Caribbean claws, Telluride tastings

May 21, 2006|Destinations / Food, Alison Arnett, Globe Staff

Wanderlust is the elixir of June. Long days and warm weather make anything seem possible. Maybe an off-season trip to the Caribbean sounds perfect. Maybe the Montreal Jazz Fest beckons. Or the 25th annual Telluride Wine Festival in Colorado. Or even a quick jaunt to an offbeat food fest -- say, the Virginia Pork Festival barbecue. Get out your maps and plot your course for June.

Lobster Festival PLACENCIA, Belize June 23-25

Celebrate June in this seaside village where the festival will include a saltwater fishing tournament, a hermit crab race, swimming competitions, and plenty of music. Plus, of course, an abundance of lobster. The Inn at Robert's Grove, a resort near Placencia Village, plans such dishes as whole baked lobster, lobster fritters, lobster pizza, and curried coconut Caribbean lobster. For information, go to www.placencia.com; or contact the Inn at Robert's Grove, 800-565-9757; www.robertsgrove.com.

Montreal Jazz Fest MONTREAL June 29-July 9

This is one of the great musical events on the continent (www.montrealjazzfest.com). But you might want some tips on where to eat since Montreal is one of the great dining cities, too. Voila: Toqué! (900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle) introduced the idea of meticulously sourcing ingredients to Montreal dining. A few years ago, chef/owner Normand Laprise moved to larger quarters while still offering dishes such as Basses Laurentides suckling pig, wild glasswort, and Nova Scotia Princess scallops with strawberry juice and yellow bell pepper puree. For more information, 514-499-2084, www.restaurant-toque.com. Aix Cuisine du Terroir in the Hôtel Place d'Armes (711 Cote de la Place d'Armes) follows the same philosophy with such dishes as roast Charlevoix rack of veal with wild mushroom ragout and roasted caribou. For more information, 514-904-1201, www.aixcuisine.com. Version Laurent Godbout (295 rue St.-Paul Est) offers carefully sourced ingredients to eat, but goes one better, offering everything for sale, from the plates to the salt cellars. The cuisine concentrates on small plates from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the south of France. For more information, 514-871-9135. www.version-restaurant.com.

Telluride Wine Festival TELLURIDE, Colo. June 22-25