Ambrosia Apple, Where Art Thou?

Fellow hounds,

If you see any place in Montreal that is selling Ambrosia apples, please let me know. Back in 2005, I went to Vancouver for a vacation and came across their local apple. After one bite, I was immediately hooked. When I came back to Montreal, I was delighted to discover ambrosia apples in my local Loblaws.

Ever since then, every Autumn, I've been able to find ambrosia apples in various outlets in Montreal. However, this year, I have yet to see my favorite seasonal fruit. If you see this apple, I strongly recommend you try it (and let me know where to buy it, of course). After one bite, you'll probably fall love with it like I did, too.

For more info on Ambrosia Apples, see here:

http://www.bctree.com/pressroom/downloads/AppleNewsletter-1.pdf

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Best Chopped Livah in Montreal?

I went to Dad's Bagels on Sherbrooke last night just to get some chopped liver (wanted to try Kpzoo's suggestion, but hauling ass out to Cote St. Luc was not in the cards).

I tried some of Dad's version last night, and I'm a bit disappointed. It's a little bit sweet. Not nearly as sweet as Solly's version, but there is that hint of it.

Bomobob, what are the ingredients in Dad's chopped liver? The container has no label at all aside from the price. There's no list of ingredients, which I believe may technically be illegal.

Anyway, the product isn't bad, but I prefer Reuban's version.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Schwartz take out now open

On November 1st, I stopped by the take-out section and ordered 1 lb of medium cold sliced to go. The smoked meat was delicious, with a good marbling of fat, and was juicy and tender. I was there in the mid-morning, just before the lunch crowd hit, and service was quick and polite.

In sharp contrast to that experience, I stopped by on November 7th, around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, and it was a disaster. The place was crowded and people were confused about where to order. Last time, I had gone to the deli counter to order, and then paid at the cash. I did the same and was told that I had to order at the cash now. So back in line I went, I get to the cash and was faced with the surly clerk who was rude and unfriendly (not just to me, but to the others in line - some of whom were tourists). In a conversation with his cutters, he said that he had a migraine. Though that may excuse his behaviour somewhat, I still think he should have made more of an effort to be polite.

I had to wait over half an hour to get my order, and when I finally got it, I discovered that the cutter had made a mistake, and had given me less that what I ordered. I had to wait some more to get the remaining order as that he started making sandwhiches and ignored me. I'm a patient person, but I finally got fed up and made it known before he got back to me. Then, to make matters worse, when I get home, I discover that instead of 2 1/2 lbs of medium smoked meat, I got 2 1/2 lbs of lean, which is dry and as tasty as old shoe leather! The meat is drier than the Sahara dessert, and as about as tasty! Seriously, the meat is not good at all. It's crumbly in texture, and completely unappetizing. I'm considering throwing it out because I have no interest in eating it. However, that would be a waste of food and money, so I'm forcing myself to eat it. I even threw in some slices of meat into my ramen noodles in hopes that the hot broth would impart some flavor, but the meat is still dry and uninteresting.

So, anybody got any ideas on how to save this debacle?

BTW, the new take out section is poorly organized and designed - both in layout of the resto and in the personnel. Across from the deli counter are two fridges stacked with cold drinks. Patrons are suppose to get their drinks from the fridge themselves and bring it to the cash for the clerk to scan, so the computer can input the price. Since there is no sign stating where and how to order, people place their order at the cash and are then told that they have to go to the fridge to get the drink to come back to the cash and then pay! Not only is this confusing, but it's massively inconvenient when the place is packed because the patron now has to force his way through the crowd to get the fridge to get his drink! And then s/he still has to get back to the cash to complete the order!

What a load of merde!

At the back of the resto is a spacious section with counters along the wall for the patrons to go and eat their sandwhiches. They are no chairs at all for anyone to sit. This is a waste of space and resources in my opinion. This place is suppose to be for take-away, but all they've done is create a place for customers to "take-away" their orders to the back of the resto and eat standing up! If you're going to do that, you might as well as place chairs and let people have some comfort while eating.

Personally, I think they should make the place a true take-away joint. Get rid of the eat-in section at the back, and allocate it for more deli counters and staff. This way, service will be faster, and people can truly order and take away their food.

If anyone is interested in getting Schwartz t-shirts, you have to go the regular resto to get it. Some poor schmuck stood in a long line, wasted his time, and got to the cash only to be told that they didn't sell t-shirts there and that he had to go to the other side to buy a t-shirt.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Reuben's Deli report

I was at Reuban's (the trendy renovated one near the theatre) recently for a colleague's birthday lunch. One of my other colleagues ordered the smoked meat poutine. He quite enjoyed it and allowed me to sample a bite. It wasn't bad, but it's salty as hell. Due to the salt from the gravy, and the salt from the smoked meat, this dish is thirst inducing! Better order a glass of water and a soda on the side for this one.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Best Chopped Livah in Montreal?

Thanks, everyone, for all the replies and suggestions. My tastebuds thank you, but not my cholesterol level! Gadzooks, why is it that the tastiest things are always bad for you?

Lagatta, the only Chenoy's that I know of is on Taschereau blvd in Brossard, not far from Champlain Mall.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Best Chopped Livah in Montreal?

Goy that I am, and growing up with few jewish friends or acquaintances, I never knew the delights of chopped livah. Also, when I was a kid, I didn't like liver, so probably wouldn't have eaten it anyway, even if someone did introduce it to me.

As an adult, I finally started to like liver, and was often curious about the chopped liver offered in many of our deli restaurants. However, like a movie you always meant to see, but never quite do, I never ordered it.

Last month, when I was in National, the grocery store in Westmount, I saw Solly's chopped liver, and bought a container. The liver was perfectly cooked - lightly, and you could still see the pink of it - and had a great texture. Unfortunately, it was way too sweet for my taste. Solly's uses a lot of honey in their chopped liver, and this, to me, was a turn-off. Still, the product was tasty enough that I wanted to try chopped liver again, but by another grocery/restaurant.

I tried a teaspoon of Dunn's restaurant's chopped liver (at the new location on Decarie, you can try before you buy). It too, was slightly sweet. I then ordered an entree size version at Reuban's (the renovated trendy one on St. Catherine - can't try before you buy there) and end up really liking it. Reuban's version is savory and doesn't contain honey as far as I know. Also, I think they use beef liver and not chicken, which I think Dunn's uses.

I went to Schwartz's this Saturday, and the new take-out delivery section is well underway, but kinda chaotic as people don't know whether to order at the cash, or to go directly to the deli counter. Anyhow, I was surprised to see that Schwartz's doesn't offer any chopped liver.

So, mes amis, where else can I find good chopped liver in our fair city?

Let me know, and thanks.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Pesto in Montreal?

Hello Hounders,

Due to a lot of hecticness this summer (had to move, had to go out of town for a family wedding, plus my own procastination), I failed to make my batches of pesto. I've noticed that there is still some basil being sold at JTM, but those basil plants are stringly and don't look particularly good.

Are there any places that sell good pesto in Montreal? Or is there some kind hearted Mtl Hound that is willing to sell some of their surplus pesto?

Let me know.

Chai

P.S. If there are still places that have good basil, let me know, too.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Balti! Need balti!

"If you know of any more conveniently located restaurants serving decent balti of any sort, please share the good news. In the meantime, I'm going to look into making my own. No wonder it's all the rage in the UK."

Oh, my fellow chowhounders, can it be that none of you have had balti curries till now? Given the breadth and depth of knowledge that many of you have shown regarding all matters culinary, I'm kinda of shocked! :O

Anyway, I bring good news. There are two places that serve balti curries in downtown Montreal, brothers and sisters. One is Curry House on Bishop, and the other is the indian restaurant down the street from Chapters. The indian resto is on Peel, and is located downstairs. It's next to a pub, if memory serves. The name of the resto escapes me now.

Anyway, I use to dine relatively often at the resto on Peel, and back then they made quite good balti curries (note that I haven't been back in a long time; so what the Balti dishes are like now, I can't say). I haven't eaten at Curry House in a while, but I do remember ordering a balti dish there. If you don't see Balti on the menu at Curry House, don't worry, just ask Ben, the owner, and he can probably whip one up for you. My understanding is that CH offers some indian dishes that are not on their menu. Why they do this, I don't know. Ben, though, has told me on more than one occaision that if there's something I want that's not on the menu, just ask him. Be sure to ask him, though, as that the wait staff at CH can be a rather odd lot, and may not be as accomdating as Ben.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Home-made fried onion rings

Hard Rock Cafe makes home made onion rings. I haven't had the ones at Hard Rock Cafe in years, but if memory serves, they're pretty good. Thick chunks of onion rings, breaded in a salt and pepper breading.

I think Reuban's Deli (the updated trendier looking one on St. Catherine street) also makes home made onion rings, too. I remember having them a couple of months ago, and they were alright.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

lobster rolls

Hi,

O'Bistro on Monkland in Monkland Village serves lobster rolls. I was in the hood yesterday afternoon and noticed that lobster rolls were on the menu. I was standing outside on the street gazing at the chalkboard menu, and noticed this item. I don't know how much it costs, though, as that people were obstructing my view.

I think their lobster roll may be more in line with the typical standard recipe, and not the wretched excess that APDC serves! Probably less expensive, too.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Pear Cider in Montreal?

Hi Gang,

I was wondering...do any of you know where I can get pear cider in Montreal? I've checked a few SAQs, and no luck so far. I know the liquor stores in Ontario carry some pear cider, and several different brand of hard ciders besides. I've only really seen Quebec's apple ice cider, which is delicious, btw, but it surprises me that no enterprising Quebec ciderie hasn't produced this product yet. Quebec can easily produce several different varieties of apple and/or pear cider.

So if you know of any places that offer different types of cider, please let us know.

Thanks.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Cheese Cake

My local favorite Korean resto, Maison Seoul in Westmount (on Sherbrooke and Grey), offers desserts made by Delice et Dawn. They offer a variety of asian and caucasian desserts. From the caucasian side, there's Funky Lemon Tiger cake, Chocolate Banana Cake, and the Raspberry Cheesecake. I think there's one or two more desserts, but I can't remember them.

Anyway, I suggest you go to this restaurant, order their Dolsot Bebimbap (they make the best in the city, imo), and get a piece of Raspberry cheesecake for dessert. This way you get to taste the cake, and eat delicious dolsot bibimbap, too!

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Monkland Village

I've never had a tamale before, but always wanted to try one. I guess my craving comes from watching the Bugs Bunny Road Runner cartoons as a kid, and watching Speedy Gonzales, the fast little mouse always rave about tamales!

Anyway, what are tamales like Supermarche Andes? I noticed they offer more than one variety. Is there one you would recommend in particular?

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

CRAVING: Looking for the Single, Absolute BEST...

"I'm still looking for a piece of good, ole fashioned chocolate fudge cake. You know, the kind Woolworth's used to make. Anyone????"

Alas, I never had chocolate fudge cake from Woolworth's. But President's Choice brand from Loblaws makes a decent chocolate cake with chocolate fudge icing. I got one yesterday and had it with a glass of milk - it was quite yummy.

See pic:

http://www.presidentschoice.ca/FoodAndRecipes/GreatFood/ProductDetails.aspx/id/19264/name/PCChocolateCake/catid/187

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Monkland Village

"Yeah. Forget Monkland, how about first-rate Mexican anywhere in the city? The only time I've ever encountered it was when the place now known as Taqueria Mex (St-Laurent just south of Marie-Anne) first opened. Don't recall the name but it was a branch of a Malibu taqueria. They had their own tortilla machine, used good cheese, had no fear of chiles, had frijoles down pat and knew how to marinate and grill meat. My then neighbour from Guadalajara refused to eat anywhere else. The current operators are decidedly lacklustre. After taking over, the first thing they did was ditch the tortilla machine and it's been downhill ever since."

What about SuperMarche Andes just up the street from Taqueria? I ate there for the very first time last Saturday. It's a little grocery store/resto. They offer a variety of latin american grocery items, and in the resto a bunch of tasty looking dishes, as well. They even have tamales and churros. I ordered a chicken fajita and a mango drink, which came out to eight bucks and change. The fajita was heated up on the grill, then placed on a plate, which was then covered in black beans, shredded and stewed chicken in a tomatoey based sauce, shredded iceberg lettuce, mild salsa, a guacamole type sauce, and a quarter slice of avocado. The fajita was served open faced, and given the mound of toppings and various sauces, definitely had to be eaten with a knife and fork. It was a bit too salty for my tastes, but otherwise it wasn't bad. The next time I'm in that area, I'll try a tamale.

Anybody else eat there?

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Indian restaurants in downtown montreal

I meant to reply to this a while back, but better late than never...

"But the server acted like he was our picky mother-in-law, criticizing our order or making snarky comments ("get the nan, not paratha", -well for health reasons, i have to order the paratha or no bread at all- "that's all you are going to eat?" -well it is a weekday, and we are not hungry-). It was really grating since we were the only customers they had. We thought they would be "nicer"."

Yeah, the servers at Curry House are a bit odd. A couple of times, while dining there and trying to place an order for various dishes, they actually try and discourage me! I'm not sure what's going on, whether they think I can't eat it all (and I can't, but I know that and will happily bring home the leftovers) or that I could do with eating less (like many a chowhounder, I've got a few extra pounds, but I'm not obese), or if they know that the kitchen staff can't make that dish well, or they're running low on ingredients, but it is annoying. You'd think that they'd encourage the client to order more, not less!

It sounds like you got the reverse of their usual schtick - "That's all you are going to eat?" If you had gone during a slow time, they may have indeed been a real "slow time" for them (i.e. not many customers, so resto not doing well), and they wanted you to order more to padd the bill.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Honeys at the Market?

No, no, get your mind out of the gutter, it's not that type of topic. Besides, even if it were, the Chowhound naz- uh, mods, would remove it.

Anyway, has anyone been able to find apple blossom honey or pear blossom honey at either the Jean Talon or Atwater Markets? I see all the usual suspects at the stalls at JTM and ATW ones - clover, buckwheat, blueberry, mixed, wild, but I can't find apple blossom or pear blossom honeys. I saw a jar of apple blossom honey at the Metro grocery store on Victoria in Westmount, but I found it pricey - almost $12.

So can anyone recommend any particular types of honey, and/or a store/stall at one of the markets?

Thanks.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Big Salad

I'm not crazy about the salads at "Chop Crazy" either. Believe or not, decent salads can be had at Celine Dion's restaurant, Nickel's. I haven't had one in a while, but the last time I had one, it was the Cobb Salad, and it was pretty tasty. Large portion too, with a large price tag, to boot (roughly $15, if memory serves). The cobb salad was so big, that I was eating it for two lunches. Back when I had it, they didn't skimp on ingredients either; a chopped egg was a whole sliced chopped egg, and not the little itty-bitty egg bits that Chop Crazy serves up.

According to Nickel's menu, they offer:

Garden Salad:
Spring garden greens tossed with
shredded carrots, tomatoes, red onions,
green peppers and garlic croutons,
topped with Monterey Jack cheese.
Your choice of dressing.

Greek Salad:
Spring garden greens with tomatoes,
cucumbers, Kalamata olives,
green peppers, red onions,
feta cheese and Greek dressing.

Caesar Salad:
Crisp romaine lettuce tossed in our
creamy Caesar dressing, with garlic
croutons and freshly grated Parmesan
cheese.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad:
The classic combination of crisp
romaine lettuce, garlic croutons
& grated Parmesan, all tossed in
a creamy Caesar dressing. Topped
with a charbroiled chicken
breast.

Salmon Salad:
Atlantic salmon filet on top of mixed
field greens in balsamic dressing with
cucumbers and tomatoes.

Santa Fe Fiesta:
Spring garden greens tossed in ranch
dressing, topped with strips of
charbroiled seasoned chicken breast
and Monterey Jack cheese surrounded
by tortilla chips. With guacamole
& sour cream.

Cobb Salad:
Spring garden greens tossed with diced
grilled chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs,
chickpeas, cucumbers, Kalamata olives
and tomatoes, covered with Monterey
Jack cheese.

The Garden, Greek, and Caesar salads can be ordered in regular portions or meal size. I believe the other salads only come in meal size. The meal size salads range from about 10-15 dollars, I think (prices are not listed on the online menu). But the cobb salad I ordered was about $15.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Indian restaurants in downtown montreal

When I'm in the mood for Indian food, I usually go to Curry House on Bishop street. It's downtown, not far from the Concordia campus. The food's really great, the naan soft and tender, and the butter chicken is fab. Ben the owner of Curry House, once told me that the folks that run Etoile des Indes on St. Catherine are former employees of his. They worked for him, gained sufficient knowledge and experience, and moved on to their own establishment.

BTW, how was you experience at Etoile? A few years back, I had their lunch special - a beef curry with a nan, and it wasn't very good at all. It was so lacklustre that I've never been back since. Maybe I went on an off day, though.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Andouillette

There's a litle butcher store inside Atwater market, diagonally across from the sausage shop (Walter something or other), which sells Andouillette. I know because I accidentally bought some a while back. The store had labelled the sausage as "Andouille", and I thought I was getting the spicy canjun sausage. But it was in fact, Andouillette. I never ate it, though. I left it in my fridge, saw those innards in the sausage slice - yummy for you, not so much for me - and couldn't bring myself to eat it. After a while, I just tossed it. Fortunately, the slice I got was small, about 3 bucks worth, so it wasn't a lot of money being tossed.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Decently priced cookies en masse?

Well, sorry for the late reply, but I had misplaced the book.

If you are still interested in getting some cookies and other goodies at a discounted price, here are some places.

Note that all the info comes from the Smart Shopping Montreal book. Also, I haven't been to these stores/outlets, so I can't personally vouch for them.

Biscuits Rondeau
2912 Boul Industriel, Laval
corner: Berlier
Tel: 450-662-3003 or 450-662-3596
Hrs: Mon-Fri 7-6; Sat 8-4

Dad's oatmeal cookies - various flavors. There's also biscotti and sugar pies for sale. A 390 gr pie was $1.95. You can also buy the dough and bake it yourself, or just buy the ingredients. All items are factory priced.

Christie Magasin d' Economies
3055 Viau
corner: Sherbrooke
Tel: 514-259-6921
Hrs: Mon, Thurs, & Fri 8-6; Tues 6-6; Wed 7-6; Sat 9-4

Fudgee O's, Oreos, Ritz crackers and other Mr. Christie goodies for half price. The factory has a real outlet store, where cartloads of overruns are moved each day.

Cantor's Cash & Carry
8575 8th Avenue
corner: Blvd Robert
Tel: 514-374-2700
Hrs: Daily 6 a.m. til 12 a.m.

Offers 50% off day old goods. Boston cake or Mocha bar cake for $4.95; honey twist donuts are 6 for .99 cents. Pies for $3.25 and cake trimmings (the edges that are cut off to give the cake the right shape) are only $2 for mill feuilles or cheesecake. There's also cake trimmings from chocolate, orange, and cherry, and cost even less. If you spend over $25 on Mon-Wed, you get an additional 10% off.

Les Delices La Frenaie
8405 Lafrenaie
corner: Jarry
Tel: 514-324-8039
Hrs: Mon-Fri 6-4; Sat 6-2

This place sells some of their cakes to Loblaws (apparently some Loblaws don't bake their own cakes and outsource to other bakeries). This bakery offers baci, brownie cheesecake, frutti di bosco, chantilly cream, tiramisu, carrot, heavenly berry, hugs and kisses, banana crumb...etc in 8 inch or 10 inch sizes. Cakes for more than 20 people can be ordered in advance. Best deals are the apple, lemon, chocholate chip, or cinnamon marble cakes for only $7.59. There's also amaretti biscotti and pizza available.

Magasin Economique (Vachon)
4640 St. Catherine East
Corner: Aird
Tel: 514-256-6066
Hrs: Mon-Sat 10-5; Sun 12-5

Chocolate swiss rolls, May West, Joe Louis, Whippets, Viau, McCormicks, and Vachon cookies and cakes can be bought for half price. There are other locations too, check out www.vachon.com

Hope the above helps. And of course, if any other Chowhounder should venture to any of these places, report back with your findings!

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Decently priced cookies en masse?

If you check out the Smart Shopping Montreal book, there's a whole section on where you can buy brand name cookies en masse at a discounted price. I have the book, but unfortunately don't have it here with me at work right now. Alas, I don't have internet at home, so I won't be able to post the info tonight.

If you can wait till tomorow, I'll get back to you then. Also, if memory serves, these places/bakeries aren't located in the Plateau area or downtown.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

bread pudding

YMMV, obviously.

As for boycotting... in the past, I've only ever eaten Le Fournil's pumpkin pie, cornbread, and brownie. The pumpkin pie was not sweet enough and on the pricey side; the cornbread was good, but I could never finish the loaf before it went stale; and the brownie was alright, but nothing that would make me go out of the way for it. Therefore, that and the original poster's comments make me avoid LF.

If anyone else wants to eat at LF, well obviously, that's his/her's choice.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

bread pudding

"Why pay top dollar for veggies that are going to be cut up and cooked?"

Well, the fresher the veggie, the better the taste, even if it's going to be cut up and cooked.

"Why not take the savings and pick through the veg and pull off the less than perfect parts. I'm sure this is more common than you'd think. It is not as though they use rancid produce."

I'm sure that this practice is not uncommon at all. I'm sure that even we homecooks will chop off the bad parts of a carrot and use the remainder instead of just wasting an entire carrot. As for the rancid produce, I'm guessing that Le Fournil wouldn't do that as that would definitely show up in the quality of the product. However, that said, the original poster's comments implied a lack of freshness and a lack of quality and care regarding Fournil's products. Personally, I don't want to eat - or spend my hard earned money - on bakery items that are of poor or questionable quality.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

bread pudding

"Is there anywhere I can buy it?"

You can buy some bread pudding at Le Fournil, a bakery on Victoria Street in Westmount/NDG.

One caveat though, according to another chowhounder, Le Fournil has somewhat dodgy practices. If memory serves, there was a post from another mtl chowhounder that stated that Le Fournil's day old bread was more than just a day old. Also, that they used cheap, near spoiling veggies and fruits in their products. Whether this is true or not, I don't know. In the past, I use to purchase an item or two from them (Le Fournil is a bit on the pricey side), but must admit that since that post, I haven't shopped there.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Cabane a Sucre Recommendations?

Well, if anybody's interested in purchasing maple syrup direct from the producer, go to:

www.lessucreriesideales.ca

This company, Ideal Sweets, also produces butter, smoked salmon, and other goods. They are located in Ham-Nord, QC. You can see the catalog, but they don't list their prices. To order, you have to create an online account on their website. This company has won some awards for their maple syrup.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Cabane a Sucre Recommendations?

Thanks, Venusia. The price isn't that bad when you consider that it covers transportation, meal, and sleigh ride.

BTW, on a slightly tangential note, while reading this Saturday's classifieds in The Gazette, I noticed an add for buying maple syrup direct from the producer. Most of us get our maple syrup from JTM or Atwater Market vendors, but I guess if anyone wants/needs to buy in bulk, this may be a point of inquiry.

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

bread pudding

Yup, a couple of times. It's a great way to use up left over bread, or bread that's gone a bit stale. I can't recall any recipes off hand, but the basis of it is this:

1) grease pan with butter
2) throw in cubed bread or leave it in slices
3) make a custard base, using milk or cream, eggs, some butter, sugar to taste, vanilla extract, and/or spices to taste (most people put in some ground cinnamon)
4) optional to add: fruit of your choice
5) bake in the oven till done - i.e. golden brown
6) eat as is, or serve with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)

Bibimbap Roundup

I was at Maison Seoul last night, too. I was there between 6:00-7:00 pm. After writing up the summary about dolsot bibimbap, it put me in the mood for it again, so I went to MS. I didn't end up ordering the dolsot bibimbap, though. Instead, I decide to try something new, the Unagi Donburi dish. Which is very similiar to the dolsot bibimbap, but instead of bulgogi, there's grilled eel instead. Also, in place of spring mix salad leaves, there's seaweed, and in place of the raw egg yolk, there's fish roe. No hot sauce on the side, but a terrayaki based sauce was already in the dish.

Unfortunately, I didn't like Unagi Donburi. I've never had it before at any restaurant, so there's no basis for comparison. I don't believe that Maison Seoul messed up the dish as that everytime I've been there, I've always received great food and service. I think this dish just isn't to my personal preferances, that's all. The eel tasted "muddy" for a lack of a better word. There was an aftertaste that I found unpleasant. The terrayaki sauce was also not to my liking. It was salty and oddly astringent at the same time. I ate about a third of the dish and stopped.

My table was next to a man that had the sniffles. Unfortunately, he didn't blow his nose, but kept sniffling (snorting really) for about a good ten minutes. Geez, I wish people would remember to bring kleenex when they have a cold, or when they know they're going to eat spicy food!

Anyway, if anyone else goes to Maison Seoul, remember to get the dolsot bibimbap - it's sure to please! I know I wish I had gotten it last night!

Chai Latte in Quebec (including Montreal)