Five Questions About Ratatouille to Élyse L’Espérance
Ratatouille is the newest multi-purpose project from PAL+ | Touristic Experiences. A hybrid concept that blends several elements—gourmet boutique, prepared meals, café, cavist, space for culinary, wine and cocktail workshops—it’s a rich and diverse initiative that deserves a proper introduction.
Élyse L’Espérance, president and co-general manager of PAL+, answers all our questions about this exciting newcomer.
What is Ratatouille? What can we expect, concretely?
It’s really a lot of things all in one place, in a beautiful location on Principale Street in Magog, facing the Avril market and diagonally to Bleu Lavande. It’s an exceptional spot at the entrance to town, where everyone passes by! People will be able to stop by easily at any time of day—for coffee and a viennoiserie, to do some shopping, grab a quick lunch, or pick up a ready-to-eat dinner—by car or bicycle. And why not accompany that with a good bottle of wine chosen with the advice of Thierry, our experienced cellarman?
Ratatouille will unfold in several parts: ready-to-eat meals prepared by the experienced team from Bistro 4 Saisons using local produce, a wine section offering private imports selected by our sommelier team, and a café area in collaboration with Géogène Micro-Torréfacteur (micro-roaster). We’ll even have our own custom Ratatouille coffee blend! And finally, there is the workshop space: cooking classes, wine education, mixology, and even coffee making.
Where did the idea come from? Who initiated the project?
The original idea came from Thierry Navette, director of the restaurant Bistro 4 Saisons. He’d had this concept in mind for years. His sidekick from B4S, executive chef Pierre Nief, was also part of the idea behind the project. Everyone added their own flavour to it—it went through many versions before we landed the final formula. The Ratatouille concept is truly a team effort that highlights the strengths of everyone involved.
The whole concept is our way of responding to requests we’ve heard from guests from time to time, over the years: being able to eat as well at home as they do at the Bistro 4 Saisons, having access to cooking or wine workshops for team-building activities, buying the same wines they enjoy at the restaurant but can’t find at SAQ, get customized recommendations… And so on!
What are the ambitions for the project?
What we really hope is that this space becomes a showcase for the expertise of many talented individuals with valuable knowledge to share. A community hub for locals and a spotlight on the best of what the Eastern Townships offer.
It’ll be a true success if we see people coming in not just for a coffee, a bottle of wine, or a delicious ready-made dinner, but also to learn and grow by attending our workshops.
What new strength does PAL+ gain by launching the Ratatouille project?
It complements our current offerings beautifully. We believe the people who already enjoy our venues will be just as excited to visit our boutique. Everything is aligned with our vision and mission: showcasing the region, celebrating its best products, and extending our warm hospitality.
We see so many possibilities: guests wanting to enjoy a drink in their hotel room—Ratatouille is perfectly located between Espace 4 Saisons and Versō—can stop by the shop for a quick aperitif to bring with them. Visitors in town for a conference can book a class or workshop with colleagues. And on their way out of the hotel in the morning, they can pick up a great coffee and some local treats for the road…
Ratatouille: a new gourmet destination to discover in the summer of 2025!