A chronicle of mouth-watering eats, as told through the eyes of a hungry Canadian girl.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Although most would pass by this hole-in-the-wall dumpling joint due to its bleak and unappealing aesthetic, they would be missing out on the BEST soup dumplings in the city. Qing Hua Dumplings, located in downtown Montreal near Concordia campus, serves the most wonderful, hand-made dumplings I have ever had the joy of taking a bite out of. Though don’t be fooled, these tiny capsules of broth and meats are not the easiest to eat, slurping out the broth before biting into the dumplings is a skill that must be practiced, though I wouldn’t mind practicing here every day.
The menu offers a variety of options (they have veggie too!) and you can order your dumplings steamed or fried. Ranging from $10-15 for 15 very large and filling dumplings, you get affordable and authentic food, an uncommon combination!
Qing Hua Dumpling, 1676 Ave Lincoln, 438-288-5366
Le Bremner is Chuck Hughes’ (the spectacular chef who you might have seen on Food Network’s “Chuck’s Day Off”) newest restaurant in the Old Port. The resto has much to live up to as Hughes’ other endevour, Garde Manger, not only offers fantastic food but a lively and upbeat scene as well. Le Bremner did not disappoint, with both the ambience and cuisine, and offers an adventurous fare of seafood and meats.
Featured here is the Lobster and Crab ‘toasts’ which were more like flatbreads/mini pizza’s to share for the table. The crab was fresh and light and the dough buttery and flaky. There was a very generous amount of lobster on the other flatbread, and the sauce had a richer and heavier taste, but delicious nonetheless. The seafood and spicy rice dish was hearty and flavourful, and the spice was not too overpowering. We finished off our meal with creme brulee in a mason jar, torched perfectly on top and creamy on the inside.
Be sure to check it out - you might even catch a glimpse of the celebrity chef himself!
RYU Tapas and Sushi bar is located in Outremont on Laurier Street in Montreal. The swanky and contemporary japanese design is a feast for the eyes and is paired wonderfully with the lavish food prepared by the sushi chefs. Better to go with a group, rather than a pair, in order to sample the unique and exotic maki rolls and speciality tapas dishes offered on the menu.
POTLUCK IDEA: Why not utilize those items stuck at the back of your pantry and freezer that never seem to be put to good use?
“Empty Your Pantry” Potluck allows participants to get creative; the goal is to use only those items you already have without buying any additional ingredients - the wackier the better! Suggestions include: Asian coleslaw with dry soup noodles, cabbage, carrots, and asian dressing; Banana chocolate chip muffins using frozen bananas and any chocolate you can find; Pesto pasta salad - literally a bag of pasta and a jar of pesto (add some cheese if you have it!); Banana coconut + S’mores pancakes to use up all that old pancake batter and marshmallows you have lying around; and Tomato soup/mac and cheese casserole, the name says it all!
*Photos courtesy of the talented Abigail Berkley
Bar & Boeuf
As a self-proclaimed foodie, it has become my domain to organize and plan all eating and food related activities that involve my group of friends. Although it is a task I thoroughly enjoy, (who doesn’t love drooling on their keyboard when scouring the internet for restaurant reviews?) it is somewhat stressful at times to find a restaurant the incorporates all of the features a group of ten 20-something girls look for when they go out to dine. My last food planning mission came with one added feature, the restaurant not only had to be delicious, trendy and within our price point, it had to be ‘special.’ Though special is not a universal term, I will safely say that this refers to the panache and spirit of a restaurant, a place that is worthy of us getting dressed to the nines and spending our last evening as undergraduate students together. After thoughtful research and a democratic vote, Bar & Boeuf, in Old Montreal, won the spot of our pre-graduation dinner.
Judging from the photographs alone, I think it is safe to assume that Bar & Boeuf was the perfect combination of unique and delicious food and presentation - not to mention the relaxed ambiance and appealing decor. Its location, cuisine and atmosphere landed itself a top 5 spot of dining experiences in Montreal. I would definitely recommend the restaurant to anyone in search of food of the highest quality and who want a lovely evening spent in Old Montreal.
Going out with a large group of people has it’s benefits, as I was able to sample several dishes on the menu. Ultimately, I was very satisfied with my selection of quinoa and scallops. The scallops were lightly browned from the grill and melted in my mouth. The skin was crispy from the grill, yet very tender and succulent. The quinoa was creamy and did not taste as healthy as usual, and was probably made with cream and lots of butter, but I wasn’t complaining.
All in all the meal was a success, and the menu offers a variety of options for meat, seafood and vegetarian lovers alike.
Bar & Boeuf is also located moments away from the W Hotel, so make a night of it and swing by afterwards to get yourself an Amaretto Sour - they are to die for!
Other favourites at Bar & Boeuf
My top 5 dining experiences in Montreal - Bar & Boeuf
Mamie Clafoutis
The atmosphere of the library, especially during exam times, can be very depressing and not very motivating. This bleak ambience is further intensified when security guards limit your access (and basic human right!) to food and drink. Students often put up with these dismal conditions because they believe that the library offers the only space where quiet studying can be done - but these students clearly haven’t been to Mamie Clafoutis.
Located on the bustling street of Saint Denis, walking into Mamie Clafoutis is like stepping into your mother’s kitchen - if your mom is the type to always have freshly baked pastries, breads, and homemade soups. The staff are warm and inviting, and are happy to help you make your lunch or snack decision, offering suggestions and guidance. The cafe is the perfect place to spend the day with study buddies and a book - they even offer complimentary wifi for customers!
Although upon entering, it appears as if the cafe is simply a small storefront for grab-and-go meals, when you walk up the stairs there is an oasis of comfortable seating and homey decor that offers the warmth of home with the added bonus of delectable eats just below.
On my visit I ordered a hearty bowl of the soup of the day (carrot) and a delicious chicken sandwich with homemade mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato on a freshly baked baguette. All of the ingredients are fresh and all of the food is authentic and made with care.
My friend also ordered a pistachio croissant which I watched her slowly eat for the entire afternoon, as she savored the buttery and moist pastry and sweet filling. After a productive day of studying, it was time to pack up my books and head home, but I couldn’t leave without a treat. The lemon tart looked too mouth-watering to pass up, and I bought it to bring to a dinner party that I was attending that evening. The flaky crust, tart custard filling and voluptuous meringue toping was superb, and impressed my dinner hosts.
Whether or not you plan on doing some work at a cafe, I suggest you stop by Mamie Clafoutis for their amazing dessert, sandwiches, breads, and ambience. More than just a boulengerie, it will be your new home away from home.
Wonderful goodies from Mamie Clafoutis - the cutest cafe and getaway on Saint Denis
Although technically a bar does not classify as a restaurant, I had to include Distillerie here because it is not just any bar - the mixologists (and I don’t use that term lightly) make the most fantastic and creative drinks in all of Montreal. Plus, they serve them in large mason jars which makes them even more fun to drink. Featured above is M’Peached, made with grapefruit, peach puree, lemon juice, Canadian club and 7 up; as well as the Classic Mojito. Other favourites include Basilic Romantique and Hurricane.
Check out there website for their locations in Montreal:
Deville Diner Bar, located in downtown Montreal, serves up a superb menu with a variety of options and gastronomical portions. With a secluded outdoor terrace, this hotspot is casual, relaxed and a great place for some comfort food with an elegant flare.
You can’t write a food blog in Montreal and not write about Poutine. May I present you, La Banquise. Featured here is the Poutine Taquise - the classic fries and gravy topped with a mound of fresh guacamole, sour cream and tomatoes. Best Poutine in Quebec - or so they say…I would be willing to put some cash dollars on that.
Kazu
This post has been in the making for quite a while, and like a fine wine, the memory of this meal has only gotten better with age.
I was introduced to Kazu by a good friend and her foodie brother, and was invited to dine with them, as they A. know my love for Asian cuisine and B. inviting me meant adding another stomach (and wallet) to the table, which subsequently meant the amount of food that could be ordered increased as well.
Having never heard of this supposedly famous restaurant in Montreal, I did the preliminary Google search to see what the restaurant had in store for me. Though the reviews were raving and the photos mouth-watering, I know now how difficult it is to truly convey the epic-ness of the meal you will have when you go to Kazu.
Kazu is easy to miss on your stroll down St. Cats, but the bustling line that runs daily from 5:00 pm (a half an hour before the restaurant’s opening) until ~9:00 pm will surely catch your attention and lure you to nab a spot in the queue. My friends and I planned ahead and arrived early enough to grab a table during the first dinnertime seating. Although it was still early evening, our stomachs perked up from the appetizing aromas that were lingering in the air. Quaint, cozy and a little run down, Kazu is the kind of place you go for the grub, rather than the ambience.
And here, loyal readers, is what we ate:
Beef Carpaccio. Thin, tender slices of beef lying in a pool of Asian-vinaigrette with some bonito flakes and mixed greens atop. It was divine, and this coming from the girl that doesn’t eat red meat. I have never had beef carpacio before, so I don’t have much else to compare it too, however it was a little bit on the oily side.
Next came the sashimi bowl, which included fresh tuna and salmon, rice, greens and some Styrofoam-y tasting noodles. Once we dug through the layers of Styrofoam and greens and made it to the fish and zesty sauces, we were in for a treat. My only criticism was that the ratio of fish to “filler” wasn’t very even, so be warned.
The teriyaki chicken burger was a showstopper. Split four ways, one burger was not enough — we were all licking our fingers gingerly as to not to waste any remains.
After the burger-that-kept-us-wanting-more, our gnawing stomachs were appeased by the 48 hour pork bowl. Like I said, meat dishes are not my forte, but I’ll have you know that I will give pork the benefit of the doubt from here on in. Though the least greasy and saucy of the dishes, the pork bowl packs a lot of flavour and pizzazz, and is definitely a must-try.
Then came the gyoza, which are pork dumplings. I have always held a soft spot for dumplings and have nothing bad to say about these ones, other than the fact that I only got to have one.
We concluded our meal with the shrimp pancakes, which essentially is the burger on its side - swap the fillings. Don’t let the similarity between the pancakes and the burger fool you, the shrimp and the chicken, though equally as succulent and appetizing, are enormously different in taste.
By 6:30 pm we were full and lethargic, and waddled our way out (past the very long line) sporting happy faces and unbuttoned pants. Kazu is undeniably worth the wait, and a truly unique Japanese food experience in the heart of Downtown Montreal.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1512026/restaurant/Downtown/Kazu-Montreal
In order of appearance: Beef Capriccio, sashimi bowl, teriyaki chicken burger, 48 hour pork bowl, gyoza, and shrimp pancakes
Grain-fed chicken sandwich at Olive and Gourmando. Located in the heart of the Old Port, this rustic cafe will satisfy your hunger pains with its mix of cold sandwiches, daily soups, paninis and baked goods. A feast for the eyes and the belly, the perfect Saturday afternoon spot followed by a stroll.
