Does it seem strange to anyone else that Montreal's restaurant week is actually 11 days long? I guess "Montreal Restaurant Week and a Half" isn't as catchy. In any case, from October 30th to November 9, 2014 a ton of the city's top restaurants are offering three or four-course … [Read more...] about Top Restaurants for MTL à Table
Fine Dining
Toque! Take Two
The big news from earlier this year at Toque! is that the chef de cuisine, Charles-Antoine Crete, left to open his own place. Since then, I've been wondering what's happening in the Toque! kitchen, and how the food coming out of its hallowed walls compares to what came … [Read more...] about Toque! Take Two
Pastaga: Little Italy’s Restaurant Renaissance
It's a long bus ride up St-Laurent to Pastaga Restaurant in Little Italy on a Monday night. The neighbourhood's southern tip has none of its weekend charm—no Italian shouted from doorways, no shoppers buying canned tomatoes and imported olives at Milano's, no Fifa World Cup fans … [Read more...] about Pastaga: Little Italy’s Restaurant Renaissance
Laloux: My New Favourite Montreal Bistro
In a city that does bistro well, Laloux is a whole lot more than duck confit. Bistro: well-priced, quickly-plated French food in a small neighbourhood establishment. Things are usually slow-cooked or quick seared: tender lamb shank, duck confit, steak-frites, probably some kind … [Read more...] about Laloux: My New Favourite Montreal Bistro
Montreal’s Best Terrasses 2014!
Walls of vines, fountains, fish ponds and wonderfully oppressive sunshine combined with blissful shade—Montreal is terrasse paradise. And since it seems that Montreal finally decided to warm up enough to not need a toque, all Montrealers want to do is spend brunches, long … [Read more...] about Montreal’s Best Terrasses 2014!
Stewed Alpaca and Peruvian Fine Dining at Mochica Restaurant in Montreal
It's actually a homestyle Peruvian dish, believe it or not. The alpaca adobo stew above, I mean. Go into the mountains of Northern Peru and you won't find any platings of the dish with edible flowers, balsamic gels and foie gras foams. The people of Piura would give you blank … [Read more...] about Stewed Alpaca and Peruvian Fine Dining at Mochica Restaurant in Montreal
Exquisite La Porte Restaurant in Montreal
"Can we go to that place you sent me last time?" Designing food itineraries for friends and family travelling to Montreal is like giving a kid a firecracker—dangerous and fun. Last time my mom was in town I dropped her off at La Porte for a solo dinner I couldn't stay for, sad … [Read more...] about Exquisite La Porte Restaurant in Montreal
Montreal Oyster Throwdown: Le Club Chasse et Peche, Joe Beef, L’Orignal, Maestro SVP
Note: This has been updated from the archives. Now I would also add $1 oysters at Cartel on Fairmount and St-Urbain on Wednesdays to the mix. I believe those come with $5 glasses of prosecco. Not a bad deal if the oysters are fresh. While some oyster lovers would shake their … [Read more...] about Montreal Oyster Throwdown: Le Club Chasse et Peche, Joe Beef, L’Orignal, Maestro SVP
Persian Throwdown: Parisa vs. Tehran Restaurant
Note: I wrote this originally before Damas, Kaza Maza, and most recently, Barbounya, existed. I've been to the first two and really think Damas is exceptional, both for accommodating food intolerances (I had a delicious 100% vegan, gluten-free meal there and didn't feel like I … [Read more...] about Persian Throwdown: Parisa vs. Tehran Restaurant
PF Chang’s: Gluten-free in Laval and Montreal
Yes, this is a chain restaurant. Yes, the one I went to is in Laval. These are two criteria that would normally mean I’d never try the restaurant. But any Asian restaurant with an extensive gluten-free menu is worth the drive to the giant shopping complex, the Carrefour … [Read more...] about PF Chang’s: Gluten-free in Laval and Montreal