadian Village in New Brunswick, Canada has Pigs.
The site is pretty much self-sustaining, so they learn old Acadian trades like woodworking, blacksmithing and farming while discovering their own history. They cannot wear jewellery, have dyed hair or wear make up, either. If they have glasses, they take them off when visitors take photos.
Patate en rang is rows of potatoes with pork, and for those who know me, you’ll know I don’t eat meat. But the atmosphere was so perfect that I decided to eat a bit of the pork to really step back in time- I wonder when the concept of vegetarianism first took place? Nope, no appeal, I still don’t like meat. But the dish was otherwise delicious and the kids and interpreter gobbled it up quickly.
After much wandering around the village in the heat, it was time to hit the tavern. Ladies weren’t allowed in taverns in the 1800s and I had heard a rumour that the bartender still wouldn’t let females enter, in the name of keeping tradition.
So I decided to tuck my hair up into my hat and walk in, Shakespeare gender reversal-style. He immediately told me that women weren’t allowed in and I reacted shocked.
“Mais, je suis garçon,” I responded, showing him my lack of long hair.
He paused and then laughed. He said in French, “Your breasts give you away.” Touché.
He still let me stay and I noticed that other women were also allowed in. Perhaps I was a pioneer of sorts?!
Broom Maker at the Acadian Village in New Brunswick, Canada.
What I Liked:
- The Acadian Village is almost self-sufficient, so everything is created for a purpose: the unnecessary animals are sold at auction, the linen made is used in the restaurant, the crops are eaten as food and the cooking is done by the interpreters in their historical houses using the “appliances” they had back then.
- There are five full time textile employees that work year round to fix and create new period costumes.
- All interpreters and signs are completely bilingual.
- Demonstrations of the ancient trades are shown throughout the day.
- That evening I ate at Café Phare (186 Boulevard Saint-Pierre West, 506-727-9469), a lovely bistro in Caraquet. Other than my unfortunate crème brulée for dessert, the food and service was delightful.
Copyright 2009 Lori Henry
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