MickFlanagen's Profile
Woodlot on Friday - Wait time?
Hi,
I'd really love to check out Woodlot on Friday, but I don't have a reservation (and can't get one, surpirse surprise). I know they have a communal table and bar for walk ins. Is showing up at 7:30 insane? What would be a good baclup restaurent in case the wai is 45 min plus?
Thanks
Where to drink Absinthe in Montreal bars?
Thanks for the research. I had a bit of trouble finding out if any SAQ's in Montreal actually had these items in stock. Does anyone know of an SAQ (preferably in the NDG area or downtown) that stocks any of these?
late night deals or early bird specials
L'express is also open pretty late (not sure about exact hours) but there are no deals.
Eccentric Montreal - Finding the Strange & Unusual
I'm a little surprised noone has mentioned Fuchsia. I haven't been in a long time, but it is a great place on Duluth (just east of) St. Laurent and they have a different lunch item every day with a desert for $10. From what I recall (and again, its been a few months) its all organic and local. Definitely worth stopping by.
http://www.epiceriefleur.com/indexEN.php
Hip restaurant near St. Laurent
This may be too late, but Marche 27 is pretty good, here is a review:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/465691
Authentic neighborhood French
I visited Bouchonne, and despite the fact that I can barely understand never mind speak French, the waiter politely went on in French. Add that to the amazing food and wine...now we're talking. However, the problem would be the whole "15" thing (its a wine bar technically). Not sure what the rules are about that.
les enfants terribles, anyone tried yet?
I may have missed it somewhere, but what is the price range?
What's so great about Schwartz's?
For me, as much as I love the sandwiches (and I love them a lot) is the atmosphere. Ben's certainly didn't have it during its last years, but Schwartz's is always bustling and thats definitely part of the experience.
and for th record, no matter where you go a lean smoke meat sandwich doesn't count as a smoke meat sandwich in my books.
Duck Fat - A bad thing?
Thanks for all the help! I will give this one another shot soon.
Duck Fat - A bad thing?
I love duck, and I cook it at home when I can (which is rarely, because I don't often know what to do with it). So I picked up a couple of legs to while I was grocery shopping, an orange, and some OJ.
I seasoned the legs, seared them, took off what was in the pan with the OJ (about 300mL), put the OJ with the legs, some honey, and a bit of zest from the orange into a baking dish and into the oven, covered for 20, uncovered for another 15 (seemed excessive to me, but the package recommended even longer than that).
The idea was to get a good sear, let it bake in a good amount of OJ so it would stay moist, and then reduce the OJ/sauce into a nice thick almost glaze (hence the covered, uncovered). The problem came about when all of the fat from the duck came out and into my sauce. It really stopped it from reducing, and made it quite fatty/oily (but not in a good way).I tried reducing it in a pan afterward, without the duck, but it just didn't work.
I like duck fat, and have no objections, but in this case it was more of a hindrance than a help. What did I do wrong? Is there something to do to separate the fat away? HELP!
Thanks!
Nepalese Restaurant
Now look what you've done. You've gone and gotten me a craving for Nepalese. I'm not sure where you could find a strictly Nepalese restaurant, but when I was in Nepal and the hill areas of India, we found a LOT of Tibetan food (I will never forget those Momo's) and of course Indian. You can check out this board for some help with the Tibetan side: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/98716 Please post back if you find something. Good luck!
(If you are in Toronto, there is one on Bloor a bit west of Spadina. It seems to have changes since I last went, but I remember it being really good. http://www.mteverestrestaurant.com/ca/default.aspx)
3 days in Montreal - first time!
Montée de lait
I biked past this place the other, and was interested. Is this the place just off of St Denis on Villeneuve? Is it good? Expensive?
French restaurant in Old Montreal
I am a huge L'Express fan, and I definitely second that recommendation. I can't speak to the other recommendations, but I am also a student and whenever my dad comes into town, we always go to L'Express.
Looking for Breakfast
Just around the corner from Resivoir on the Main is Laika, which has some pretty good breakfast stuff, and although I'm not a coffee drinker I have been told it is among the best in the city (but lets not get into THAT debate)
Also, I have to admit that I am a fan of breakfast at Cafeteria, also on the main just a little south of Prince Arthur. There is a fairly wide choice of things, and its not hugely expensive.
Finally, I know this doesn't really fit the variety bill, but I love breakfast at Place Milton. Its your standard greasy (read: hang over) breakfast and some days, I just can't get enough.
Local Asparagus
As an aside, is this a CSA style arrangement or can you drop in as you want?
Exceptional Night Out
"I am amazed at what CC&P did to you." As am I. I am not surprised that you didn't go.
Thanks for all the tips
Vertige
I passed by Vertige yesterday, and being in an adventurous mood I decided I'd give it a shot.
The decor is modern, but it still feels comfortable. I had one of the fixed price menus "menu terre" (the other being "menu mer") which is very good. It started off with a carpaccio of beef, which was very good. It was topped with a small salad, which I enjoyed and even had what I can only describe as a cucumber sorbet thingy on top of that. It was a bit salty for my tastes, but the first time I tried it I couldn't help but laugh, it was so unlike anything I had ever had before. Definitely made me think.
After that came a qualle (im sure im spelling that wrong) confit, with a wicked date sauce. Again, very good, balanced and small enough that it was light, but at the same time rich. I am a bit of a big eater, so I was getting a little worried about portion sizes (the first two were small) but the next item solved that problem. It wasn't huge, but it was big enough to fill me up.
It was a duo of veal. One side, from what I could tell, had been braised and was very rich and covered in a fantastic gravy. The other was a spicy mustard sauce, which was also very good.
My girlfriend decided to go a la carte, and had a bavette (My french isn't that great, but I've looked it up and can't find an english equivalent of this), which she said was very good. Since she started with a salad, she was able to add a desert and coffee for $10. We both had the chocolate molten for desert, which is what was included in my menu. It was absolutly fantastic, again a bit small but extremely decadent. It came with a small scoop of ice cream with a chocolate cookie sort of a thing (but all chocolate, and no cookie).
We shared a bottle of water, I got a glass of wine (there wine list was alright, but only had four reds by the glass) and she had the recommended house martini, which she enjoyed. All in all, before tip it was $110. Not to bad. Normally I would go for something cheaper, but I think it was well suited to my mood.
edit: forgot to mention that its on Duluth at St-Hubert. There webstie is www.restaurantvertige.com
Exceptional Night Out
Thanks for the tips. I posted this on the other discussion as well, but someone noted that "The food is a bit fancier at Bronte, and the portions are quite small." I think that would disqualify it, but if there are others who can either confirm or deny this claim that would be helpful.
Bronte vs. Le CC&P for Birthday
"The food is a bit fancier at Bronte, and the portions are quite small." Can anyone else speak to the portion sizes? I'm considering going, but I have been warned by the people I'm going with that they "intend to be fed".
Exceptional Night Out
To celebrate my girlfriends university graduation ceremony, her mother and grandparents will be coming to Montreal for the weekend. All put together with a brother and an uncle tossed into the mix, we are 8 people.
I have been put in charge of making dinner resos for the two nights. We have reservations at Lemeac for one of the nights, but not surprisingly Au Peid de Cochon was booked full for both of the nights. As such, I have been looking for replacements. So far the list contains:
Bronte
Au Petite Extra
Toque
L'atelier
Club Chasse et Pêche
I have never been to any of these places, but they are on the list because of generally positive things that I have read about them on this board. It doesn't help that they only guidance I have is "really good food" but I think that translates to:
-somewhere with a good wine list
-nothing like Globe, trendy is alright, but I think you all know what I mean
- One of the people who is coming is very much a "meat and potatoes" type eater. That doesn't mean we need something that follows that rule exactly, but portions can't be skimpy as they ofter are at some modern places (last time we did something like this we went to Garcon, and the aforementioned person is still going on about it)
- I would prefer something showcasing what Quebec and Montreal have to offer (hence Au Pied)
-Nothing to far afield from downtown. We will most likely be cabbing it, but we are defintly situated down town
Aside from that, unfortunately, I lack any further guidance. Am I missing something? Do one of these places stand out above the rest?
Ice Cream!
Yup, I walked by and checked today. I didn't remember seeing it there before, but apparently it inst new.
Ice Cream!
There has just opened a new Ice Cream shop on the main right across from Schwartz's selling either hand or home made ice cream (I can't remember which). I also can't remember the name. I guess that makes me kind of useless, but I will come back with an update when I pass by tomorrow.
Jean-Talon market area - 2008
I also noticed the Frite Alors stand while I was at the market last week.
Best Tasting Menu
Duel has a tasting menu
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/500248
http://www.restaurantduel.com/
Best resto under $100
Tay Do on Duluth is great bring your own wine Vietnamese place. You could easily do two bottles of wine and three meals for under $100.
You may be able to do the same at L'acadamie (various locations including St. Denis). That being said, neither of these places are "gourmet" foodie, but the food is great and the price is right.
I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard great things about the after 10pm menu at lemeac. With wine and tip and all that good stuff you might be pushing your $100 budget, but from what I have heard, its worth it (its on my list for next week). Maybe someone who has been can give you a better sense of what its like. You can also hit up their website at http://www.restaurantlemeac.com/fr-CA/index.aspx
Good luck!
CRAVING: Looking for the Single, Absolute BEST...
Oreo Cheesecake at Rockaberry is to die for. I recommend it whole heartedly.
