fel's Profile
coconut milk powder
They have it at P.A. on Fort/Ste. Catherine in the sugar/flour aisle it's Maggi (from Nestle) and retails for around $3.00 a box.
I stopped buying it because I was using it in everything. Great in smoothies, awesome in oatmeal.. mixed-in with some yogurt... I had a "problem"!
Your must-have/Favorite Cookbook(s)
What is your favorite true-and-tried cookbook? Have you discovered a new one?
I'm in the market to buy and am overwhelmed at the abundance on the shelves. I already own some classics (Joy of Cooking, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Bon Appetit...) as well as some more task-specific (Ice Cream!).
suggestions for great wedding caterer?
We got married Oct 06 and after an extensive and often frustrating search settled on Malibu Gourmet on Monkland. We also had a very small budget and she accommodated us beautifully. Although I must say she did mention a few times how we were her "cheapest" wedding. No matter, I bit my tongue because the food was really amazing. Every single thing was delicious. She even made the wedding cake (banana chocolate) and it was, again, amazing.
Here is the website; http://www.malibugourmet.com/catering.html
Tim Tams at Montreal Loblaws?
The Loblaws on St-Jacques (Cavendish) is perpetually lacking. I have made written complaints to management on several occasions regarding their disregard for removing clearly spoiled items from their produce section and understocking. I find that grocery shopping (regular, not gourmet) in MTL is very often a huge inconvenience. I can't even count the times I`ve come home empty-handed because of unavailablility or just plain gross offerings.
Restaurant openings
Bistro Mahjongg on Decarie (in front of Orange Julep & next to Ruby Foo's)- Opened a few weeks ago, had a great diner there last Friday. It is Piment Rouge's answer to a casual, family-style resto. Same top-notch standards but more everyday style. The space is beautiful; dark wood floors, jewel tones, gorgeous lighting, very elegant yet unfussy. We saw couples and business men along with a table of women having a girls-night-out and families with children. We each sampled a martini to start, all excellent (I had the asian pear). The pu pu platter & dumplings were a fun appetizer. The garlic pepper beef was some of the best I`ve had and the greens with ginger were very fresh. They have the entire DLux dessert menu (the cafe is next door). Sky-high cakes and many types of cheesecakes available. Everything was soooooo easy and yummy. We had a great experience there.
Manoir Rouville-Campbell
I have had brunch at Rouville-Campbell 2 years ago The food and service were good but I think people go more for the setting. They in fact could make more of an effort to attract foodies by making it a little less "McChâteau".
I got married (for the 1st time...) on-site at Château St-Antoine and everything was superb. They have/had (it was 10 yrs ago) extensive rose gardens and took care of flowers for the reception. The food was outstanding, so was the service. We went back a few years after for a Mother's Day brunch and they over-charged us so much on extras that shouldn't have been that we never went back. I would say that was the only thing to watch-out for; you have to ask and make sure of what is and isn't included because it will cost you a pretty penny.
Brunch outside of town
I know that brunch (or lack thereof) has been covered here before but my husband & I are soon celebrating an anniversary on a Sunday and thought a nice hearty brunch would be nice. Since neither of us like to wait in line or deal with downtown at the start of the day we would like to go outside of MTL.
We have been a few times to Lakeview Inn in Knowlton- once fabulous, second time not so much. Buffet-style is fine as long as it`s not too family-style (ie; tiny sticky fingers attached to screaming tiny faces...) Ideas?
Fresh Vanilla Pods?
Looking for fresh vanilla pods which are usually available at better fruit stores in glass tubes but are somehow escaping me lately -lack of good fruit stores in MTL outside of major markets is a logical culprit... Is braving the upper-crusties at Atwater market a sure-fire bet?
Many thanks,
Fel
