Well, that's where most of my family is and where I partly grew up so I've made that trip about a million times, and my only thought is, "Well, there's a Tim Horton's in Edmunston..." That is not a drive particularly full of fun distractions or even many interesting roadside stops.

The 20's only four hours of your trip and the 40's not even three... for me, that's never been long enough to stop in an 11-hour drive. I guess it depends on what kind of traveller you are, whether or not you will want to stop that soon. Perhaps Riviere-du-Loup holds some interesting surprises.

The 165 (from Riviere-du-Loup to the NB border) is mainly populated with fast-food, casse-croutes and danseuses nues. I wouldn't expect to find much on that stretch.

Between Edmunston and Saint John you head through farmland, particularly potato-growing country. I should expect good fries along there but to be honest, I've never noticed anything. I hate to sound so bleak but normally this is a long day and I only stop for gas and food in Edmunston and get on my way.

(Side note: It's spelled Saint John! To use "St." is a local faux pas.)

OH! Of course. Well, y'know, Rocky Road... Tire... could happen! I envision a black-licorice flavour...

This isn't insanely close, but I've heard the breakfast at the little Mexican place, Itacate, at 59 Beaubien E, is very good. In fact, I think I read it here. Looking at their online menu it looks inexpensive too:

http://www.itacate.ca/

I've had (evening) takeout from there a number of times and it's always been fantastic. They are really sweet people too, it's family-run. I remember a couple of us here posted positive reviews of the place after they opened last year and one of the family members came and posted just to say thanks!

Mind elaborating on what "tire" flavour is? I'm intrigued.

Plus que parfait is the most adorable name for an ice-cream shop ever. I wish I had come up with that. Strangely, I don't think I've ever noticed this place before, and I'm in Mile-End all the time.

I liked the ginger flavour at Havre aux glaces, but I thought it would be better served alongside another flavour... maybe something like maple? It didn't seem like a standalone flavour to me.

Hello all,

I just caught wind of the existence of something called tahini bread, aka tahinov hatz, and have decided on no information at all that I NEED to try it. There's only one mention in past threads, that it's sold at a place called Arouch in Park-Ex. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I'm near Jean-Talon market.

Also in that vein, I've suddenly become interested in Middle-Eastern baked goods... recommendations for any other delicious treats I can pick up locally would be very welcome! (I'm vegetarian, just FYI.)

Thanks!

I've "enjoyed" a 5am Croissantwich from Burger King in the international terminal before...

Samos has, as another poster put it diplomatically a couple of weeks ago, a real quality control problem. They are lovely people, but about 60% of the donuts I've had from there (Beaubien & de Gaspé) have been unbelievably stale. In fact -- I was just coming here to post about this -- I've tasted two of their donuts just now that I bought about an hour ago, one chocolate-dip and one maple-dip, and the chocolate-dip was soft and delicious and the maple one seems two weeks old. I have no idea how this happens, but just be really careful what you buy there. It's difficult to tell how stale something is without touching it though.

Oh, don't worry, I frequent Tibet Libre! It's a bit pricy but very good. I like the the (oddly-named) Primavera, which is just mozarella, arugula and parmesan shavings.

I've had the vegetarian burrito at El Amigo a few times. I think their vegetables are just a random bagged frozen mixture because I've ended up with odd veggies like green and wax beans inside, which is not entirely unpleasant, just strange. I like that they give lots of food, with sides of rice and beans and salad, and the meal is usually very filling, but I find the bottom of the burrito is usually kind of soggy. And while it seems to be run by fine people, the restaurant itself is uninspiring -- kind of dirty, actually, and not a very inviting space. I guess overall I feel like El Amigo isn't really trying very hard, but they've always got people there, so they must be doing something right! Maybe their Salvadorean dishes are better than the Mexican ones. (Unfortunately it looks like their Salvadorean offerings are vegetarian-unfriendly.)

I gotta give props to Senzala, at 177 Bernard. Brazilian-style brunch with a million egg dishes as well as pancakes and waffles. It's really made by the sides that come with them -- fruit kabobs, grilled plantain with mango sauce, potatoes... Really delicious.

I thought this new little Mexican place has been around long enough to deserve its own thread.

I've been twice for take-out dinners, and I really like it there. It's clearly family-run, and the service is amazing. The first time I went we waited at the counter for our orders, and the woman working the front-of-house gave us complimentary appetizers while we waited. The second time I just ordered and did some errands and came right back, but she was just as lovely.

I ordered the vegetarian burrito. Nothing on the menu is marked specifically for vegetarians, but can be ordered without the meat.Folded in a square, it doesn't look huge, but it's very filling. It comes with a side each of spicy salsa and guacamole and a separate cup of salad with creamy dressing, good for cooling the mouth.

I'm not an expert or a chef or a foodie or an expert in Latin-American foods, but I love Mexican food and Itacate tastes great to me. It's just a bonus that I like supporting them because they are just such sweet people. I like it 1000x better than El Amigo just up the block on St-Zotique.

Their website currently just goes directly to a PDF of their menu, 524kb: http://www.itacate.ca/

Wow. I just gotta say, I've never loved living close to JTM more than I do after reading the updates on this thread. It's just getting better and better!

Thanks -- I'll definitely make a run up there in another week or so and see what's what.

I also heard that le Dépanneur le Pick-Up on Waverly just north of Mozart is selling them individually, but I don't know their source yet. (I very much doubt they make them in-house.)

Well, in order to create a useful pastels-de-nata thread for generations to come, I have decided I will sample all natas I can find.

Bela Vista
68 des Pins | http://pasteldenata.ca/ | $7/half-dozen
I think of this as the definitive nata both because it was delicious and because many say it's the best in Montreal. Sweet but not too sweet, thick custard and light pastry.

les Anges Gourmets
4247 St-Laurent | no website | $5/half-dozen
Less expensive, but just slightly less enjoyable than the Bela Vista. Perhaps a little less sweet, with thinner custard and a thicker pastry. Still fills the craving, though.

more to come...

I broke down and bought some at Bela Vista on Friday -- it had to be done. But I will look for Patisserie d'Ange tomorrow when I'm in the area. If it's a no-go I'll try around the corner on Rachel as well.

I'm willing to bet there are some up here in Little Italy... I will find them someday.

I was just in Samos the other day and didn't see any -- but that place is weird, half the time the stuff they sell is not that good. I mean, I'll eat it, don't get me wrong, but it's always stale or seems like it was made and frozen and then thawed. I would totally eat the hell out of a frozen-then-thawed custard tart right now, though.

Thanks for the tip on the other Bela Vista! I am hoping to find something closer, but I'll keep it in the back of my head.

Hello!

After living in Toronto for a couple of years I got addicted to the delicious nata or custard tarts sold at Portuguese bakeries in my neighbourhood. Now back in Montreal, I often find myself craving these by the truckload.

I see in the archives that Bela Vista on St-Laurent/des Pins makes them... I'm willing to go down there if I have to, but I'd love to find a source up here by the Jean-Talon Market, where I live. (Actually St-Laurent/St-Zotique, but close enough.)

Anyone willing to fuel my desperate addiction? Thank you from the bottom of my heart!