tohtem's Profile
Sala Rosa or Club Espagnol?
Definitively NOT Sala Rosa. Was not able to finish the meal with all the noise from club upstairs. Seems there is a show every night or so. I made a reservation by phone and nobody told me about the noise. It is sooooo loud.
The bill arrived and had a surprise. Most prices where higher than prices handwritten on the wall. Had to argue a bit to get the bill lowered. It was not just a small error, nearly all items were more expensive. Lame excuses.
So from now on I'll stick to the Club espanol SoMoR (South of Mont-Royal) and will never set foot at Sala Rosa NoMoR (north of Mont-Royal)
Best prices for an espresso machine?
Bought 2 machines over the course of 15 years from Espresso Mali 7655 St-Laurent. Always get back there with a caffeine overdose after visiting every store in town. Not the best price, not the worst but they have parts and can repair machines they sell.
I need pig's blood for Boudin
Go to Slovenia 3653 St-Laurent. They sell 1L bottles frozen
Summer sausage
I have a crave for some real Mennonite Summer sausage. Anyone seen some in Montreal? I am looking for the 'chubs' or 'logs' around 2LB, pressed and smoked in cotton.
I used to buy them in Toronto. Anyone going to the St-Lawrence market soon?
Upscale shops - Dean & Deluca type
Hi Thanks for all the leads. I have a car but having experienced Boston traffic years ago, it will stay at the hotel on Battery Wharf as much as possible. North End I guess?
Let's go for upscale and 'what I would not find anywhere else but in Boston or at least not in Montreal'. Russo seems to federate everybody? Thanks a lot. Much appreciated
Upscale shops - Dean & Deluca type
I will visit Boston in August and I would like to know if there's an equivalent to Dean & Deluca.
Any large farmers market?
Thanks
Your fave ice cream flavors from the Mtl ice cream shops
Bo-Bec on Laurier corner Chambord. Flavors are always changing and Gilles makes a point of making some you will not find elsewhere like 'Limonade Rose' on top of the classics. Use to have a sign saying 'Fait artisanalement ici même à la main'
Frango on Mont-Royal
Anybody tried Frango on Mont-Royal? I am wondering if you have to reserve long in advance like Portugalia on Marie-Anne.
Kobe Beef from Montreal Butchers?
Boucherie AGA 4927 Jarry E 514-327-7771
Ask Roger for the real thing
If you are nice, he will give you some Oxtail consommé to dip it
Pannetone - Looking for
Indeed France Decor (also named Vixit)or ABC Emballuxe 650 Crémazie Est. East of St-Denis. Not sure if they sell small quantities. Check opening hours of both, they mostly tend to commercial clientele.
searching for locally grown garlic
Local production goes out around 5-12 Aug. Patrick Lauzon at JTM will possible have 'spring crops' sooner. Otherwise at JTM, go see Patrick Rémillard from Ferme Jacques et Diane stand 192. Rémillard now offers several cultivars. 4 years ago he also started other cultivars that I brought him from trips to Perth and Carp Garlic festivals. Most of his production is Musik variety but he will also have some Rocambole, German red, Korean Red and Cal White. He told me yesterday that crops are looking good. Stored in good conditions (cold, dark and a lot of air) you can keep them until Christmas and exceptionnaly until St-Valentine. Chop them, store in oil and keep in the freeze for longer.
These days you can find the French ail rose Chez Nino and Chez Louis. 3-4$
The Rémillard are not certified but talking with them you can get a good idea that they are not using Round up on their crops. Sometimes certified is just too expensive for small farmers.
Where Do I Get Knives Sharpened? - MTL
I can suggest Bertoldi's. They are in Laval near the 15. Check
http://www.couteauxducanada.com/fr/aiguisage_laurentides.html
I know it's far but they are the best (since the old Hungarian guy on Bleury retired). They do most restaurants in Montreal and most stores who advertise a sharpening service are in fact giving them to Bertoldi. They sharpen while you wait. They also do repairs. Costs range from 1$ for an office knife to 4$ for a full length chef knife. Having seen all the specialized equipment they have and knowing they are 5th generations, I would not go anywhere else or would buy a stone from Lee Valley and would learn sharpening.
As for the orange truck, neighbours still think I am crazy from the last time I ran after the damn truck with knifes. It's usually out of sight by the time I collect all my knifes and go outside.
New library: L'Occasion Gourmande
The best ones! Somebody tested the recipe and did not only look at pictures. With the added bonus of recipes/newspaper clipping dropping on the floor!
Where to find best chorizo in Montreal?
In the back of the dep acrss the street from Soares, there's Chouriçor or at least it's the brand name they use for the portuguese chorizo they distribute around town. For Spanish I stick to La Vieille Europe mild or spicy. You can ask for more or less dry. depends if you want to eat raw or cook. The imported Palacios is good but given the price tag I'll stick to La Vielle Europe.
New library: L'Occasion Gourmande
The folks at Librarie Gourmande opened a new library on nearby De Castelnau. This one, L'Occasion Gourmande, specializes in used cookbooks. They have French and English. They are also building a collection of Quebec books for conservation.
Located at 366 De Castelnau, between Drolet and St-Denis. 3 minutes from Jean-Talon market. Not sure about the business hours, 514-759-9143
Everybody should dig their most precious treasures and sell them at l'Occasion Gourmande so I can spend my next pay check there.
Report: Roast pig at Boucherie Capitol
Porchetta? Big rolled pork (nearly 10 inches across) with spices and herbs between the pieces of pork. And garlic of course.
Churros and Chocolate
Try Churros Montreal on St-Hubert corner Faillon. I don't know about the chocolate, but the churros (caramel, chocolate or plain) are good if you happen to be there when they are just out of the fryer. Pick up a box (10$ a dozen) and make your own chocolate. Call before, opening hours are changing.
