Looking for Twists on Traditional Quebecois Dishes

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all your amazing recommendations! I've been working my way through them and here's what I've come up with...

POUTINE:
I finally tried the foie gras poutine at APDC and although it was really delicious, I felt full after about three bites. My friend and I shared a single serving -- very smart move -- and we couldn't finish it. We also sat at the bar, which I highly recommend because that way you can see all the dishes that you don't have the appetite to eat. Plus, the chefs all seem to be having a riotously good time.
I also tried the poutine that Em24 recommended at L'Atelier and it was really great. I'd totally go back for that, especially because it's only $7 for lunch. The fries seem to be cut a little thinner so although the orange sauce is less viscous, it didn't make the fries soggy. I didn't feel like the cheese really added anything but I guess it's not technically poutine without the cheese.
I also tried to find the Poutine Jenga at La Montee (I found a great video of the chef making it) but it wasn't on the menu and I called to ask if they were still serving it but never heard back from the restaurant.
I saw the recommendation for Macaroni Bar but I went there with some girlfriends about two months ago and EVERYONE's pasta was ridiculously over-salted. When we told the waitress, someone from the kitchen came out to ask if we'd tried it before adding parmesan (which most of us had), basically implying that it was fine when it came out of the kitchen. They then took about 45 minutes to replace the dishes, at which point everyone who hadn't ordered pasta had finished eating. So I'm not keen on going back there.

JOE LOUIS DESERT
I tried it at La Fabrique and I have to say, it was a bust. Yes, it's rich and chocolatey but there's nothing very "Joe Louis" about it. The creamy filling is actually pastry cream, so it's really heavy, and the chocolate fondant is obviously really heavy and then, although it's chocolate-coated, they microwaved it, which was weird, so the desert didn't have that solid chocolate that cracks when you bite into it the way a Joe Louis does. It was disappointed because I love Joe Louis deserts. It was basically just a chocolate fondant, and not a particularly memorable one. I loved the out-of-the-way location, though, and the design of the restaurant so I'll probably go back for a main course.

PATE CHINOIS AND TOURTIERE
In the "pie" category, I tried the duck confit tourtiere at La Cantine, which was good (lovely mushroomy taste) and big enough to share, and the shepard's pie at Le Vallier which was DELICIOUS although I was really hungry that night so that might have contributed. The shepard's pie is also a duck confit dish and it's enormous so definitely share it, and it's served in a cast-iron skillet. Really great comfort food.

POUDING CHOMEUR
I read a glowing review of the Pouding Chomeur at la Cocagne so I tried that, and it was great but also enormous, and also served in a cast-iron skillet. Strange serendipity! It was incredibly filling too; so no need for desert for the rest of the week if you have that dish. Apparently a few different places do Pouding Chomeur, including APDC and Vallier, so I migth have to check those out as a comparison.

Thanks for all your great recommendations, everyone! I'm excited to keep exploring.

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)

Looking for Twists on Traditional Quebecois Dishes

I've got some friends coming to Montreal who want to try traditional Quebecois food and I thought it would be fun to find some twists on the classics. I already know about the foie gras poutine at APDC... any other suggestions?

Thanks!

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)

Lucky me.......time to kill in SF

When I was in SF for business in December I ate with clients at Farallon (http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/) and was so impressed that I returned the next night by myself to try more of their offerings. Great seafood and some really memorable, well executed flavour combinations.

montreal_redhead in San Francisco Bay Area

Looking for the Best Chocolate in Montreal!

Thanks so much! if you go to The Liverpool House (as i recommended in other thread) tell them that Sarah, the red-headed writer, sent you.

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)

What's new in Montreal?

Hi Chris,

The guys from Joe Beef have opened The Liverpool House almost next door (opened about 3 weeks ago). I'm an amateur foodie and I only had appetizers there, but they were incredibly good. Also, Laurie Raphael is opening a sister resto in Montreal, opening November 13th. It's located in the Germain hotel downtown on the 2nd floor.

Bon appetit!

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)

Looking for BYOW places like Le Colombe and

I used to love "Le P'tit Plateau" but I haven't been in a while and I hear it's not a stellar as it once was... L'Entrepont has been recommended by two foodie friends (warning: they don't take all major credit cards; call to check about paying).

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)

Looking for the Best Chocolate in Montreal!

Thanks so much! Did you have any runners-up to recommend? What do you recommend at Chocobel? (I can't eat too much chocolate at once so I have to pick carefully...)

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)

Looking for the Best Chocolate in Montreal!

What's the best chocolate in Montreal? Les Chocolats de Chloe comes highly recommended, as does Maison du Cakao, but I'm curious for more. Also, with this cold weather I'm really keen for your chocolate fondu recommendos...

montreal_redhead in Quebec (including Montreal)