Results tagged “Montreal”

By: Virgina Bostock

Image source: Flickr

A tapestry of cultural foods has worked its way into Montreal's reality. We have come to expect pleasant surprises when we choose to dine out. We are rarely disappointed! While there are many "down home" variety of restaurants, dynamic restaurants from these many cultures are represented by popular, highly recommended eateries. In a continuation of exploring these many cultures, my investigations will, once again, be separated by regions.

This article concentrates on East Asia consisting of China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia and Tibet. Not every country has dedicated its cuisine to one particular restaurant variety, but has, instead, created a fusion of cultures within one ranking. The most represented culture is Chinese. Montreal's Chinatown is small in comparison to those in other Canadian cities, such as Toronto and Vancouver, but it is a vibrant community nestled in between downtown, the business district and Old Montreal. There are many large and small restaurants, specialty stores and community centres as well as Montreal's Chinese Hospital. The south shore district of Brossard has the largest Chinese population, by district, ranking at 12% of the population. Other East Asian cultures have not taken up residence in any specific borough in Montreal.

While the Japanese population is very small in Montreal, its foods, extremely popular worldwide, are very well represented with in excess of 175 listed restaurants. Sushi, generally attributed to the Japanese, has infiltrated every Asian community's repertoire.

 

Korean is the second largest East Asian community in Montreal with a vibrant community centre located in N.D.G. as is a very well stocked Korean market. Korean food is noted for its powerful spicing and flavour. There are a number of excellent Korean restaurants scattered around Montreal, in particular downtown and the N.D.G. area.

 

The Taiwanese, Mongolian and Tibetan populations are quite small and tend to fall under the umbrella of the Montreal Chinese Community. Unlike in other Canadian cities, finding restaurants specializing in these cuisines is limited. There are no dedicated Taiwanese restaurants, just one Mongolian and three Tibetan. The flavours from these cultures can be found intertwined in the menus of most Asian restaurants that boast extensive choices.

Recipes:     

China           Chicken Stir-Fry with Angel Hair Pasta Noodles

Japan           Faux Seafood Sushi Wrap

Korea           Short Ribs (Galbi Jim)

Taiwan         Fengli Su (Pineapple Cake)

Mongolia     Beef Hâche

The Best Poutine in Montreal

By: ACEScreen shot 2021-08-03 at 9.04.22 PM.pngMost early mornings in the back streets of Montreal, on the corner of Rachel Est and Boyer, you can find a collection of young adults gathering in anticipation of great food. No matter the weather outside, the place to be after a night out on the town is a small venue that serves poutine, where the price to pay for admission is usually a 30 to 60 minute wait. At first, I was shocked asking myself who would ever wait 60 minutes for food at three o'clock in the morning? I soon learnt the answer.

As an international student one of the first things I learnt about Canadians is that they love their poutine! For those of you who may be unaware of this Canadian delicacy, poutine stripped down to its core is composed of french fries, gravy, and cheese curd. Originally, poutine was invented in the late 1950's in the rural towns of Quebec. While many towns claim to be the proud inventors of the concoction there is no official record of the first origin. Today you can find poutine at many "greasy spoons" type diners and fast food restaurants all across Canada but many Montrealers claim that the Banquise is simply the best.


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Thinking Outside the Cereal Box

By: Amber Lumiere

Screen shot 2021-06-20 at 9.45.13 PM.png''Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are''

Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)

Everything revolves around food. We all need to eat and the reality is that starving people rarely do. Us privileged few tend to take in much more than we can swallow, in a hurry, often forgetting to chew. Food is absentmindedly received, leftovers tossed, and the tip sent to the guy whose  sweat makes sure we get our morning coffees with the heaps of sugar with the hopes that the sweetness will remove the bitterness of our obsessive consumerism.

Image source: Flickr

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By: Virago


If you are new to the so-called trendy or starving artist feel shared by many Mile End neighbourhood holes in the wall, Le Cagibi may seem as sketchy as the agency its name suggests. Nestled in what may appear to be one of the city's most ramshackle buildings, it's easy to dismiss this run-down and rickety place upon first glance. Push past the undeniable dirty feeling, the mismatched dumpster dive decor and worthless trashy figurines, however, and you may enjoy one of the best local food and entertainment experiences in town.

Coffee or tea?

By Han Li

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Do you need a cup of coffee to wake you up every morning? For most Canadians, the answer would be "yes", but for the Chinese, the answer would be "we need tea". Most Chinese believe that coffee is as important for Canadians as tea is for Chinese. And even though I am Chinese, my answer to this question has changed. When I wake up in the morning, on my way to school, I usually buy a cup of Moka at Second Cup. Coffee is a habit that has taken over my life and I am addicted to Second Cup. It gives me an unprecedented experience, one which is so different from China and tea.

          

Before I landed in Canada, one of my Canadian friends told me that "when you arrive in Montreal, don't forget to try Second Cup". The chance to try this drink happened before landing. My first impression of "Second cup" came from the coffee served on the flight to Canada. After the first taste, I fell in love. It tasted so different from the coffees offered in China, and it left a lingering fragrance in my mouth. And indeed, on the first day I went to school, I found a second opportunity to try the Second Cup next to the building where I had my first class, at the corner of Guy and St-Catherine Street.

Vinny Gambini versus Vinnie Gambini's

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Quote from the movie, Les 400 Coups:

English Teacher: Where is the father?
Rene: Ze fazer...
English Teacher: No. The father.
Rene: Ze fazer.
English Teacher: No, the tip of the tongue between the teeth. As if you had a lisp. Father.
Rene: Fazer.
English Teacher: No.
Rene: But I can't, sir. Not everybody has a tongue like yours.

Rene certainly doesn't have the tongue to pronounce 'Father' correctly like a majority of Montrealers, but most Montrealers do have the palate to enjoy the ever-growing number of restaurants that keep sprouting up like mushrooms. New chefs have Montrealers making reservations to try their signature dish or their take on familiar plates. Interior decorators have their work cut out to come up with something new, something refreshing and something attractive. Because so many restaurants close before even any plates are broken or the new Florence Solid Black Oak floorboards have had the chance to lose their stain, the decorators will often adapt the existing décor with simple ideas to save costs and to reopen as quickly as possible. Most Montrealers know the previous names of many familiar restaurant locales that have reopened under new names or names that can be adapted from existing name signs.

Still, it must be getting harder to come up with names that appeal and also distinguish the cuisine, but owners and chefs have become very imaginative and have pushed the ravioli, per say, to new heights, such as Les Enfants Terribles or Les 400 Coups, which are French movies. Other restaurants also happen to have movie names or close derivatives that just happen to also be a movie, and even more restaurant names that have something to do with movies.

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Costa

smallcosta.pngOn a snowy December morning, I met up with my friend Amanda to enjoy the Fabergé breakfast I had long been craving. We sat by the window facing Fairmount Avenue, and watched the snow fall as we sipped our café au laits. What better way to spend a winter morning? We chatted over some French toast while we waited for Costa Darsaklis, co-owner of Fabergé. When he arrived, he made himself a latte and joined us at the table. He is the type of person who is always arriving from some kind of work or commitment, and when he leaves it is to head to another. Still, he made himself comfortable and happily answered my questions, as we discussed the restaurant business in Montreal, and his place in it.


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Che Kono Facciamo

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Shakespeare's Petruchio left Verona en route to Padua, Italy to meet his Shrew; "I come to wive it wealthily in Padua", he declared. He left Verona on an empty purse and an empty stomach confident Padua would fill both. Padua would certainly have a lot to offer Petruchio but can it match Verona, a city famous for certain indiscrete elopers and pizza topped with mushrooms and Prosciutto crudo?

Image source: Flickr.
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Sipping Mimosas with Bugs Bunny

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By Tania Romito

Fabergé, defined as a breakfast restaurant and lounge, first opened its door during the Summer of 2010, at 25, Fairmount W. It is the success project of brothers Devin and Chaz DeSousa and their friend Costa Darsaklis, three men in their mid to late twenties. Located in the vibrant heart of the Mile End, Fabergé is as refined and modest as the inhabitants of its neighborhood. A mural of the city's landmarks, designed by local artist Howie Dewitt, runs along the walls and ceiling, exemplifying Montreal's unique ability to be trendy in keeping with an underground vibe. As I sit and sip my cappuccino on a Friday morning, Bugs Bunny is featured on the several television screens and the Black Keys is playing in the background; the restaurant is buzzing with style.

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Wood35 Restaurant & Bar

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St. Laurent and Milton, a corner just north of Sherbrooke has recently had the sidewalk redone after constant high heels and steel-toed boots traffic have left their mark. Over the years the corner location has been trampled under foot by many interior designers, carpenters, chefs, front door bouncers, electricians, DJ's and micro skirt wearing blondes give or take a few brunettes. Mediterraneo spawned Med Grill and now the latest restaurant owned by Montreal Gourmet, Wood35, opened its doors last June.

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Image: Flickr, Creperie du Marche, at Jean-Talon Market, Montreal.

Have you ever wondered where in the city of Montreal you could find everything you need to make an authentic, delicious Moulukhia, Dhaba Mutton Curry or Vengaya sambar? Which districts have the grocery items that you know from home?

MontRéalités' EATS will guide you to the restaurants, stores and specialty shoppes in the parts of town that cater to each ethnic group's tastes.

Nancy Leblanc films the crew at Au Pied de Cochon:




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