Here are two new Montreal restaurants and one oldie but a goodie. Sumac Sumac is the new hip kid on the St-Henri block (at least until the new Satay Brothers opens, at which time they'll probably share the "affordable gourmet" block party ribbon). It does Middle Eastern with … [Read more...] about Three Montreal Mini-Reviews: Sumac, Shinji and Renard Artisan Bistro
Gluten-Free & Gluten-Free Friendly
Nouveau Malay: Breakfast for Dinner at Nouveau Palais’ Weekly Malaysian Night
He used to have his own restaurant with a cult following. Go there for pad thai and coconut curries, my friend told me. He would come out, ask what you felt like eating, and make you something appropriate. There'd be toasted and ground coriander and cumin, fried shrimp paste and … [Read more...] about Nouveau Malay: Breakfast for Dinner at Nouveau Palais’ Weekly Malaysian Night
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
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
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
Nonya Indonesian Cuisine in Montreal
When I used to live in Outremont I'd occasionally walk past this restaurant and want to go there. I recognized some of the Indonesian dishes—Laksa soup, satay, nasi goreng salad, but then I'd notice the pricetag and think, "I'll just go make my own instead..." And then I'd find … [Read more...] about Nonya Indonesian Cuisine in Montreal
Ferreira Cafe
Café Ferreira 1446 rue Peel Montreal, QC ●●●●●●●●○○ 8 out of 10 Portuguese Again, I didn't go here to review it, but I wanted to talk about it. This is what I do, talk about food. Periodically I do and talk about other things. Anyway, we show up a tiny, tiny bit late for a … [Read more...] about Ferreira Cafe