marblebag's Profile
Coupons and Deals
I had coupons for Troika with LivingSocial and they also refunded me in full when I claimed it before the expiration date. Supposedly Troika died April 30 and is replaced by "L'Avalanche".
Food Events & Festivals in Quebec & Montreal - 2012 Master List
Sweet occasion to revisit Araucaria and Ta Chido.
Visiting Montreal Mid-April - Must visits please
My taste level in bread may not be as developed or advanced as it is for croissants. I tried everything at Guillaume but found nothing worth the detour. I go to Rhubarbe quite often but there's nothing for me at Le Fromentier.
I forgot about ArHoMa they do make really good breads.
Visiting Montreal Mid-April - Must visits please
The Mamie Clafoutis croissant is better than supermarket but not at the level of the 3 I mentionned. YMMV.
Last-Minute Itinerary Advice
If you are near Chez Claudette then you are not very far from Fous Desserts for pastries and croissants and Patisserie Rhubarbe for cakes.
Grumman 78 Food Court @ Faubourg
Bangkok stopped being delicious 2 years ago. Now it's just a thai express.
Jean-Talon Market 2012
Easily is relative to your luck and skill because in a class the pastry chef at Europea still managed to burn one batch of meringue.
Grumman 78 Food Court @ Faubourg
I didn't like the banh mi taco last year from the truck but they said they changed the recipe.
I tried the lamb curry taco (good but too soggy for the single tortilla) and sweet potato fries with garlic sauce. I had to ask for salt as the fries were too sweet.
I spent 6 years in California eating from taco trucks so I too miss the regular fare but I don't think it's what they want to do.
It's not food court food but the rent is cheaper there so why not. Yuki Ramen is a better deal but not the same food.
Opinion on best burger bun?
Get the owner at Picks to give you some of his buns.
Ask the Antep Kebab owner to bake you some of his bread.
Best food experiences Montreal for the money spent ...on a budget
This is a good list to start with.
I would not rate Magpie as best pizza. Il Focolaio in downtown is better IMHO.
If you eat alone you should go to Kazu near Guy metro for inventive japanese. Chinatown 2 has a lot of interesting asian cuisine in general.
There are 25$ specials for downtown lunch at Ariel, Decca77 and La Coupole.
Personally I wouldn't consider your selection "budget" so if you want to spend less, let us know.
Montreal baked goods - specific questions
If you are going to Rhubarbe there is Le Formentier nearby although not in my top 10 but YMMV. Also on 1459 Mont-Royal est is Patisserie 3M. They have a unique viennoiserie called bichon au citron. They have cakes, a lunch menu, chocolates and the best madeleine in town.
Have you heard of M4 Burritos?
Are you a good burrito roller? Maybe you can be a roller for hire or catering.
Late Night Dining
Where in downtown are you? Are you willing to walk a bit and reach the Old Port, le Plateau, Chinatown 1 & 2, and Griffintown?
Restaurant Openings in 2011
In my last conversation with Kazu he siad Guu will not be coming to Montreal after all. The space will be used by a nearby sports restaurant for a sandwich shop.
Openings in 2012
It's been a while but we can do a Chow meet up this Sunday. If you don't like Grumman there are other choices like Yuki Ramen.
I didn't like Grumman's "banh mi" pork taco last year but I will give it another try.
Le Filet
I went their 6 times in 2011. I went with friends in groups of 4. We tried 12-20 different dishes every time with 1-2 bottles of wine.
Half the menu is good and I did order them again when I dined alone. The only real failure is the grilled octopus.
Top Chef Texas -- Reunion
Heather is a bully that advocates bullying because it made Ty-Lor a better man and chef?
Aren't we against bullying as a society? Is it acceptable in the restaurant world ?
QING HUA DUMPLING
In the old days when they were in the basement location on St-Marc, everything was made to order which meant longer wait times for your order to be ready.
Staying at St. Catherine and Fort, where to go?
You are in Chinatown 2 so if you like Asian food then you can try the following
Maison Bulgogi for Korean
Cuisine Szechuan, Kan Bai, Maison du Nord, Qing Hua dumplings, Pret a Manger
Imadake at Atwater and Ste-Catherine if you can't get into Kazu
Other non asian choices include Antep Kebab for Turkish grilled meats, Thali for home style Indian, Poulet Bronze for fried chicken, Crudessence for raw.
Visiting Montreal Mid-April - Must visits please
For croissants: Fous Desserts, Cerise sur le Gateau, Kouign Amann.
For pastries (viennoiseries): Pain Dore, Premiere Moisson, Patisserie 3M.
For cakes: Rhubarbe, Fous Desserts, Cocoa Locale.
For bread: Pain Dore for their 36 hours, Premiere Moisson.
For macaron: La maison du macaron, Point G, Europea boutique in Old Montreal.
For chocolates: Chocolats de Chloe, Genevieve Grandbois ($$$) & Fous Desserts if you prefer Valrhona. Marius & Fanny if you prefer Callebaut/Cacao Barry.
Personally I don't find Guillaume and Le Formentier exciting enough. I tried one of everything at both places.
has anyone been to "HOTDOG GUYSss"?
Overpriced tacos will not be popular with students.
Top Chef Texas - Ep. #14 - 02/08/12 (Spoilers)
Steve Jobs is wired differently. Should Bev create the next iWok ?
Montreal after midnight this Friday, suggestions?
If you go to Schwartz I will walk with you, I live up the street from your hotel, on the way to it.
Food Events & Festivals in Quebec & Montreal - 2012 Master List
Your theory about Barry/Callebaut is sound. Chloe, Grandbois and Fous Desserts all use Valrhona chocolates.
I didn't enjoy the Christophe Morel macarons but I liked the crispy cookies bits in white chocolate from Barry.
Kazu izakaya: OISHIII!!!
You can chat up Kazu about the expansion but many have failed. He wants to open a 2nd joint once he finds replacement for the FOH. It would be a lunch only place with an emphasis on bento box (a conversation last year).
At Kazu onirigi is made from steamed rice and soy sauce and a rotating mystery ingredient. You can always ask what is in that day's mix. I have had cooked tuna, mustard greens, pickled mushrooms, salmon calcium (pickled crushed bones), and egg which is a special order for omuraisu.
Openings in 2012
It's actually on Bleury and de Maisonneuve, under the new Louis Boheme condo.
Coupons and Deals
Pikolo Espresso Bar on Parc and Sherbrooke posted a sign they will give samples of their espresso on Saturday Feburary 25 as part of the Nuit Blanche event, from 9pm to midnight.
Kazu izakaya: OISHIII!!!
Onigiri does come loosely wrapped in nori sheets. The grilled meat on rice in a bowl is probably their bibimbap which is ok. The gyoza master no longer works there; she went back to Japan after her grandma died and Kazu told me she has a restaurant. The tofu/vege bowl should have the same flavors as the salmon&tuna bowl but I've never had it.
Did you get the super waitress "Taoke" ? She's the least quiet one.
It doesn't look like Guu will be moving into the old U&Me accross the street, it got bought out by the owner of a nearby sports bar.
Rumors abound about the sale of Schwartz's
I expect to see a revamped interior with modern seating and plastic smoked meat models hanging in the windows. All the food will be prepared in a warehouse and shipped ready for reheating to locations accross the world. Maybe it's time I eat there at least once in my life.
Quiche Lorraine
If you like butter, go for the Quiche at Kouign-Amann on Mont-Royal & Drolet.
