What’s a Lobster Roll? and Other Delicious Discoveries in New Brunswick
By Jane Staples
A recent holiday in New Brunswick turned into a delightfully delicious culinary excursion. What started as a leisurely trip to my home province after several years away provided us with one happy discovery after another of seafood, craft beer and more smiling friendly faces than I could count! New Brunswickers are friendly folks, always happy to stop and chat, wherever you go.
Fredericton – What’s a Lobster Roll?
My husband started the holiday with the question, “What’s a Lobster Roll?” We decided that some comparative tasting research was necessary, so during the next several days, we sampled several of them.
In Fredericton, we discovered Gahan House, an ideal spot for craft beer, cider and seafood. The lobster roll at Gahan House was one of the best we tasted, with big chunks of fresh lobster served with a dill and citrus aioli on a toasted potato bun. To accompany my lunch, I tried a refreshing Sour Pale Ale with hints of tangerine and lime. It was hop-forward, both sour and fruity. I loved it! You can buy Gahan beer and cider on site to take out, too. Gahan House was originally started in Prince Edward Island and now has locations throughout the Atlantic provinces. We happily found Gahan House Port City in Saint John a few days later.
In Fredericton, we also visited The Joyce Pub, conveniently located within the Crowne Plaza Beaverbrook Hotel. The Joyce boasts the greatest number of pours in the province, with no fewer than 36 beer and cider selections! With my tasty sour ale, I enjoyed succulent bacon-wrapped Atlantic scallops, served with grilled asparagus and whipped potatoes. The service was friendly and they have an ideal location with a view of the Saint John River.
Saint John – The research continues . . .
Billy’s Seafood Company, located at the head of the Saint John City Market, is both a fish market and a restaurant. Of historical interest, the Saint John City Market is the oldest continuing farmers’ market in Canada. At Billy’s, we loved the food so much that we had lunch and returned for supper on the same day! The owner, Billy Grant, worked at the well-known Lord’s fish stand at the Saint John City Market as a teenager, where he discovered his passion for both hospitality and seafood.
Billy’s restaurant has a large wrap-around bar, a comfortable area for dining and an on-site fish market that offers your choice of salmon, haddock, tuna, Acadian caviar, lobster, mussels, scallops and more! They have been shipping nationwide for over 30 years! Note to self: order more lobster as needed!
On our last evening in Saint John, we returned to Billy’s a second time and sampled fabulous Beau Soleil oysters, followed by a lobster roll with big, generous chunks of fresh lobster meat and also a rich seafood chowder. Seafood Chowder is an East Coast speciality, which required comparative research throughout our trip.
Billy’s has one of the best, full of Atlantic fish, shrimp, scallops, mussels and vegetables in a rich, creamy base. It has to be made with fresh cream to achieve its fabulous flavour. We shared a bottle of buttery Gnarly Head California Chardonnay with dinner, which perfectly suited the rich food.
What is a Pegu?
We returned to Fredericton for our last night and visited The Lighthouse Patio, which overlooks the Saint John River. I tried a cocktail called the Pegu, recommended by our friendly waiter. The Pegu was a popular gin cocktail during Prohibition and has recently made a comeback. It is made with gin, orange Curacao, fresh lime juice and two kinds of bitters, Angostura and orange. The bitters give the cocktail an interesting complexity of flavours and also enhance the botanicals in the gin.
Who’s Mrs. Dunster?
New Brunswickers love their donuts and those made by Mrs. Dunster’s Bakery in Sussex, N.B., are the absolute best! Their donuts are made in several styles and have been an East Coast favourite for over fifty years. I decided that a couple (or more!) of the donut crescents accompany coffee very nicely indeed.
We returned home relaxed and happy, having possibly gained a little weight… There’s a little ripple around my belly that I call my souvenir of New Brunswick! If you like friendly faces, fabulous seafood, gorgeous natural scenery and much more, I highly recommend that you visit New Brunswick soon!
For more wine and food discovery from Jane Staples, visit www.bellovinoj.com
Header Photo: iStock. Food and wine photos: Jane Staples
