Scrumdidiliumptious's Profile
Steer me through Mtl -- all of it; winding small passageways; obscure back alleys?
Really? Some one is suggesting Cafe Local? I have NEVER had a decent experience there. The food varies from awful to just passable and the service is even worse. haven't tried the mac n cheese, but I've given that place enough chances to never return. They put loads of awful balsamic reduction on their sweet potato fries! EW!
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Cafe Local
200 Rue Saint-Viateur W, Montreal, QC H2T2L5, CA
Caplansky's - You have got to be kidding me!
I finally went to Caplanksy's last week, and I must say I was extremely disappointed. The sandwich was dry, chewy, and bland. It looked sliced by a machine and an unappealing colour. I've had many schwartz's sandwiches, and they are well spiced and succulent. I went in not planning on comparing tastes, because it is a different product, but I still hold it to some standards. SMoked meat should taste like something and be really succulent, not bland and dry. My friend had the smoked meat hash and it was also dry overcooked mess. The potatoes in the hash were burnt, and the meat itself tasted like salty rubber with a weird and unappealing spicing (that wasn't noticable on the sandwich at all) Another friend had a regular breakfast and the latkes were over cooked, the apple sauce far too nutmeggy to be good. The fries were the only decent part of the meal, and let's be honest, good fries are EASY to make. I know most places in Toronto can't manage it because most places use prefab fries, but as long as you cut your own and blanch before service, it's the easiest thing on the menu to do right. The service was horrible. Everything came at different times, the server seemed confused, and the runner/busboy seemed untrained. The hash was cold, the eggs were overdone, and the plates were dirty (food ALL over the bottoms and sides, gross) I'd give Caplansky's a 4/10 for food and a 5/10 for service. I doubt I'll return. How on earth did this sandwich win an award? Is the rest of the deli in the city THAT disgusting?
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Caplansky's
356 College Street, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
Lunch/Brunch for big group
I've heard that Restaurant Biron on Amherst has an excellent brunch and can accommodate groups. I think they even have a private room for groups. I think the menu is online http://www.restaurantbiron.com/ It seems brunch is only served on weekends, but I've heard good things about the lunch and dinner.
Pick's vs Buns: Burgers
Why Buns over Picks now? I really like Buns (only tried the one on St-Laurent) and have yet to try Picks since I'm not downtown often. I'm interested in Picks because of the topping options. I find the cheese at Buns to be tasteless and I really love bacon on my burger. Is there something specific about Buns that makes it better than Picks? I'm just curious because I'm always on the hunt for the best burger in the city, and I'm guessing you've all realized that there is a serious lack of delicious burgers in Montreal.
Pick's vs Buns: Burgers
Also, a fried burger can't compare to a grilled one. I don't know about any of you other chowhounders, but I don't have a BBQ, and if I did I probably wouldn't be crazy about bbqing in the dead of winter.
Pick's vs Buns: Burgers
I am pretty sure Reema had baking and catering experience before she opened Cocoa Locale. I know she used to supply cookies and cakes to various restaurants and cafes around town. It's not like she woke up one day and decided that since she can bake cupcakes at home she should open a store. She has a small place and limited space for ingredients and equipment. That probably has a lot to do with her minimal production. Furthermore, baking requires time. If Reema was baking and icing cupcakes and cakes all day long, she wouldn't be able to work the cash and we would all be waiting to be served. Could she hire some staff? Sure, but clearly she doesn't want to. I can understand that. She wants to be sure that everything is up to her standards ALWAYS. I think that's admirable. As for not taking reservations for "one small cake", I also understand that. Had she taken your reservation, she would have to take EVERYONE'S reservation. It's not like she gets one reservation a week. Also, if she were to take reservations, there would never be any cupcakes or cakes available for walk-ins, then all those people who complain about her running out of cupcakes by 2pm would really have something to complain about.
It's different with the burger places. People who want a meal want it fast and without hassle, especially when they are at a fast food joint. Picks should have hired and properly trained someone or at least simplified their menu. A one man show and a big menu? That's biting off more than you can chew.
Need Cheaters type dessert place in Montreal
I don't like Juliette et Chocolat, but I'm picky when it comes to desserts. I went there once and ordered a brownie, and it came heated up and half cooked, similar to the chocolate fondant cake that's on almost every single restaurant menu in the city. It was truly disgusting. Overly sweet and sticky...not how a brownie should be at all! If I wanted a fondant cake, I would have ordered one. Rockaberry is alright, but I'd stick to the pies and skip the chocolate type desserts. Skip Kilo all together, the cakes never seem fresh and always lack in flavour. I think there is a place called Calories downtown. I've never been there, but would be curious to hear what other people think about it. I guess we are lacking decent dessert based places in this city. As much as I dislike Juliette et Chocolat, it might be your best bet. That or just go to a restaurant that has a good dessert menu. I really enjoy the desserts at Lemeac. They have this amazing pain perdu with confiture de lait ice cream, and they make their own brioche! I actually like the desserts there better than the regular menu! Good luck!
What to do with leftover Risotto?
you're thinking of arancini! balls of risotto stuffed with cheese or other goodness then breaded and fried. Have you ever tried baking them? It should work. Won't be as delicious, but it should work. Also, you don't need a cast iron skillet or a non-stick pan to fry things. Just a lot of oil!
What's the best place for breakfast in Montreal
I'm pretty sure they cure their own meats at Griffintown, which is probably why their bacon is so kick ass.
What's the best place for breakfast in Montreal
Does the menu still list their eggs benedict made with "hollandaise" It's made from powder, but if you like that stuff I guess their benedict is decent.
Mid-range to high-end Montreal restos: personal reccos
As it is offered on the menu of Biron (located where duel was, the chef is David Biron) I'd bet it was a Biron dish. Especially b/c Biron likes the Asian ingredients more than Godbout. Perhaps it was a collaboration?
Caplanskys on College St - impressions?
I'm sorry, but Dunn's is not authentic Montreal smoked meat. Dunn's is mass produced for an inferior deli chain. If you want authentic Montreal smoked meat, Schwartz's offers a fed ex service. I'm a Montrealer and a food snob, but I'd be game to give Caplansky's ago. Keeping in mind, of course, that it's not supposed to be like Schwartz's and that the dude clearly has little restaurant experience.
good macarons, seriously.
I live in Montreal and I'm in Toronto for a quick visit. Being a patissiere, I can't help but check out most bakeries I see. I passed by Labamboche earlier today and went in to check out their macarons. I didn't taste one, but their appearance was somewhat appalling. They have the feet and they're round, sure, but you can tell they don't pass their almond flour through an etamine because you can see the chunks! That's just pure laziness and makes for a seriously inferior macaron. A proper pastry chef always takes the extra few minutes to pass the almond flour through an etamine! It makes the tops smooth just like they should be! I can't say I'm surprised to find these blasphemies here in Toronto- Land of inferior baguettes and croissant. If you're going to do it, do it right! Come on guys!
I have to say I'm sort of sad to see that the macaron is becoming the new cupcake. It's the new "in" dessert, so many shops are popping up and they just don't bother to take the time to make them properly. It's a down right shame. There's a reason why we Montrealers are so snobby about pastry and confectioneries! It's much easier to find the proper thing almost everywhere in Montreal!
What's wrong with our lox?
Lox is the Jewish word for smoked salmon. You're thinking of gravlox which is cured salmon. Looks the same, but it's not smoked.
ISO the best soup in Montreal
Marche 27 on Prince Arthur has great soups in the winter!
Plateau Area - Best Brunch
I used to frequent Fruits Folie when I lived around there many years ago. It's really only ok though. Yes, there is a lot of fresh fruit on the plate, but other than that the ingredients leave a lot to be desired. Has anyone noticed that their benedicts are served with "hollandaise sauce"? Yes, that's right...in quotations. Now, I know what real hollandaise tastes like, and I know what the powdered stuff tastes like. I'm 100%sure that FF uses the powdered stuff. Now, if you take into account that a benedict usually costs around $12, and you factor in water and powder into that, the profit on the benedict at FF is HUGE! Perhaps they sell a lot of benedicts thereby allowing them to serve fresh fruit on the plates and still stay opened. Although, there are many a restaurant in this city that remain open and serve a lot of fresh fruit on each plate, and they manage to stay open.
Montreal Jewish Food [Split from Toronto]
I'm not a fan of the Main unless it's after the bar. They deep fry their verenekas (perogies) and their chicken soup is made from powder. It's NOTHING like bubby used to make.
Montreal Mile End Bakery Tour
Yes, I've been to all those places, 98% of them are chains. I used to go to a place on Van Horne that had great croissants, but I can't remember the name. It's just east of Outremont metro. For cannoli I go to San Marco in little Italy. There's one other place in the mile end with good almond croissant. It's on St-Viateur on the South side west of St-Urbain. It's really small and cute. I can't remember the name...something with an M.
Who makes the best sandwiches in town?
Santropol used to be good. These days it's pretty much crap.
Sheet Cakes for The Wedding
Any bakery will do that. Just order a small cake and as many sheet cakes as you need. That way they will cover the sheet cake and wedding cake in the same colour fondant.
Montreal Mile End Bakery Tour
Pssshhh...the poster who detailed the mile-end pastry tour listed Toi Moi Et Cafe as a good breakfast joint. While I think they have amazing coffee, I've never had a less than DISGUSTING breakfast experience there.
Save Coco Locale and Cheskie's, mile end really isn't a bakery destination. I live here and have for many years and I go elsewhere when I want good pastry.
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Toi Moi & Cafe
244 Av Laurier W, Montreal, QC H2T2N8, CA
Toi Moi Et Cafe
2695 Rue Notre-Dame W, Montreal, QC H3J1N9, CA
Strong, hard Quebec cheeses
Victor and Berthold reserve is amazing. THe regular one is delicious but mellow, but the reserve one is f-ing amazing.
Where's the best burger in Montreal
I think Buns is a great burger for $4! They get their buns specially made, and their patties are most certainly not of the frozen costco variety, at least not last time I checked. They are on the small side, but well spiced and made there. Are they the best burger in the city? No. I don't think this city really has a great burger joint. Meat Market is ok, but they use Portuguese rolls for buns which are delicious with the right filling, but don't stand up to a juicy patty. I've asked them to toast it, but they rarely seem to do that right (they toasted the top once) so the bun gets soggy and the burger falls apart. La Paryse is ok, but the patty lacks the charbroiled taste and it's too thin to really be in the same category as a burger you can sink your teeth into. Also, they put raw mushrooms on every burger which I think it disgusting.
Marche 27 used to have a great burger stuffed with blue cheese. They use bakery style onion buns (unless they run out, which happens sometimes) and they toast them so they stand up well to the meat. Greasy Spoon (same owners) usually has a burger on it's daily menu and it's almost always good. I haven't tried to burger at Griffintown, but I know the chef cures and smokes a lot of his own meat so anything with housemade bacon is sure to be a hit. Not a huge fan of lamb meat though...does anyone know if the flavour is heavy on the lamb?
Don't even get me started on the crap they serve at MBRGR. Granted, I've only had the AA meat and it's not terrible, but I just can't get over the fact that they serve their expensive burgers on an Italiano bun...the very same crappy kind you buy in the grocery store. Even toasted those excuses for buns fall apart after two bites. I can't justify paying $9 for a burger with no toppings and no sides when it has such a poor quality bun.
I'm still searching for the perfect burger in MOntreal. I have yet to find it.
