Restaurant L'Idylle the oldest known Acadian home in Dieppe, NB, Canada

To us, this was simply a culinary orgasm! Will be back. Armand & Nora

11/24/2011

The tasting menu created following my trip to Guadeloupe was very well received. I’d like to go over the different elements with you and hopefully get your feedback.

The Salmon with cilantro and ginger marinade served with spicy coconut milk created quite an entrance. The entire dish exudes the Caribbean, as highlighted by the coconut and the spice directly from Guadeloupe. The tangy citrus sensation and the hot pimento take me back to those warm evenings and ice cold cocktails.

The Bourque House, Acadian heritage site

A step back in time...

From the moment you arrive, you’ll se why we say L’Idylle is a unique – even magical – place. The house, Dieppe’s oldest discovered to date, has been completely renovated to respect its Acadian heritage. With the help of municipal authorities and archivist of the Musée acadien de l’Université de Moncton, its construction has been traced back to 1828.

The home’s original owner, Raphaël Bourque, is a descendant of Antoine Bourg who arrived from France in the mid 17th century. He originally hailed from the outskirts of Martaizé, a town not far from where Emmanuel and Hélène grew up – L’Idylle’s Chef, hostess and owners. The addition that currently houses the kitchen was added in 1879. Many generations of the Bourque Family inhabited the house until recently.

Completed renovated in recent years, the house now offers an undeniable charm. “We wanted the house to look the same as it did in a photo dating back to 1880,” explains Chef Emmanuel who put his spatula aside to play a hands-on role in the renovations. The house is listed as a heritage building with the City of Dieppe and is currently being evaluated as such by the Province of New Brunswick.