These are the People in your Neighbourhood: La Goélette à Pépé

If you're staying in room 109 at The Clairestone Inn, you can be at the front door of this charming café/gas bar in about 30 steps.  I take extra big steps because they have the best coffee on Isle Madame (medium roast is my thing).  

The name, loosely translated, is Grandfather's Schooner, a nod to our generations of men on Isle Madame who played an important role in our shipbuilding history.  You can read about it in more detail here: http://www.lagoeletteapepe.ca/goelette.htm

The owner, Lisa Boudreau is a well-known local woman entrepreneur (my grandmother's brother's daughter - yes, small island, all related somehow!) who has transformed a dingy gas station into a cozy cafe with a fishing village vibe (think fish nets hanging from the ceiling) featuring the work of local artisans. A pottery studio now resides in one of the garage bays.    

My grandmother Jeanne d'Arc (Samson) Landry on the left with the fur collar coat, of course. She made the best stew à palette (garden stew).  Acadian families have amusing nicknames - you can read more about them here.

Along with the best coffee ever (you can read about the different types of coffees and the meaning behind the names here), the cafe also serves specialty coffees, teas, and an assortment of pastries.  They have just released a takeaway breakfast sandwich and a line of lunch wraps.

They also have the happiest patio space.

So, folks... when you're planning your trip to Cape Breton, likely around the Cabot Trail, add a day or two to explore this coastal village and stop in here: one of the many little gems you'll find on Isle Madame, Nova Scotia.  

You can follow our friends at La Goélette à Pépé on Facebook and Instagram.