Le Bebe Rouge-Guest Blogger: Sister #3
At least once a summer I like to take a drive south on hwy. 59 to the town of Ste. Pierre Joly. My first visit to this lovely little French community took place in the late 80’s. My then boyfriend was from Ste. Pierre so on our way into town we would always stop at the first gas station on the left and go to the drive-in for a burger.
Le Bebe Rouge is one of those places that you might see and just drive by. But take my word for it and make a point to stop. I now have good friends that farm in Ste. Pierre and when I go for a visit I like to meet them at Bebe Rouge for a burger before heading to their farm for coffee.
The burgers are homemade….straight up ground beef, pure and simple. Cooked on a grill top, you get that salty crunch on the outside and the true flavour of beef on the inside. The buns are always fresh and look steamed, like they are put on the top of the burger and covered with a lid for the last bit of cooking. I have heard that all the variations of this burger are tasty but I favour the Bebe Rouge. A loaded burger with lettuce, tomato, back bacon, cheese and just the right mix of condiments. On my most recent visit I shared their poutine with three fellow dinners. While my student Gabrielle from Quebec City pointed out the cheese was not the authentic curds, we all still found it to be a tasty rendition of this French classic. The girls finished the meal with banana milk shakes and the sip I had makes me think that next time, I need to leave room for a shake as well.
Kath’s quote: “It is the Americans who have managed to crown minced beef as hamburger, and to send it round the world so that even the fussy French have taken to le boeuf hache, le hambourgaire.”-Julia Child
Wow! What a treat to see this post.
You see, my husband manages a band called Johnny Cajun, and they have a beautiful ballad called “Bebe Rouge”, inspired by and mentioning this very place. The song has special meaning to me as it was during this song that my husband proposed to me (onstage during a concert!). Later on, it was the first song we danced to as husband and wife, at our wedding.
Funnily enough, I didn’t make it out to Bebe Rouge until last summer, just before the birth of our son. I’d been hounding my husband to take me but somehow we just never made it out there until I was on mat leave and was sitting around twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the baby to come.
I admit I was disappointed to see that the name of the restaurant had changed to Chez Memere, and was no longer called Le Bebe Rouge – though maybe it has changed back?? But the food was tasty and I loved watching the other locals chatting with each other with such familiarity. I can’t wait to go back!
Emma, Must have changed back as Sister #3 was there this past Friday and took the picture of the menu cover!
Awesome!! I’ll put it on my summer wishlist to go back and check it out!
Actually I think that Chez Memere is in St. Malo, which is further south on 59 hwy. Bebe Rouge has not changed its name. It is only open during the summer though so maybe that caused the confusion.
See Sister #3’s note for you re: Chez Memere.