Sugar Shackin’ It

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Sugar Shack / Cabane à Sucre Handfield, Montreal | RoastedMontreal.com

The Sugar Shack/Cabane à Sucre is a Quebec tradition beloved by many.  Let me tell you a little about it..

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

Most sugar shacks are chaotic affairs unless you go to a private shack.  Even then, the sugar shack is about celebrations, families and about 15 different maple syrup-laden dishes so even private family sugar shacks can be pretty chaotic.  Think toddlers high on sugar, a constant stream of food and about a million people going here and there.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

Tip: Be prepared for chaos and have patience.

 

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

Sugar shacks take place out of town, unless you attend an urban sugar shack.  The whole purpose is to celebrate the arrival of the maple syrup out in the woods where the maple syrup is collected.  This means this is usually the middle of nowhere.  Get directions, double check, and expect at least one person to arrive an hour late or one car to get stuck in the mud trying to do a u-turn on a muddy country lane.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

Tip: Make sure you have directions and someone who can read them.

There’s food.. and lots of it.  Despite what everyone says, I find the food tends to be pretty similar no matter where I head.  The meal starts off with pork rinds, followed by pea soup, ham, sausages, meatballs, omlette, pickles, and beans.  This is followed by sugar pie, pancakes and maple syrup doughnuts.  You can even get eggs cooked in maple syrup.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

Tip: Because there are so many people and so many dishes service is almost inevitably erratic.  Don’t fill up on pork rinds while you wait.  They are salty as hell and will set the rest of the meal off.

 

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

Tip: Add maple syrup to everything.  Because, you are at a sugar shack after all.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

Sugar shacks take place during the spring which in Montreal usually means mud.  It can also mean warm temperatures or freezing cold winds.  Check the weather before you go and make sure you have the appropriate clothing.  No matter what wear boots.  Rain boots are preferable.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

Tip: Don’t wear your best clothes – you’ll inevitably get mud on them somewhere.

Sugar shacks are seasonal affairs which means they are usually boarded up most the year.  I’ve never been to a sugar shack where the toilets were warm and inviting.

Tip: Have low expectations around the toilets.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

Roaring fires and folksy music are the norm.  Both can get annoying.

Tip: Dress in layers in case you are seated next to that roaring fire.  Even if you aren’t the mass of humanity means that most shacks are hot inside.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

Other things to keep in mind…

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

Because most shacks are in the woods usually there is a long walk to get to the location.  Often sugar shacks have some sort of transport to help get you there like a horse pulling a wagon.  If someone in your group has low mobility, check before hand what the proper procedure is.

Sugar Shack Tips and Tricks | RoastedMontreal.com

 

I’ve never been in a sugar shack which had a quick turn around.  Because there are so many courses you usually end up waiting for something.  Don’t expect to get in and out.  Besides, that’s not what it’s really about.  Enjoy the celebration, the food, the kids, the music and the chaos.

Many sugar shacks often have other attractions for kids like animals.  If this is something important to you, check before hand.  Some have serious boozing and disco lights in the evening.  Again, if this is, or isn’t,  what you are after, check.

These photos are from our visit the Handfield Inn Sugar Shack.  

(Please note that the sugar shack is NOT at the Handfield Inn and there are special instructions to get to the sugar shack which is some distance from the Inn.)

ps My visit to a family sugar shack.

  1. I can’t wait for my first visit to a Quebec sugar shack!

      • Michelle
      • April 8, 2015
      Reply

      I hope you go soon and enjoy it!! It’s definitely something special.

  2. Pingback: Sugar Shack – Cabane à Sucre | Roasted

Michelle Little

Writer & Photographer

Originally from the prairies and now in Montreal, I love exploring new places, eating great food and modern design. I'm mom of two wild things and paper and cake make me happy. Photographing your cutie family would make me very happy.

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