tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28857747349164019932024-03-13T13:22:09.568-04:00Mmmmmontreal!MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-18254719445332524182012-06-20T13:37:00.000-04:002012-06-20T14:01:39.731-04:00Deville Dinerbar<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Put on your
stretchy pants folks – Deville Dinerbar is classic American dining with a
twist, designed to satisfy you until you burst. I won’t dwell on the hype this
restaurant has received since it opened recently, but this place really seems
to be on everyone’s lips lately and for good reason.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfGJTdfXKzs9oDaDANZXnuCW2cEyaK8BdPyKdJ111P54JuTjctHF2ilcmHqbBy20HYqBwPy3Krs8xnFBGHjvjtXqBnlutRya8_hyphenhyphendzRQ5nMJ2G7zh4n-uJLT3kEsLzroiopFCBYBBrfSe/s1600/IMG_1314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfGJTdfXKzs9oDaDANZXnuCW2cEyaK8BdPyKdJ111P54JuTjctHF2ilcmHqbBy20HYqBwPy3Krs8xnFBGHjvjtXqBnlutRya8_hyphenhyphendzRQ5nMJ2G7zh4n-uJLT3kEsLzroiopFCBYBBrfSe/s640/IMG_1314.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahi Tuna Tacos</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Reading the
menu at Deville is like going to Disney World for the first time when you’re a
kid– you walk in and you’re so excited, you don’t know where to begin.
Appetizers are the stars here. The bacon-wrapped <b>Dog Sliders</b> are exceptional
and even more so when slathered with their special purple mustard sauce. The
<b>Ahi Tuna Tacos </b>are another notable favorite. Slightly seared tuna in crunchy
wont-ton taco shells, slathered in lime-wasabi aioli proves to be a successful
Asian twist on this traditional Mexican dish. The <b>Philly Cheesesteak Spring
Rolls </b>are interesting but the meat to cheese ratio is a bit off and makes for
an overly heavy dish.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The salad menu
boasts some strange yet delicious flavor combinations – waffle croutons and
fried chicken? A bit over the top, but worth a try. The main courses include
some classic American staples that no one can resist. The <b>Bacon-Weaved
Meatloaf</b>, and <b>Adam’s Ribs</b> are the top picks here. If there’s one thing to avoid
here it’s the burger. Yes you will see one sitting on almost every table, but
don’t be fooled by its ubiquity. Taller than two Big Macs put together, the
Deville burger can only be eaten with a knife and fork and the meat to bun to
condiment ratio is completely off and we didn’t find anything particularly
special about the taste</span>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnEBeHnyEHpTVvua3zcHu-r7wz6VwjqzT2sC5rrLb4zO3jIA3Z0yBtPF5y_Odka8O7OVg3W_uuiECiYaIirHVesTjIRCLDhWfN3fODGDHE5XdtNkap-RKUQYlI8pP7ngwQ6-dYbVx6S1j/s1600/IMG_1313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnEBeHnyEHpTVvua3zcHu-r7wz6VwjqzT2sC5rrLb4zO3jIA3Z0yBtPF5y_Odka8O7OVg3W_uuiECiYaIirHVesTjIRCLDhWfN3fODGDHE5XdtNkap-RKUQYlI8pP7ngwQ6-dYbVx6S1j/s640/IMG_1313.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam's Ribs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjA_mGrbdaypPUmqM8xS2JP0iIKsgGdhIVLAjeNE26XQkVppyaA4KuJJVWnAWbHYdoiAjwZQP2kgtaQG4UWKaJqp27saLgANr7ZOnY7BF58TcleGD9_tJVkXxhUUpkxBRVAQYEaoGd7Zg/s1600/IMG_1310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjA_mGrbdaypPUmqM8xS2JP0iIKsgGdhIVLAjeNE26XQkVppyaA4KuJJVWnAWbHYdoiAjwZQP2kgtaQG4UWKaJqp27saLgANr7ZOnY7BF58TcleGD9_tJVkXxhUUpkxBRVAQYEaoGd7Zg/s640/IMG_1310.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Fried Chicken Salad</td></tr>
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The dessert
menu is where it gets really snazzy. Going on a ‘dessert-only’ date? Forget the
lineup at Juliette & Chocolat and share a <b>Toasted Marshmallow milkshake </b>at
Deville in true Archie and Veronica fashion. If you have room left after the
main meal (which you doubtfully will), try the <b>Big Easy Beignets.</b> Made on site
and served with warm decadent caramel and chocolate bourbon sauces these are
not your average donuts. Another great choice is the <b>Pain Perdu</b>, which comes
with the requisite caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If there’s one
downside to this downtown eatery, it would be the pricing. The casual dining is
certainly not reflected in the bill. The appetizers are excessively pricey so
if you’re on a budget and know you won’t finish a huge meal, plan your meal
carefully and just order an appetizer and dessert</span>.</div>
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On a final
note, Deville opens up their private terrace in the back courtyard in the
summer which makes for a great 5 à 7 spot. There’s usually hardly ever a wait
and you only make reservations for large groups.<br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1626100/restaurant/Golden-Square-Mile/Deville-Dinerbar-Montreal"><img alt="Deville Dinerbar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1626100/biglink.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; padding: 0px; width: 200px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-64308819245770305342012-06-18T19:04:00.000-04:002012-06-18T19:13:11.972-04:00Foodies for a Cause – Table of Hope 2012<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">If you were in
the ballroom at the <b>Queen Elizabeth Hotel</b> on May 22, 2012 you were
probably witness to another great edition of the <b>Table of Hope</b>, benefiting the
<b>Share the Warmth Foundation</b>. This annual event showcases Montreal’s hottest
restaurants and wineries, and local celebs lend their culinary skills for a
good cause. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshXz_aIfYHyjlnqb-BNH4e-gsC-vll2FYdxLNja-fDNmMHciMYB67Uehr02cQJ0qnINXtXdUJBiBFJKYzo7iURBbUbFKLGy9flbASXRBm2lLicv7L318NtVTe6svGC7WX5ZFEQRHlyFHG/s1600/IMG_1069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshXz_aIfYHyjlnqb-BNH4e-gsC-vll2FYdxLNja-fDNmMHciMYB67Uehr02cQJ0qnINXtXdUJBiBFJKYzo7iURBbUbFKLGy9flbASXRBm2lLicv7L318NtVTe6svGC7WX5ZFEQRHlyFHG/s640/IMG_1069.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The evening’s
VIPs were treated to a pre-dinner Patrons Cocktail and then the party moved
into the main ballroom where over 40 restaurants had delicious samplings at the
ready. The event showcases the city’s well established and popular eateries
such as Moishes and L’Orchidée de Chine, but also allows guests to discover
unfamiliar restaurants, amazing caterers and sample local wines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here’s the
roundup of the night’s star-studded festivities:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Table of Hope
Foodie Awards - 2012</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Display: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Queen Elizabeth Hotel's Beaver Club </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Pyrus Bistro</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Basil</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Food: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Macaroni Bar (pulled porc sandwiches) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Casa Minhota (croquettes and calamari)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Dessert: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Délices de Dawn (Lemon Merengue Cake and Chocolate Brownie</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Explosion) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">CHOM’s
spectacular guitar cake</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Most Popular: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Moishes</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tavern</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Rib 'n Reef</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Elounda </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Celebrity
Sous-Chef: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Sugar Sammy </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Musical
Performance: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Montreal Gospel Choir</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For more information: http://www.tableofhope.ca </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx4RA6FbpKYiagk5Uz-gEPnWT5xjEXki_2HLuDoaWF38ADNMyfTLVSEwQeLJ97AzaQDG2Bb3kteVbKYsQakzUX7SQI2G9zx8abIy91Itd1WqM0FFu4HGKgGLBqas6oY1zURrGVLEZsAkw/s1600/IMG_1046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYx4RA6FbpKYiagk5Uz-gEPnWT5xjEXki_2HLuDoaWF38ADNMyfTLVSEwQeLJ97AzaQDG2Bb3kteVbKYsQakzUX7SQI2G9zx8abIy91Itd1WqM0FFu4HGKgGLBqas6oY1zURrGVLEZsAkw/s640/IMG_1046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Braised beef from Bitoque</span></td></tr>
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<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mac Bar chefs & Sugar Sammy (most likely saying something inappropriate)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7-fPU2M7_krkOuJeiTI5sFsjBSH37eCnd0dyZUJssXruh9ecYDLzDm0B91HDIZ0FUbR5ISVyKL4gpGBzuv4MIbXHDNRAtpvGiTtKvpaSKakH_n3LvBSH7fir-pK1WcsZPgcN-hC_91AQ/s640/IMG_1060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Restaurant Ofelia</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufqkf9tGKkN71pTuRcRlIq-y1TohfGvYdszb4PmTWVozDq5tXMl_-yjqb2AWv_07Ql0C9SVIH_SskEShZVyXmYCHuq621cAo1BT0RQIxJ5j0hOQmvEVkC69DqSvb2L6y9Zq9XUkAaP5im/s1600/IMG_1044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufqkf9tGKkN71pTuRcRlIq-y1TohfGvYdszb4PmTWVozDq5tXMl_-yjqb2AWv_07Ql0C9SVIH_SskEShZVyXmYCHuq621cAo1BT0RQIxJ5j0hOQmvEVkC69DqSvb2L6y9Zq9XUkAaP5im/s640/IMG_1044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Croquettes from Casa Minhota</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">L'Orchidée de Chine</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elounda</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Baxo Cuisine and Bar</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Former PM Brian Mulroney getting his sugar fix at CJAD's candy bar</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Montreal Gospel Choir - bringing soul to the evening's festivities</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alouette players Bowman (#7) and Bourne (#59)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Macaroni Bar's pulled pork sandwiches</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Délices de Dawn</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">CHOM 97's Guitar Cake</span></td></tr>
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<tr style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pyrus Bistro</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">See you next year!</span></i></span></div>
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</div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-40727187831435040542012-02-04T10:47:00.000-05:002012-02-24T21:43:27.099-05:00Taverne Gaspar<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Few places in
the Old Port know how to combine the perfect amounts of laid-back and trendy.
On the one end, there are the restaurants too chic for their own good and are
too intimidating when you just want to throw back a beer as you catch <i>la
game</i></span><span style="font-size: small; font-style: normal;">. On the other hand, we have the pub
style restaurants that offer nothing original and satisfying in terms of food.
It’s a good thing – no, a great thing – that Taverne Gaspar has shown up. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Gaspar is all
about juxtaposition. The authentic grey stone walls and wooden beams give it
that old-school tavern style, but the fancy light-up bar and track lighting
lend to its trendy atmosphere. It’s a great space that allows for easy
mobility, making it an ideal venue for groups, but is equally catered to
intimate dinners for two. Nothing is worse than pretentious staff at a
restaurant that is so self-aware of its trendiness. This is not the case at
Gaspar. The service can best be described as friendly and attentive for the
most part. We went on a quiet night and yet we found ourselves waiting a tad
too long for our cocktails. We had to pull the old “glance around” to show we
were not pleased with the wait time. But things picked up after that and food
was delivered speedily and courteously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHNk977rB6ph-9KcLJhi99Pf-TeiYwGUpf1JPWv6-WKXijqEpCHGikH1tLr6LF8dRAwkzibzrXVgIAtajdY4na4kKjz3ZHQ0r5YI7bB9IHT8zxZWSdaRPqw1U19yIbUuke8hTcdSHqFfK/s1600/IMG00654-20111222-21562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWHNk977rB6ph-9KcLJhi99Pf-TeiYwGUpf1JPWv6-WKXijqEpCHGikH1tLr6LF8dRAwkzibzrXVgIAtajdY4na4kKjz3ZHQ0r5YI7bB9IHT8zxZWSdaRPqw1U19yIbUuke8hTcdSHqFfK/s320/IMG00654-20111222-21562.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> The cocktail
list is worth noting as it contains some anomalies which we were more than
eager to try. Highly recommended by our waiter was the cucumber Tom Collins.
Refreshing and tasty – a great departure from the usual bevy of cosmos and
martinis. The house beer is a standout as well. While we’re not experts in the
beer department, we can confirm the house brew is light and flavorful and makes
a great accompaniment to practically any dish on the menu.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Appetizers
were fantastic and highlights included the onion bone marrow soup and beet and
goat cheese salad. We asked which were the most popular mains and decided to
sample the Tavern burger which is hands down, the winner in this category, as
well as the Cornish hen. The hen was cooked to perfection and was surprisingly
light. We like to think of ourselves as extremely discerning burger experts
with high expectations that are rarely met, so its worth pointing out how
impressive the Tavern burger is. The Manchego cheese and touch of pork belly
add just the right hints of tanginess and succulence. The onion rings that
accompany the dish have the perfect blend of crispiness, tenderness and salt.
If you order one thing at Gaspar, this is undoubtedly it. The fried chicken is
also a favorite but to our great disappointment, was no longer available that
night. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The dessert
menu is dangerously tempting, but the main courses are so filling they leave
absolutely no room for even a bite of pouding chomeur – which was a huge
regret. Upon our next visit, we will definitely leave room to sample the
rootbeer float or banana split and provide an update because the desserts sound
too delicious to be ignored.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Hockey fans
finally have a great alternative to the bland pub fare up the street. Big flat
screens on either side of the bar provide great viewing angles from almost
every table in the restaurant. So ladies, be very strategic in your seating
choice if there’s a game on and you want some level of focus from your date! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">The number of
Old Montreal restaurants that you can put on your “repeat” list is scarce and
Gaspar is undoubtedly on that list. A harmonious blend of fantastic food,
drinks, reasonable prices, service, and ambiance make Gaspar worth a repeat
visit. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1624759/restaurant/Old-Montr-al/Taverne-Gaspar-Montreal"><img alt="Taverne Gaspar on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1624759/biglink.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>
</div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-11061048728749894332011-10-20T12:32:00.000-04:002011-10-20T12:32:07.398-04:00iBurger<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Looking to spice up your lunchtime routine of ham and cheese sandwiches? Treat yourself to one of the most original midday meals we’ve ever seen. Behold the "Sushi Burger":<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP0YUcCetcmvukcdHr0D_7FSyrl34FhENqfG5yPRlCB6dR4FfGmvKwQ67sFTQEIJtE_Natx3KoGea5pgva3ONEYyOfPhzwA3V7Yqubup72_MzgBk4H35Y9ER7_8cML3nl183y1puNj2UC/s1600/photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJP0YUcCetcmvukcdHr0D_7FSyrl34FhENqfG5yPRlCB6dR4FfGmvKwQ67sFTQEIJtE_Natx3KoGea5pgva3ONEYyOfPhzwA3V7Yqubup72_MzgBk4H35Y9ER7_8cML3nl183y1puNj2UC/s400/photo1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sushi Burger" at iBurger, Montreal</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most nine to fivers have a hard time eating an entire 12oz angus burger for lunch and then attempting to be semi-productive at work. So while salmon tartar and rice might seem like a nice alternative to its beefy counterparts here, don’t be fooled by the illusionary lightness of this meal. Yes the rice “hamburger buns” are made of deliciously fluffy rice and encapsulate layers of smooth salmon tartar and avocado – but half way through, you are guaranteed to fall into a heavenly sushi coma. Certainly one of the pricier items on the menu, the sushi burger is, in our opinion, worth every penny. Beef burgers are the obvious specialty but we couldn’t resist testing out this unique culinary creation. Dress it up or dress it down and make it as spicy as you’d like – all can be done on the interactive touch screen of your iPad table. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.65pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For all you technophiles, the tables at this restaurant are made of giant touch screens that allow you to order your meal and drinks as soon as you sit down. But don’t worry; the friendly wait staff is always around in case you’re not as tech savvy as most of the Gen-X crowd. iBurger also counts a great bar area and some screens to watch the hockey game – making this a great place to unwind on a weeknight. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 114.65pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1582017/restaurant/Golden-Square-Mile/iBurger-Montreal"><img alt="iBurger on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1582017/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-41363295937719097612011-09-26T23:36:00.004-04:002011-10-19T17:27:33.813-04:00What’s for Breakfast?<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ehkMiY0tmQL5KVRdqA69GlzMPxTLFvASf6nSAVksDDplYlQuHnivUKIzFl3gLftEUMMwZcrC7wGUzItzFibMjFVH1Tz_jagVJGW0d7o7KdnwInarIUEtdWTUIYMZRlzNgqvPTl4Ssa_A/s1600/pancake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ehkMiY0tmQL5KVRdqA69GlzMPxTLFvASf6nSAVksDDplYlQuHnivUKIzFl3gLftEUMMwZcrC7wGUzItzFibMjFVH1Tz_jagVJGW0d7o7KdnwInarIUEtdWTUIYMZRlzNgqvPTl4Ssa_A/s320/pancake1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Breakfast is usually not a meal that invites a lot of culinary experimentation. Menus are pretty standard –save for a few unique tweaks according to each restaurant’s style. So instead of devoting entire entries for each locale, a more general review of some of Montreal’s best breakfast joints will follow. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We begin with a restaurant that offers more of an upper-crust breakfast experience than most. Essentially, this is the ideal restaurant you would be inclined to take your mother to for a birthday brunch. In other words, a place that suggests you don’t indulge in hangover-induced caloric binges every Sunday morning. We’ll begin with the crème de la crème: <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Leméac</span></b>. Many of you are not strangers to their ingenious and heavenly discounted late night table d’hôte special – however, their brunch menu is equally stellar. The star of this place is of course their brioche. You will not find a slice of French toast like this anywhere in the city. In fact, the restauranteurs of Leméac are so confident in this slice of breakfast heaven, that the dressed-up version is offered as a dessert on their dinner menu. The poached eggs, smoked salmon and Spanish caviar on blini is another great option and demonstrates a perfect pairing of execution and flavor. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NB. Be prepared to leave with a dent in your wallet because this is probably going to be the most expensive breakfast you will ever pay for (but isn’t it all worth it knowing your mother leaves here with the impression that their child frequents only the most sophisticated of places?).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Onto the more wallet-friendly breakfast locales of Montreal, we have <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">L’Avenue </span></b>and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Brasserie les Enfants Terribles</span></b>. Both near or in the Plateau area, these are the places you go for a full and satisfying meal while you bask in the trendy ambiance. Both popular weekend destinations, these places are as much about the perfectly poached egg as they are about where the city’s socialites gather to discuss last night’s debaucheries. Enfant Terribles takes the cake for best décor with its modern meets log cabin aesthetic. Expect long waits at L’Avenue after 10 AM so be sure to arrive early and skip the brunch crowd. If you want to try a new and less crowded option, visit Fabergé which offers some unique twists on the classics. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An oldie but a goodie – be sure to give <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Beauty’s</span></b> a try if you haven’t already. Standard breakfast menu, with the mishmash being a popular signature dish. Long lineups on the weekend with the post-party crowds of students. This is a Montreal landmark so shame on you if you’ve never indulged in a bagel and lox here at some point in your life. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">NDG boasts a few breakfast hot spots as well. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Café Orange</span></b> on Décarie is probably the best in terms of quality and quantity for your dollar. This place has been around for ages and the lineups on weekends never get any shorter. A local favorite, the crowd is a nice mix of families, elder folk, and twenty-somethings. Stellar pancakes and French toast. A few blocks up the street is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tiffany’s</span></b>. Lacking some charm and not as wallet-friendly as Café Orange, however this place does the trick if you’re in a hurry and just need to fill your stomach with some generic breakfast food. One can’t, of course, forget <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cosmo's</span></b> - a local greasy spoon about the size of your kitchen pantry. This NDG legend offers one of the most affordable and satisfying breakfasts to start your day. Make sure you do not, under any circumstances, go for a cholesterol test after eating here. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You could also go the breakfast chain route and visit your local <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Chez Cora’s</span></b> or <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ben & Florentine</span></b>. The downside of these is the lack of ambiance and neighborhood charm and quality of food. On the upside they are more open to letting you substitute more healthy friendly options for each dish – such as fresh fruit instead of greasy potatoes – free of charge.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since we’re running the gamut of Montreal’s best breakfast-brunch restaurants, we might as well include the following. The holy grail of all breakfasts: the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Egg McMuffin</span></b> with a side of hash browns. That’s right, as a restaurant blog, we have done the unthinkable and included a McDonald’s menu item. So what. It’s amazing and we know you’re thinking it too. </span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1419697/restaurant/Outremont/Les-Enfants-Terribles-Montreal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1433871/restaurant/Plateau-Mont-Royal/LAvenue-Montreal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="L'Avenue on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1433871/biglink.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/721691/restaurant/Montreal/Outremont/Lemeac-Montreal"><img alt="Leméac on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/721691/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/720207/restaurant/Montreal/Plateau-Mont-Royal/Beautys-Montreal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Beauty's on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/720207/biglink.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1419697/restaurant/Outremont/Les-Enfants-Terribles-Montreal"><img alt="Les Enfants Terribles on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1419697/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/720913/restaurant/Montreal/Notre-Dame-de-Gr-ce/Cosmo-Montreal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cosmo on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/720913/biglink.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/722058/restaurant/Montreal/Notre-Dame-de-Gr-ce/Orange-Cafe-Montreal"><img alt="Orange Café on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/722058/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-14764807215858109092011-06-22T23:48:00.002-04:002011-06-24T19:03:30.392-04:00PINTXO – Pint-Sized Perfection<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nestled between some old red brick townhouses on a tree lined street in the Plateau sits a small and intimate restaurant, where food is executed with simplicity and perfection – a combination that has become a rarity in the overly ambitious culinary scene.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pintxo (</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">peen-cho</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) goes beyond the tapas concept. A traditional form of Basque cuisine; pintxos are small samplings of elaborate culinary delights. Fish is typically the main attraction, but meats such as lamb and pork are also quite popular.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAZcCrPWxOoqrK7aLumVAA0KbQb0SI9-RqThO1xB_2TKfmw2CP4-zNzBt5ewPwV4z4mhiyPxIepnHbIUwPXL7MpioK73Xa4ovlkQpexzxp_6m0BxJOC7SZtrw0CxQzIeTHlYO6D1Gd_Gi/s1600/IMG00105-20110519-1955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAZcCrPWxOoqrK7aLumVAA0KbQb0SI9-RqThO1xB_2TKfmw2CP4-zNzBt5ewPwV4z4mhiyPxIepnHbIUwPXL7MpioK73Xa4ovlkQpexzxp_6m0BxJOC7SZtrw0CxQzIeTHlYO6D1Gd_Gi/s400/IMG00105-20110519-1955.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you're one of the rare and the few who walk in and manage to get a table without a reservation, count yourself extremely lucky because spots fill up quickly; sometimes up to a week in advance. That being said, if you’re planning on having a birthday supper for a group of five of your loudest friends, this is not the place. Like the pint-sized plates on the table, you want to limit your party to a small size – a duo being the ideal. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMM1tkatt9-xByYoAPqFTdQ9B2ftWfeNRX_u4XcfaqTvJoO9aMZ65Lqw__o9jYznaPun2TeQKd3BpWAE5LrlMPVzok_O-nihKs54mz7wNgx2Y7JBwI3CF-hox-chNCaqXdPeH30RrhjpLA/s1600/Pxo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMM1tkatt9-xByYoAPqFTdQ9B2ftWfeNRX_u4XcfaqTvJoO9aMZ65Lqw__o9jYznaPun2TeQKd3BpWAE5LrlMPVzok_O-nihKs54mz7wNgx2Y7JBwI3CF-hox-chNCaqXdPeH30RrhjpLA/s320/Pxo.jpg" width="240" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Warm and inviting, this is not the icy and pretentious ambiance one usually sees in places of this gastronomic caliber. From the exposed brick walls to the wildly colorful paintings that line the dining room, this is minimalism and trendiness at its finest.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The menu stays within the same current and offers some simple and classic dishes with unexpected twists. Ultimately, every dish you have placed in front of you is full of familiar flavors but tempered in such a way as to throw you slightly off-guard. The strawberry and sweet pepper <b>gazpacho</b> for instance has the perfect amount of freshness and flavor one typically looks for in this type of soup – but the fruitiness of the strawberry catches you by surprise. From the cheerful color to perfectly sized portion, this pintxo is the perfect way to start your meal. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Other pintxo standouts were: the <b>salmon tartar</b>, garlic shrimp <i>a la gitana</i>, the <b>Basque cod</b>, and the figs stuffed with Serrano ham. An absolute must is the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>morcilla de Burgos</b>- </span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">which features impeccably seasoned and smooth blood pudding and chorizo sausage. The grilled lobster tail was another scene-stealer and showcased how seafood truly stands as the restaurant’s strong point. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26uMuLuqNqbYFBpnJaE21xMO3_kkuiyhLErBimLV0nccdzGro2cEcku5Qps0ScbJZ9XcPH7RsmIRgLEmhgM-vGrE-rV1yhxpguHHrzBWX-JCHZVCCSWcOrVJ29bP2dlFx_pxcrPeF6Bcy/s1600/IMG00114-20110519-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26uMuLuqNqbYFBpnJaE21xMO3_kkuiyhLErBimLV0nccdzGro2cEcku5Qps0ScbJZ9XcPH7RsmIRgLEmhgM-vGrE-rV1yhxpguHHrzBWX-JCHZVCCSWcOrVJ29bP2dlFx_pxcrPeF6Bcy/s400/IMG00114-20110519-2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Typically one orders several pintxos followed by a main course – but given that the pintxos surpassed any main course that we sampled, we recommend skipping the mains altogether and simply ordering more appetizers. The mains that we sampled included the seared pork chop with grain mustard coating and the braised beef cheek. Both were quite average and slightly underwhelming in comparison to the pintxos. Be sure to choose some great wine samplings to match your choices of pintxos. The selection is vast and stays true to the region-specific cuisine. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The desserts are equally stunning and it is not recommended you leave your chair without ordering the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Tarta de Santiago</b></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Traditionally from northern Spain, this almond-rich cake is served warm and will melt in your mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Voted as one of Canada’s best new restaurants in 2006 by En Route magazine, Pintxo is small but a definite standout in Montreal’s culinary circuit.</span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/722195/restaurant/Montreal/Plateau-Mont-Royal/Pintxo-Montreal"><img alt="Pintxo on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/722195/biglink.gif" style="border:none;width:200px;height:146px" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-43158835712913644302011-06-22T21:32:00.004-04:002011-06-22T23:24:07.462-04:00Foodies for a Cause - Awards and Gallery<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW2bhhdH3AKzAWFv53UqSmem09ruLL66ow2MHVvXNBnzMJPnycr5Nt-GtukbiMLEwZK97AdQ7WTitfI0O7bMm6en_fZ6JQTv28GSLj7SUgK4q5VvXG4IULYmu7991OYKsOS2sTw7nKcGj/s1600/TOH1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW2bhhdH3AKzAWFv53UqSmem09ruLL66ow2MHVvXNBnzMJPnycr5Nt-GtukbiMLEwZK97AdQ7WTitfI0O7bMm6en_fZ6JQTv28GSLj7SUgK4q5VvXG4IULYmu7991OYKsOS2sTw7nKcGj/s400/TOH1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"TABLE OF HOPE" </span></span></b></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">May 9th, 2011</span></b></span></div></div></b><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel</div></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As much as this annual fundraising event is about raising money and awareness, it’s also all about the incredible displays of dishes put forth by each restaurant. We decided to assemble a list of awards for the participants that truly stood out in each of their unique categories.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Best Display </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Monsieur Basilique<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Honorable Mention </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mount Stephen Club<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most Creative Food</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fairmount Queen Elizabeth<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Best Tasting Dishes (overall)</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Piment Rouge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Honorable Mention</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Casa Minhota<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Best Desserts</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Delices de Dawn <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Honorable Mention</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Gaufrabec and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Heavenly Biscotti<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOWGKJxI6j2Gn_5quGbZT6sXwHWtrqgAP5SJ79SrHzLkPlDjCheLiIhYGUSn6ytrUWggX5uMLc_-8pfQstIHCeXHVjiBl2bihJhqDhgfgLWQZIBDHolrTXIK1J4U65jjHaWnfKSzdLCMm/s400/IMG00058-20110509-1855.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Monsieur Basilique</b>'s garden fresh creations</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkOWGKJxI6j2Gn_5quGbZT6sXwHWtrqgAP5SJ79SrHzLkPlDjCheLiIhYGUSn6ytrUWggX5uMLc_-8pfQstIHCeXHVjiBl2bihJhqDhgfgLWQZIBDHolrTXIK1J4U65jjHaWnfKSzdLCMm/s1600/IMG00058-20110509-1855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Delicious offerings from </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Piment Rouge</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAkaicU32a-NKRIcaJDv-r_inI4ym0llit75U9ma-_uUo1xfj2t5iBXSpqrakd640esy6rf-7Mq6rv8EKoMoraxWRJmEl-TkH3kU3rP29YuMXSr6-aGAchyo1TsXFQFw12cGRHzXMgvYu/s1600/IMG00038-20110509-1833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXW3uit5FLTkv_CezGbUPNQat_lT1YR0r93-3h58hfKljE4d2cMQRuXmINWqN10X8TUjGrSLiFO4_v9jAy9XsXXWoSPkTWEzlUXGQvvptCr683IeHYKLP8tW0NP-BoKVTvDQ37nutJzFU/s1600/IMG00041-20110509-1835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXW3uit5FLTkv_CezGbUPNQat_lT1YR0r93-3h58hfKljE4d2cMQRuXmINWqN10X8TUjGrSLiFO4_v9jAy9XsXXWoSPkTWEzlUXGQvvptCr683IeHYKLP8tW0NP-BoKVTvDQ37nutJzFU/s400/IMG00041-20110509-1835.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The team behind <b>Fabergé</b> - Montreal's newest and most charming breakfast locale</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOE5XkypjjCMOv5D9Ti1bhUIksN96WxmuTVzBSUuNuuZ9d_-_LSCmR7hRJtqGswp6UQaNBpvxKw7Wodt5FtYSmrCDi8GYgoAPWfl20zmta1e3tIenHKul06mc3J_I0MX1r-1_upYXXCo6/s1600/IMG00059-20110509-1858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXOE5XkypjjCMOv5D9Ti1bhUIksN96WxmuTVzBSUuNuuZ9d_-_LSCmR7hRJtqGswp6UQaNBpvxKw7Wodt5FtYSmrCDi8GYgoAPWfl20zmta1e3tIenHKul06mc3J_I0MX1r-1_upYXXCo6/s400/IMG00059-20110509-1858.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fairmont Queen Elizabeth's Beaver Club chefs hard at work<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTb7CWmCv86jsQas6n8rhX8pfKzW1_8EAJmYM76yty6WvzOij8FxSzsI2qPuCcE1binFtyZhr4GfaGZFj7eZJeSM_Npy6vxQofcsRhQJagsdmc4KTwwfGILA9jdHTV5YGWrmW4Pchd2gh/s1600/IMG00052-20110509-1845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTb7CWmCv86jsQas6n8rhX8pfKzW1_8EAJmYM76yty6WvzOij8FxSzsI2qPuCcE1binFtyZhr4GfaGZFj7eZJeSM_Npy6vxQofcsRhQJagsdmc4KTwwfGILA9jdHTV5YGWrmW4Pchd2gh/s400/IMG00052-20110509-1845.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori Graham from CTV News lending some star power at Rib and Reef </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXW3uit5FLTkv_CezGbUPNQat_lT1YR0r93-3h58hfKljE4d2cMQRuXmINWqN10X8TUjGrSLiFO4_v9jAy9XsXXWoSPkTWEzlUXGQvvptCr683IeHYKLP8tW0NP-BoKVTvDQ37nutJzFU/s1600/IMG00041-20110509-1835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nwoSoM08-D_JNxMl8tpxGV2s5Dv6TKWzt29EjF9U3eq9qdkd_vV-fiKP1Akgw-a23B5OH6Ht4-DHo66v1777SVHJ6Xmf-qaY4PLQwVp8WC8XKwQsVqYeHw4O54HWbzWLHa0xJG-qmjN9/s1600/TOH3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiazQa7N7l4Ci2LtOdmmA3l0W4A8-r3WrCnEdb0JsUIq_APCOa9AK0DAbDb3mhUyqzN79ayLvKPxLa2rRPNiW4uUoMvCILVn_qA-S4jHhvInfgE3UxQD6n166BT95c3YsifG-vdCl2dmIxq/s1600/TOH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAkaicU32a-NKRIcaJDv-r_inI4ym0llit75U9ma-_uUo1xfj2t5iBXSpqrakd640esy6rf-7Mq6rv8EKoMoraxWRJmEl-TkH3kU3rP29YuMXSr6-aGAchyo1TsXFQFw12cGRHzXMgvYu/s1600/IMG00038-20110509-1833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTb7CWmCv86jsQas6n8rhX8pfKzW1_8EAJmYM76yty6WvzOij8FxSzsI2qPuCcE1binFtyZhr4GfaGZFj7eZJeSM_Npy6vxQofcsRhQJagsdmc4KTwwfGILA9jdHTV5YGWrmW4Pchd2gh/s1600/IMG00052-20110509-1845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF46ZOCQdIBJOvhSRV1gO-x8gmb0YWJ3c6C4PyLtWafAWLP3d8QVZHwwjRSb_SA3I1WWDy2y9qFuCkgfWANNNOqX-msdclX-QiMtCP9HG6ecVd3yFCYCSRZc44Vt6akyKEVC3BKwHeuum-/s1600/IMG00036-20110509-1832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV4yodvkU0Vg7Zwhl2jinv1r-yEl8mmhURkEeYjpQ7merImcOki8KXDeMUuaaFXVaqsxqLs8ixnKDzfI83YWmchVLA3-EAvDKzASj5LUaqb7kxXVcl0z9PgT-5XPZXMDSAhe6NLFPUeqZ/s1600/TOH5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV4yodvkU0Vg7Zwhl2jinv1r-yEl8mmhURkEeYjpQ7merImcOki8KXDeMUuaaFXVaqsxqLs8ixnKDzfI83YWmchVLA3-EAvDKzASj5LUaqb7kxXVcl0z9PgT-5XPZXMDSAhe6NLFPUeqZ/s400/TOH5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Delices de Dawn's mouthwatering "Toblerone Cake"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLyonWs-kNgDc7l7S_Dei1klhaLiJycjEpQd-sHNrdU-mkBoTJ_j2JE8yVAV6Du05HZAI1pTu9CJHeJypSPjN_ePfn2tMQft9MrDAX7U2LvS5VKAk7KV6TRr4tJIfXOUrUn3Tuo71OhNK/s1600/TOH6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLyonWs-kNgDc7l7S_Dei1klhaLiJycjEpQd-sHNrdU-mkBoTJ_j2JE8yVAV6Du05HZAI1pTu9CJHeJypSPjN_ePfn2tMQft9MrDAX7U2LvS5VKAk7KV6TRr4tJIfXOUrUn3Tuo71OhNK/s400/TOH6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Delices de Dawn's "Death by Chocolate"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nwoSoM08-D_JNxMl8tpxGV2s5Dv6TKWzt29EjF9U3eq9qdkd_vV-fiKP1Akgw-a23B5OH6Ht4-DHo66v1777SVHJ6Xmf-qaY4PLQwVp8WC8XKwQsVqYeHw4O54HWbzWLHa0xJG-qmjN9/s1600/TOH3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nwoSoM08-D_JNxMl8tpxGV2s5Dv6TKWzt29EjF9U3eq9qdkd_vV-fiKP1Akgw-a23B5OH6Ht4-DHo66v1777SVHJ6Xmf-qaY4PLQwVp8WC8XKwQsVqYeHw4O54HWbzWLHa0xJG-qmjN9/s400/TOH3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspirational musical offerings by the Montreal Gospel Choir </td></tr>
</tbody></table>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-67535669854968040822011-04-08T20:11:00.003-04:002011-04-09T00:08:19.026-04:00Foodies for a Cause<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"TABLE OF HOPE" </span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">May 9th, 2011</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel</span></div></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">“Is that <b>Ben Mulrone</b>y serving shrimp cocktails?!” That was not an uncommon remark one would hear while squeezing their way through the crowded hall of the Queen Elizabeth hotel at last year's Table of Hope in Montreal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Sure he’s taller in person and has surprisingly good plating skills, but he also lends some great publicity to the incredible <b>Table of Hop</b>e event, for which his mother, Mila Mulroney is co-President. For his coverage of the culinary benefit for <b>e-Talk Daily</b> check out:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Even in Montreal, child hunger remains a frightening statistic. The Share the Warmth foundation has been fighting to lower child hunger rates in Montreal since 1989. On May 9</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> 2011, the Table of Hope culinary benefit will bring together over 40 of Montreal’s best restaurants, to raise awareness and funds for child hunger. Last year’s event was an unmitigated success and raised over $100 000 towards Share the Warmth. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Table of Hope is unlike any benefit you will attend in Montreal. Think of it as speed dating with the best restaurants Montreal has to offer. And by best, we mean <i>the </i>best</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Among the many participants:</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr style="height: 120.9pt;"> <td style="height: 120.9pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 149.8pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Bitoque<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">3706 rue Notre-Dame O.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H4C 1P7<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 303-6402<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bitoque.ca/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.bitoque.ca</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br />
</span></div></td> <td style="height: 120.9pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 174.05pt;" valign="top" width="174"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Restaurant La Coupole<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1325 Boul. René Lévesque<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H3G 0A4<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 373-2300<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.restaurantlacoupole.ca/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.restaurantlacoupole.ca</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="height: 120.9pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.2pt;" valign="top" width="157"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Maestro SVP<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">3615 boul. St-Laurent<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H2X 2V5<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 842-6447<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.maestrosvp.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.maestrosvp.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr style="height: 105.4pt;"> <td style="height: 105.4pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 149.8pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Moishes Steakhouse<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">3961 boul. St-Laurent<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H2W 1Y4<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 845-3509<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.moishes.ca/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.moishes.ca</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="height: 105.4pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 174.05pt;" valign="top" width="174"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Le Piment Rouge<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1170 rue Peel<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H3B 4P2<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 935-9889<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.lepimentrouge.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.lepimentrouge.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="height: 105.4pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.2pt;" valign="top" width="157"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">L'Orchidée de Chine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">2017 rue Peel<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, QC <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H3A 1T6<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 287-1878<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.orchideedechine.ca/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.orchideedechine.ca</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr style="height: 106.1pt;"> <td style="height: 106.1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 149.8pt;" valign="top" width="150"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Papas Tapas Martinis<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">3547 St. Laurent<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H2X 2T6<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 544-1321<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.papastapas.ca/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.papastapas.ca</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="height: 106.1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 174.05pt;" valign="top" width="174"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Rib'n Reef Steakhouse<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">8105 Décarie<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montreal, QC <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H4P 2H5<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 735-1777<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.ribnreef.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.ribnreef.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></td> <td style="height: 106.1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.2pt;" valign="top" width="157"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Restaurant Su<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">5145 rue Wellington<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Montréal, Québec <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">H4G 1Y2<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">(514) 362-1818<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.restaurantsu.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">www.restaurantsu.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">For more information on the benefit, to buy tickets, and see the entire list of participating restaurants, winemakers, and breweries go to: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><a href="http://www.tableofhope.ca/">http://www.tableofhope.ca</a></span> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mmmmmontreal</span></b> will, of course, be there covering the event. So stay tuned for a full coverage of the benefit and buy your tickets early because they sell out FAST!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>HOW TO PURCHASE</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">BY TELEPHONE: (514) 933-5599</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">AT THE EVENT: Tickets will be available for purchase at the door based on availability.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">INTERNET: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">www.sharethewarmth.ca </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Charity number: 129600813 RR0001</div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-30246576172885652552011-03-16T15:34:00.002-04:002011-04-08T20:18:17.307-04:00Yallah Let’s Eat! Montreal’s Best Lebanese Food<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Restaurant Daou</span></b><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It comes as no surprise that Celine Dion’s wedding was catered by Daou – one could easily picture Renée filling his mouth with their heavenly stuffed grape leaves, and Celine humming a tune while swirling her pita bread in their velvety hummus. The restaurant even immortalized the event with a large wedding photo of the happy couple to greet you as you walk in the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerfvkzHnTMlHCR5Ylnh3ak0MLtsiU9lMB6Hod1kDZxeHyvE8k4yotdHMOrreU_hn2ONgl9cfnJnb8EBO67rU1hUSgri2ZLuwl5G31WVwh7KQ5glMU2W9TSeH1P46ac3AJY0hLJyKxGjPe/s1600/lebanon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerfvkzHnTMlHCR5Ylnh3ak0MLtsiU9lMB6Hod1kDZxeHyvE8k4yotdHMOrreU_hn2ONgl9cfnJnb8EBO67rU1hUSgri2ZLuwl5G31WVwh7KQ5glMU2W9TSeH1P46ac3AJY0hLJyKxGjPe/s320/lebanon.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For many Montrealers, middle-eastern food claims its place as a popular lunchtime option, mostly because it’s somewhat healthier than the Big Mac and fries on the other side of the food court. However, if Amir’s lunch special number three with an extra side of hummus is your daily noontime ritual and this makes you think you are a Lebanese cuisine connoisseur, you are sadly mistaken. The most authentic and deliciously home-style Lebanese food is found in a quiet, unassuming St-Laurent eatery.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food at Daou is so incredibly genuine and savory, it makes you embarrassed to walk into an Amir and order a falafel sandwich and feel good about it. Any hummus you taste after you have tasted Daou’s will seem too lumpy, or too dry, or just plain off. The stuffed grape leaves you try anywhere else (anywhere except perhaps your Lebanese friend’s teta’s house) will be too tightly wound, too sour, or just plain sad. So be forewarned, by stepping foot inside this middle-eastern Mecca of all things </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">lebaniciously</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> delicious, you will be disappointed by anything else in comparison and you may effectively ruin your weekly falafel lunch run. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As you make your way inside, you are automatically greeted as if you have come to an old friend’s house for dinner. Basam the waiter is always there with a smiling face as “kifek’s” are exchanged between regular customers. There’s something charming about the antiquated décor, and keeps the place low-key with a touch of class. It’s not stuffy and makes you feel right at home. Pictures of the homeland are strewn about the walls, and there’s always a quiet buzz in the room – including sporadic bursts of the Lebanese happy birthday song that blares through the speakers at least once a night. This is where you come for a family dinner and are consistently guaranteed an excellent meal. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whenever people visit Daou they usually order the standard set of dishes. And while many people usually know what these are, the staff is more than willing to help you out if you’re not familiar with the menu. The following is our menu recommendation for a table of four:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Stuffed grape-leaves</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Fatoush salad</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Hummus </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Kibbeh Nayeh (raw) or </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Kibbeh Sounieh (baked)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mixed platter with chicken, filet mignon, and rice</b></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At first glance, this seems like a very small order for four people, but sharing concept is key at Daou, and they are not at all shy with their portions. The stuffed grape-leaves taste like they were freshly picked off the vine and are hand-rolled to perfection. Dip them in a little lebneh (Lebanese-style yoghurt) and you’ll be in heaven. The fatoush or even the tabouleh salads taste nothing like the sloppy and overly dressed versions you find at the food court. For the meat appetizers, you have a choice between <i>Kibbeh Nayeh</i> (raw minced lamb meat with crushed wheat) or <i>Kibbeh Sounieh</i> (baked version). If you choose the raw version, there is proper protocol on how to eat it. Since the dressing that accompanies the platter may seem a bit confusing, we’ll help you out here so you’ll look less like a tourist when you see the plate of onion and mint come your way. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>How to eat </b><i><b>Kibbeh Nayeh</b></i><b>:</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.Take a portion of the meat and place on your dish. Using a fork, gently</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> press down and score the meat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.Garnish with a few pieces of onion and mint (to taste)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.Take a piece of pita bread and scoop all layers into the bread and eat it!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since everything up to this point is incredibly delicious, it’s hard to leave a lot of room for the main course. But you won’t be able to resist once that plate gets to the table. Covered with an enormous pita bread to keep the meat warm, the aroma that wafts out once that bread is lifted has the power to put you in a dangerously gluttonous state. Whether you choose the chicken or filet mignon, or both, you will never taste anything like it. The filet mignon has enough flavor and juiciness to rival any piece of meat you order at Queue de Cheval. The chicken is unparalleled. We have never come across a version of this dish that was even remotely similar – from the mysterious seasoning to its consistently perfect tenderness; this is one dish that will never fail to impress you. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you want to end the meal in true Lebanese style, don’t forget to try a slice of baklava, drizzled in honey and pistachios. There’s also something really special about the regular coffee at Daou – it could be Folgers for all we know, but it helps settle the truckload of food you have just ingested. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So yallah, lets eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Restaurant Daou<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2373, boul. Marcel-Laurin </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Montreal, QC, H4R 1K4<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 68.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">514.334.1199</span><o:p></o:p></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/720978/restaurant/Bordeaux-Cartierville/Daou-Montreal"><img alt="Daou on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/720978/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-176347567623276382011-03-16T14:44:00.003-04:002011-04-08T20:14:10.298-04:00Mmmmmmmm........<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Perfectly Chunky Tomato Sauce </span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">with </span></span></b></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Goat Cheese Crumble</span></span></b></span></span></b></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This recipe came about because of an early childhood aversion to overly runny marinara sauce (an aversion that has continued well onto adulthood. I still cringe at anything that resembles overly-puréed tomato sauce). Anytime there was an over-abundance of liquid tomato on the edges of my pasta bowl, I would run to the stove and pour it back into the pot, along with an escaped noodle or two. As a result, my ever-ingenious mother perfected this sauce over the years, and it has served me very well in my college days away from home, due to its simplicity and accessible ingredients. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The recipe calls for whole tomatoes, which are then crushed by hand to preserve the integrity of the tomato, and makes a perfectly chunky consistency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Perfectly Chunky Tomato Sauce with Goat Cheese Crumble</b></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 can of tomatoes (whole)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 onion<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 clove of garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oregano<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chili pepper flakes<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pinch of salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 Tbsp butter<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Goat cheese (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Preparation:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.Peel and finely chop one onion and one clove of garlic. Set aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.Using a large bowl, take each tomato from the can individually and hold it over the bowl. Gently crush the tomato in your hand; using your fingers to pull the pieces apart. (*Hint: the technique to prevent the tomato from exploding is to hold it gently in your fist and slowly insert your thumb on the long end of the tomato and then crush it). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.Continue until all tomatoes are crushed in bowl. Reserve the juice in the can for later. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. In a medium saucepan, heat one tablespoon of butter and the olive oil to coat the pan. Swirl the mixture around a bit and drop in the chopped onion. Cook until translucent. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5.Add the garlic, oregano, and chili flakes. Stir to incorporate. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6.Pour in the crushed tomato. Stir. Add a bit of the reserved tomato juice from the can to make it less thick.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7.Add pinch of salt to taste.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8.Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring frequently. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9.Use with your pasta of choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10.For a touch of tasty decadence, crumble a bit of goat cheese on the sauce while it’s still hot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Note: you could chop the tomatoes on a cutting board instead of crushing them by hand, as an alternative. However, a lot of the juice gets lost this way. </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-59324335977830750202011-02-14T14:32:00.002-05:002011-04-08T20:16:06.308-04:00CONFUSION – Montreal’s Sexiest Restaurant<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Fernando Alonso, Picasso, Gaudi, Rafael Nadal – Ah yes, Spain has blessed the world with a lot of wonderful things, and food not one to be excluded. Anyone who has visited the magical cities of Barcelona or Madrid will tell you that their favorite thing about Spain was the incredible cuisine. Montreal has been no exception to the Spanish conquest of the culinary scene in North America. Tapas bars are popping up around the city faster than you can say </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">olé!</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> Tapas, which are essentially small amuse-bouche dishes and originally intended to accompany the 5 à 7 cocktail hour, have now turned into an entire dinner concept on its own. It basically allows you to order small portions of different dishes, and sample a variety of things on a menu, without being committed to one main dish. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uG9z_2LuXIzgeJ_EMm1XtlstNxW2h29sr5RxhXAkDtEJTdM56Hgixa2ODGL9vimEUvwxau7IbXZUDBqKA5wZ97mwZRvm67iL2SScSVmF5V7Anaxgcm-8AO5WzSZJvRpLXQGEs_s9XFfp/s1600/confusionsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3uG9z_2LuXIzgeJ_EMm1XtlstNxW2h29sr5RxhXAkDtEJTdM56Hgixa2ODGL9vimEUvwxau7IbXZUDBqKA5wZ97mwZRvm67iL2SScSVmF5V7Anaxgcm-8AO5WzSZJvRpLXQGEs_s9XFfp/s320/confusionsign.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Restaurant Confusion in the Latin Quarter is by far, the </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">coolest</span></span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"> restaurant you will step into in these parts of the city. Where else can you eat your tiny samplings of food while rocking back and forth on a swing? </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><a name='more'></a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The ominous red accents and dimly lit dining room make for a very interesting experience of food exploration. This is one of those rare places that wherever you choose to sit, it makes for a cozy and intimate space. The big red banquettes or even the swings suspended from the cavernous ceiling – each make for a different and altogether sexy dining experience. Since its Valentine’s Day, we can’t think of a more sensuous restaurant where you can enjoy great food, wine, and ambiance. Sharing concept is key with tapas, and works as an excellent way to ease tension on awkward first dates.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">The worst thing about Confusion, is trying to choose from the selection of mouth-watering dishes on the menu. You’ll see some foreign concepts in there, and there is no better place to try new things than at a tapas restaurant because of the size and price of each dish. For the extremely indecisive or the tapas newbies, there are some excellent group menus, which cater to a variety of tastes. The staff at Confusion is extremely knowledgeable about food and wine pairings as well and is always happy to guide you in your selection. Based on our several experiences here, we recommend picking out a solid balance between a vegetarian platter, a meat, a seafood and either a tartar or foie gras. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Some note-worthy dishes included: the cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in pancetta, the saghanaki (deep fried Greek cheese flambéed with Ouzo), grilled Hungarian chorizo with tomato jam, lamb mini burgers, grilled garlic-scented shrimp on sautéed watercress, the Alberta beef rib, and the homemade fries with cumin mayo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">We challenge anyone to try and leave Confusion without sampling one of their desserts, no matter how full they are. The spicy dark chocolate fondant and salty caramel ice-cream (made in-house) or the delicious crème brûlée trio of green tea and mint, sweet milk jam, and rum and coconut are the perfect ending to a sumptuous meal. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">There’s nothing worse than paying a fortune for a sub par meal at an expensive restaurant. At Confusion, the prices are far from exaggerated and you are getting a meal that goes above and beyond that which you would chance to get at a five star restaurant downtown. So let yourself be seduced by the culinary genius of this date-friendly spot but make sure to reserve early, because the restaurant often turns away walk-ins on very busy nights. It’s hard to believe such a small, unassuming place gets so packed, and its entrance is easy to miss…so this Valentine’s Day, head over to Saint-Denis and just look for the hot pink sign above the crooked steps. Trust us, its there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Restaurant Confusion<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">1635 Rue St-Denis<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">Montreal, H2X 3K3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">(514) 288-2225<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">www.restaurantconfusion.com</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/720898/restaurant/Latin-Quarter/Confusion-Tapas-Du-Monde-Montreal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><img alt="Confusion Tapas Du Monde on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/720898/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></span></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-32841322941198239502011-02-08T17:00:00.056-05:002011-02-08T17:35:57.779-05:00VAUVERT – Gothic Enchantment in the Old Port<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nestled into the majestic Hotel St-Paul and racking up some serious </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">it</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-status as one of the hottest supper clubs in the city, Vauvert is quickly becoming the party place extraordinaire of the Old Port. Think of it as the more sophisticated and tamer version of Globe –whose narrow and often over packed confines make being elbowed in the ribs by passing waitresses and simultaneous stilettos stabbing a common occurrence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRncEFB5kYQgRij_y-taVMprvqZoDH1kV_YNCJFxwmOn6P0fLHyW1mocHC0OHDUDKDFa3bRHWjZt721ZUjq1LdkAnogl7mu0Jeqmc_BlXpf7VNj0j8qic25kFMIPqkS4EyLcGqTsPVfI_U/s1600/vauvert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRncEFB5kYQgRij_y-taVMprvqZoDH1kV_YNCJFxwmOn6P0fLHyW1mocHC0OHDUDKDFa3bRHWjZt721ZUjq1LdkAnogl7mu0Jeqmc_BlXpf7VNj0j8qic25kFMIPqkS4EyLcGqTsPVfI_U/s400/vauvert.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.restaurantvauvert.com</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since the food at many of the city’s supper clubs is not exactly meant to be the culinary revelation of the decade </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">per se</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, Pascal Leblond (chef at renowned Cube a few years ago) and now chef behind Restaurant Vauvert, had us thinking we might be entering into different territory. However, one glance at the black leather-bound menu, and a chorus of sighs of disappointment echoed across the table. One would hope that the restaurant’s avant-garde edginess that reverberates through its black lacquered walls, overlooked by a canopy of twinkling lights would be mirrored in the menu, but sadly it didn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And now, a few memos to you supper club chefs (and Vauvert’s in particular): if you want to set your restaurant apart from the crowd and make your food as fabulous as the party scene – how about you drop the standard tomato buffalo mozzarella appetizer? It’s predictable, it’s boring, and we can put it together at home for under ten bucks. Furthermore, tuna tartar seems to be a popular starter on a lot of menus these days. Every restaurant has its own take on it and the texture and seasoning varies from chef to chef. But as a standard rule, the fleshy mound of gooey goodness needs to be eaten with some sort of crispy bread or cracker. So expecting your customers to eat a pile of raw fish atop a stainless steel fork, shows a lack of finesse. And finally, dear chefs, please make sure you remove your baguettes from the freezer well in advance and to allow proper thawing before serving it to your patrons.</span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstH5cIOiti493BchlER64-SbGIzwUBHaGn2odInKGivgXOMaSTKmWFlownE4oJzzBc9Xvoi40Ic0yL-lowl4aOQl11gb0yPDo_uGvaYb2cN7gPGgpd4TsnrlvgLuNTTw77eKU27HWiTyT/s1600/vauvert+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstH5cIOiti493BchlER64-SbGIzwUBHaGn2odInKGivgXOMaSTKmWFlownE4oJzzBc9Xvoi40Ic0yL-lowl4aOQl11gb0yPDo_uGvaYb2cN7gPGgpd4TsnrlvgLuNTTw77eKU27HWiTyT/s400/vauvert+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While many items on the menu leave much to be desired, most of the dishes are decent but lack the wow-factor that one would expect from a place of this pedigree. The rest of the starters were equally lacking in innovation. The duck dumplings for instance were extremely dry and under seasoned, and a couple more could have justified such a hefty price tag. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The mains showed a bit more creativity. The angus burger seemed to be the popular choice and was quite tasty. The accompanying shoestring fries were a bit too salty but this was overshadowed by the fact that they were served in fun kitschy Chinese take-out containers. The veal was perfectly cooked and seasoned, but the plating was poorly executed. Served atop a pile of mushy greens in a lazy and half-hazard manner, the bitterness of the vegetables was lost in the brown sauce and everything turned into a lumpy soup of too many flavors and textures; not exactly the finest of veal dishes we’ve come across. The filet mignon seems to have been the star entrée; its buttery texture and fresh flavor were well received. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOH2b9694-Ld2aeHUk0A00yfcxX7ddHh-nhNPrBxo2gMqckCF42EL8uoAK5xxGR8feB3v-BKuhgAkh4iENkhQHFYBbi_UdPhSTcSDVj5i_gs5hEURgr6ULH5ahWCtMIZjSjou-c_yt12Y/s1600/vauvert+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOH2b9694-Ld2aeHUk0A00yfcxX7ddHh-nhNPrBxo2gMqckCF42EL8uoAK5xxGR8feB3v-BKuhgAkh4iENkhQHFYBbi_UdPhSTcSDVj5i_gs5hEURgr6ULH5ahWCtMIZjSjou-c_yt12Y/s400/vauvert+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At this point, we were stuffed with a somewhat underwhelming meal, and were envisioning the numbers tallying up on our bill, so we opted to start the party and turned to bottles of vodka for dessert. If popping bottles of Goose is not your thing – then head over to the bar and order your cocktail of choice, because the drinks are the real stars at this Vieux-Port hot spot. Now, with drink in hand, and some great tunes to dance to, feel free to soak in the devilish charm of this locale’s gothic</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ally</span></i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-enchanting atmosphere. Painted pitch black, but not in a cold, unwelcoming way, the walls at Vauvert are delicately illuminated by twinkling ceiling lights and make you feel as though you’re standing beneath a starry sky. Too bad the food was not as bright a star as the décor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Bottom-line:</b> Come for the party, not the food. Otherwise, if you enjoy paying an expensive bill for an average meal, then this place is perfect! <b>The crowd:</b> a good mix of everything, but a bit older than the twenty-somethings we usually see at these types of places. <b>Dress-code</b>: we saw outfits that covered the gamut from casual lumberjack-chic to Cher-inspired sequin spandex… so it seems pretty much everything goes. <b>Spotted</b>: famed Argentine-director Santiago Amigorena chatting up the runway-ready models/waitresses. <o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Restaurant Vauvert<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">355 McGill St<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Montreal, QC<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(514) 876-2823<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.restaurantvauvert.com/">www.restaurantvauvert.com</a></span></span> <br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/722810/restaurant/Montreal/Old-Montr-al/Restaurant-Vauvert-Montreal"><img alt="Restaurant Vauvert on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/722810/biglink.gif" style="border: none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-30917702606839658082011-02-01T20:02:00.002-05:002011-02-01T20:28:40.364-05:00Biting Into the Big Apple – Best of NYC Restaurants<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kL3t4WoARyCaXTxFL0hPnzNOXLejgwLyAq4uEQGSeiIxklacrkZeAMjJXlodS1MA0VWw44lF8TFpdC1-WOGdjWx4f2XiYbIZQB_z4pP22Own4fflY-C-MoJyk4i3bkv_H8Fbi34lSTnG/s1600/nyc-map-subway5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kL3t4WoARyCaXTxFL0hPnzNOXLejgwLyAq4uEQGSeiIxklacrkZeAMjJXlodS1MA0VWw44lF8TFpdC1-WOGdjWx4f2XiYbIZQB_z4pP22Own4fflY-C-MoJyk4i3bkv_H8Fbi34lSTnG/s400/nyc-map-subway5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Tao – “Buddha-licious”</span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember that scene in the movie Hitch when Eva Mendes goes to a speed-dating event with her permanently single friend and Will Smith traipses in past an enormous Buddha, hoping to redeem his honor whilst declaring his love for Eva? Did you think while watching: “wow, too bad Hitch stormed out of there because I bet the food is really great…?” Well we did. Made famous not only because of its cameo in the romantic comedy, but because of its frequent celebrity patrons, Tao is a definite New York must. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food isn’t mind-blowing but the experience certainly makes it worth a visit. Be prepared to wait for a table for over an hour (even with reservations). In the meantime, head over to the bar and lounge area, which is cleverly separated from the main dining area by a floor-to-ceiling glass wall. The crowd is an interesting mix of young professionals, couples, tourists, and unsuspecting families with kids. This place is about seeing and being seen. As you sip your cocktail, waiting anxiously for the buzzer in your hand to ring (and which probably never will), you can sit on the slick leather seats and do some serious people watching. We counted some NBA players, and a few models in the hour we waited. So word to the wise, do not come here hungry unless you are prepared to slip the hostess a twenty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once you rejoice in the victory of scoring a table and have finally sat down, take in the room. This is trendy New-York dining at its finest and unlike any restaurant you’ll find in Montreal. The service is impeccable and surprisingly friendly for such a swanky place. Our waiter gave us a few suggestions and wasn’t pushy on anything and we ended up having some very unique and delicious dishes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBXwnqXHMKdUtL7jdDGZgYpeu0jrjlXm4PTNSVNFx1_8Achy3wu62MdD2W37_ln58eV68re6pWZYohVDePi-l4ypKALNL0jCbyDfeGk1lfw_lzbarRT-zP9s6iNz5MxvTIadZmWTJMo2D/s1600/taophoto2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBXwnqXHMKdUtL7jdDGZgYpeu0jrjlXm4PTNSVNFx1_8Achy3wu62MdD2W37_ln58eV68re6pWZYohVDePi-l4ypKALNL0jCbyDfeGk1lfw_lzbarRT-zP9s6iNz5MxvTIadZmWTJMo2D/s200/taophoto2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.taorestaurant.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food: tuna tartar on crispy rice (appetizer), swordfish with a chili drizzle and asparagus tempura (entrée), kung-pao chicken with assorted vegetables (entrée), banana pudding with fortune cookie crust (dessert), Tao infusion tea with lavender and chamomile.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was difficult to choose a single entrée from the assortment on the menu (others included a mouth-watering beef tartar tempura and lobster dumplings). The tuna tartar was a departure from the traditional texture one normally sees with this appetizer. This one was more of a purée version, delicately seasoned and placed on warm crispy rice with a soft interior –definitely a highlight of the meal and a great way to warm up the palate. It’s a good idea to balance out a meat with a fish at Tao because both are done exquisitely. The swordfish was perfectly cooked and moist, and paired quite nicely with the sweet chili sauce. The asparagus tempura was an interesting side and complemented the flavors of the fish beautifully. The kung-pao chicken was delicious – not overly spicy or sweet – and that means a lot coming from someone who is not the biggest fan of Chinese food. The portions are quite large and the sharing concept is true to its Asian inspiration. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We often tend to judge a restaurant by its dessert. A bad dessert has the potential to ruin what would otherwise be a spectacular meal. This was not the case at Tao. The banana pudding is like a tropical-Thai twist on the Italian tiramisu. Layers of banana and fortune cookie crumbs with flavored custard in between were an immaculate and inspired way to end the meal. We paired this with a lovely lavender tea infusion which helped lighten the heaviness of the pudding. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in all, an excellent meal without being too pretentious or avant-garde, and offering some great twists to the classics. Reserve early, and expect to pay about fifty bucks a head for a decent sized meal. If you are seated at the bench area and you’re short, opt for the chair or you will feel like a child in need of a booster seat during your meal. If you’re a tourist, leave the kids at home and DO NOT come dressed in your sightseeing attire of mom-jeans and sneakers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fun fact: it’s been reported that on occasion, the wait staff has to pull down people trying to climb the 20 ft. tall Buddha.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tao<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">42 East 58th Street<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New York City, 10022-1910<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">212.888.2288</span></span> <br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/41307/restaurant/Midtown-East/Tao-New-York"><img alt="Tao on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/41307/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-3405892484852627992011-02-01T19:51:00.002-05:002011-04-08T20:17:28.135-04:00Biting Into the Big Apple – Best of NYC Restaurants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoGh-0ZU4XfluFQxVI_D1ATcTy-KqtvPivg57qhMhdRwBe_7Il6uDbfO5DlfNBhKUYCfpRaF4DiTuszl4XxOUtIb8wPMHEUmqICF6XGdCKZMfULKHVgsPQsPx0DtxNtCSZGdQ-yUlDoC7/s1600/nyc-map-subway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRoGh-0ZU4XfluFQxVI_D1ATcTy-KqtvPivg57qhMhdRwBe_7Il6uDbfO5DlfNBhKUYCfpRaF4DiTuszl4XxOUtIb8wPMHEUmqICF6XGdCKZMfULKHVgsPQsPx0DtxNtCSZGdQ-yUlDoC7/s400/nyc-map-subway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">eatery nyc</span></span></span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cool Comfort in </span></span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">NYC's Theater District</span></span></span></span></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you want something a little less sceney but not without a significant cool factor, go to Eatery. Recommended by a local friend of ours, this place is not on the usual tourist radar and offers lots of delicious food choices. We stopped by on a busy Friday night without reservations and only waited five minutes for a table. However, those few minutes were certainly well spent– thanks to the mind-blowing cocktails created by the amazing man who tends bar here. He is clearly a master of his craft and takes his liquid creations very seriously. If you have the coconut-rum mojito you will have thought you died and went to heaven.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The food: crispy rice cakes (complimentary snack while you wait), baked Camembert with wine-soaked grapes (appetizer), braised short-rib with red-wine reduction (entrée), and chicken eggplant tortellini made in-house (entrée). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This meal was simple and fabulous. Sometimes simplicity goes a long way and this restaurant goes the full mile. The menu boasts some classic home-style cooking choices with some funky twists, but maintains an overall contemporary American style. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rice-cakes you’re given instead of the usual bread and butter are odd-looking but you will end up finishing the basket by the time your appetizer arrives. The baked-brie could have been a bit warmer and gooey-er, but it was still great when paired with the wine-soaked grapes and French baguette. Mains are a bit heavy so a salad might have been better choice as a starter. The entrées were spectacular. Portions are perfect and not overly accessorized. The home-made tortellini was out of this world; light yet tasty, the broth-like sauce was a perfect compliment to the tender pasta. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While the dessert menu was very tempting, we were absolutely bursting with food so we opted out. Since you’re practically in the heart of Times Square, take a short walk down Broadway to make some room after your Eatery dinner and pop into Carnegie Deli for a slice of their traditional New York strawberry cheesecake instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">eatery nyc<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ninth Ave. at 53rd St. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New York City 10019<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">212.765.7080 </span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/3/26779/restaurant/Midtown-West/Eatery-New-York"><img alt="Eatery on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/26779/minilink.gif" style="border: none; height: 36px; width: 130px;" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-45990171937175529812011-01-26T22:49:00.005-05:002011-01-31T19:49:30.202-05:00Café Vasco Da Gama<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzGHGZvehXzozOQ7YRsO_4Ap64GVaAWFbIe2MNkJ03BWnkkyPKihjbttv5o4aeTBdBlJcWw415obqZ2RylIoBG29UVUzFtGla2gHqzkwNNW_2gn-bxs36xDbHHnDoNMpOi_NqeeOYgc_4/s1600/vasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzGHGZvehXzozOQ7YRsO_4Ap64GVaAWFbIe2MNkJ03BWnkkyPKihjbttv5o4aeTBdBlJcWw415obqZ2RylIoBG29UVUzFtGla2gHqzkwNNW_2gn-bxs36xDbHHnDoNMpOi_NqeeOYgc_4/s400/vasco.jpg" width="247" /></a>After discovering this little downtown gem less than a year ago, we’ve found ourselves using downtown shopping sprees as an excuse to come here for a cup of coffee – and nothing soothes the post credit card bingeing blues like a warm latte. Ten months and too many shoes later, we now count Vasco Da Gama as one of the best coffee shops in the city. If you’re a tourist and looking for an authentic gourmet coffee experience, head no further than this quaint downtown locale. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Considered the younger sibling of Café Ferreira nearby, Vasco Da Gama offers more than just great coffee and delicious pastries. While we could go on about its mouthwatering cappuccinos, the food here is equally spectacular. Stop by for a healthy breakfast of goat milk yoghurt topped with fresh blackberries and kumquats, or a custom-made omelet. The array of burgers, sandwiches and paninis makes for some difficult decision-making at lunch time. Prepared on-site, each is a creative combination of ingredients, flavors and color. When half the workday has passed and you’ve already been worn down to a drooling buffoon at the site of any kind of nourishment, how can you choose between the eggplant goat cheese and the duck confit panini, topped with caramelized figs, mango and St-Jorge cheese? To make matters worse, you have to choose a side salad from a spread that would rival the health factor over at Liquid Nutrition. Each is expertly dressed, and a color palate coordinated to perfection. The celery root is speckled with dried cranberries, and the baby string bean tomato salad was like summer in a bowl. Our favorite is the simple and understated Ferreira Club with a side of quinoa salad. And why not enjoy a glass of champagne with your quick and tasty panini, followed by a frothy cappuccino? Or how about trading in that after lunch breath mint for a Fleur de Sel caramel at the check out counter? <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The menu isn’t fussy – only pure flavors arranged in fresh, innovative ways.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The room is a narrow stretch of brilliant ocean blues and pale creams – reminiscent of a Mediterranean dream. Tall arched ceilings and painted mosaic tiles on the walls offer a much-needed sunny escape from the dreariness of Montreal’s winter weather. The ambience is always quietly buzzing, and you’ll likely see an eclectic mix of business people, students, couples, and exhausted shoppers. Cordial and efficient, the staff is always on top of their game, along with the manager –who comes around regularly to mingle with patrons. With the convenience of coffee to-go franchises around every corner, it’s easy to forget to take the time to visit the smaller, lesser-known cafés the city has to offer. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Vasco Da Gama is a small place that packs a big punch. Alone or with friends, this downtown gem is definitely worth the visit. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Café Vasco Da Gama<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">1472, Rue Peel<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Montreal, Quebec<o:p></o:p></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt;">(514) 286-2688</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/720639/restaurant/Montreal/Golden-Square-Mile/Cafe-Vasco-Da-Gama-Montreal"><img alt="Café Vasco Da Gama on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/720639/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-55358741719100410612011-01-26T21:14:00.000-05:002011-01-26T21:14:34.119-05:00Mmmmmmmmm........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes </span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br />
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</i></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s always a good idea to have a go-to dessert that you know will be a guaranteed crowd pleaser. It has to be simple enough to make, but not without that significant wow-factor. Quite frankly, it’s that staple dish that makes you look like a gastronomic genius when you may be, in fact, quite far from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is why I absolutely love this cupcake recipe, which I adapted from the Magnolia Bakery cookbook. There’s something in these that seems to excite the inner child in everyone, even at a formal dinner party. They can be elegant or whimsy and are highly adaptable for any occasion.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br />
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</i></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes </span></span></i></b></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></i></b></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></i></b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup unsalted room-temperature butter</span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 cups sugar<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 eggs (room-temperature)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">½ teaspoon baking soda<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">½ teaspoon baking powder<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 cup milk<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Icing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 cup unsalted room-temperature butter<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3-5 cups icing sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">¼ cup milk<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 teaspoon vanilla extract<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. Line a muffin tin (large) with cupcake papers<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.In a large bowl, cream butter on medium speed until smooth. Add sugar gradually until fully incorporated and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until mixture has increased in volume.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4.In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Sift together.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5.Prepare a measuring cup with milk and mix in the vanilla.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">6.Add the milk and flour mixtures to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating. Beat on medium speed only until ingredients are fully incorporated.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7.Spoon mixture into cupcake liners about ¾ full.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8.Bake for 20 minutes. To test, press the top of the cupcake and it should spring back.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">9.Let cupcakes cool in tin for 5 minutes then remove and let cool completely on wire rack.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">10.Prepare icing.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vanilla Buttercream Icing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.In a medium bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.Add milk and vanilla and beat until incorporated.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.Add a cup of sugar and beat until smooth and creamy. Add a cup of sugar at a time (beat about 2 minutes after each addition) until it develops a good spreading consistency. You may not need all the sugar.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4. Separate icing into different bowls (as many colors as you want to make) and add a couple of drops of food coloring of your choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5.Spread icing on cooled cupcake with rubber spatula. Use decorations of your choice.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-3873990065224117272011-01-26T21:12:00.000-05:002011-01-26T21:12:07.320-05:00Baldwin Barmacie<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;">If you’ve never gone for a drink at Barmacie, you’re either over the age of forty, a boring homebody who stays in on Saturday nights to watch Say Yes to the Dress marathons or perhaps a recovering alcoholic. Okay, harsh words, but really, what is the matter with you? A place once kept severely under wraps by local trendsetters and twenty-something hipsters, this plateau watering hole is on the cusp of being discovered by one too many people.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">As the name implies, Baldwin’s is a pharmacy-turned-bar and the place stays true to its genetic origin. In the end, what is the difference between a pharmacist and a bartender really? Both are people who mix cocktails in glass vials to soothe our anxieties and pains, act as confidants for our troubles, and both stand behind big counters as we ask to be placated with the best concoctions medicine or mixology have to offer. So if you’re like us and have graduated from the coed-infested halls of McGibbins and Trois Brasseurs, step into Barmacie for a vial of an expertly mixed cocktail in a low-key trendy ambiance. Ladies, leave your Globe-faring attire at home and gentlemen, please abandon any Jersey-Shore inspired ensembles – this isn’t that kind of place. Feel free to wear those obnoxious fake nerd glasses however, because you’ll fit right in.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The stars among the cleverly named cocktails are the mojitos. If you need a bit more nursing than a simple cocktail, the small carafes of liqueur are a popular and ingenious alternative. Also be sure to sample one of Barmacie’s deliciously greasy grilled cheese sandwiches to curb that post drink appetite before you head out the door. The music is like that friend who makes a great companion but blends perfectly into the background when necessary – fun but not overly intrusive.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The bottom-line: great drinks, great music, great ambiance. It’s easy to lose the drive to go out at night in the winter months, especially in Montreal’s sub-zero climate. And since standing in line outside a club in a mini dress is best left to the teenyboppers; Baldwin’s is a great excuse to leave the warmth of our living rooms and engage in some serious and sophisticated medicating.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Baldwin Barmacie<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">115 Laurier Ouest<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Montreal, QC H2T 2N6, Canada<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">(514) 276-4282</span></div></div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-18866368355064213472011-01-26T21:08:00.001-05:002011-01-31T19:36:23.782-05:00Galo - Best Kept Secret in TMR<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Every once in awhile a restaurant opens up in the most unlikely of places with such authenticity and genuine appeal, you feel like you’ve been admitted into a secret society just for having discovered such a gem. For fear of betraying the trust of this covenant, you never suggest this place for a birthday party or friendly get together. You keep it all to yourself and you revel in your ingenuity and Bacchanalian pleasure with every meal you consume here.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Such is the case with Galo. Think of it as a classier, less chaotic version of Coco-Rico where you can enjoy fantastic Portuguese cuisine at its finest. The dining area may be as small as the average living room, but that is what lends to its charm; and like a J.K. Rowlings’ style magic, there always seems to be a place waiting for you no matter what time of day. The owners are a mother and daughter team who take care of you like you’ve come for a meal at their home. As the service is gracious and affable, so is the décor with its warm Mediterranean undertones and casual flair.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The more often one frequents this paradise of Portuguese home-style cooking, the more one develops a collection of favorites among the menu’s offerings. While we encourage you to try everything on the menu because without exaggeration or pomp - everything <i>will </i>be delicious; there are a few must-try dishes. Since this is first and foremost a rotisserie, a newcomer’s first visit should include a sampling of the mixed meat grill – a combination of chicken, chorizo, and pork flank enrobed in a succulent blanket of garlic and herb seasoning. The flavors are bold but never overpower the taste of the meats. Cooked to perfection on a real charcoal grill, we have never once encountered a dry piece of meat- which tends to be the danger at many rotisseries. The mixed platters are accompanied by the humble French-fry; a perfect accompaniment since they are not overly greasy and cooked with the skin-on. If you’re one of those who come here to order a healthy salad with grilled chicken on top, go home. Don’t bother taking up the precious space of this small eatery with your healthy request, because there’s some real food lovers waiting for a table behind you.</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Be sure to accompany your meal with a selection from the array of Portuguese wines available – from the fruity to the dry, they will complement the richness of the meats or the daintiness of the seafood with perfection. For desert, you have no choice but to have a <i>nata </i>–which we dare you not to try. These small custard pastries go quickly over the course of the day, so we often reserve one as soon as we order our meal. Gentleman and ladies, impress your significant others with a quiet evening of succulent food and wine, without the gregarious pomp of the higher-end locales. We guarantee you will leave Galo with a warm tingling sensation that often accompanies a new discovery, just keep it to yourself okay?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Galo</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span id="search" style="visibility: visible;">1970, boulevard Graham<br />
Mount Royal, QC H3R 1H3, Canada<br />
(514) 504-5110</span><br />
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</div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/1433549/restaurant/Montreal/Galo-Mont-Royal"><img alt="Galo on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1433549/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-41753807784205244142011-01-26T21:07:00.002-05:002011-02-03T17:10:18.649-05:00Faros - Get Me To the Greek<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px;">While it’s safe to say that Montreal is not without its supply of Hellenic cuisine, finding a chic, upscale Greek restaurant where you won’t have to take out a second mortgage on your house after an evening out can be a bit of a challenge. Stripped of all the pretentious opulence you see down the street at Milos, Faros delivers equally, if not superior, quality dishes to satisfy your inner Spartan.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Faros holds a special place in our hearts because it is the site where a dramatic transformation amongst us took place. A fish-hating dinner companion of ours was officially transformed into a fish-lover. And by lover, I mean he suggested we pay a visit to the quaint Greek eatery because he had been craving their fish all day. I of course stared in disbelief, but happily made my way over to this quiet Park Ave site. It was their magically marinated swordfish that was responsible for this transformation and is guaranteed to have the same effect on any fish-hater out there. I will never understand you fish-haters – I can only assume your avoidance is due to a traumatic fish-eating experience (as was the case with the afore-mentioned dinner companion).<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do not fear coming here with a huge appetite. The generous portions are prepared quickly but at no expense to their quality. Start the meal off with a crispy serving of fried zucchini and eggplant, piled onto a heap of hidden creamy tzaziki. Although octopus is not for everyone, the salad is made with expertly dressed tender pieces of this seafood. The Greek salad is a wonderfully refreshing primer to the main course but can sometime be a hit or miss. At our recent dining experience here, the kitchen had seemed to run out of cucumbers since our salad was comprised of mostly onion and tomato. It can also be said that every option of main courses is a safe bet. The lamb is always perfectly seasoned and roasted, the chicken equally tender and tasty, and I’ve already mentioned that the swordfish is divine-incarnate. Sharing concept is key at Faros, which makes it an ideal place for a dinner date, a birthday dinner with friends, or a night out with the parents. End the meal with a clever and complex fruit platter to share amongst your fellow epicureans. Even mid-winter, the fruits are unbelievably fresh and when do you ever see slices of succulent dragon fruit on a desert plate?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The flavors are genuine and uncompromised by its simplicity. A casual ambiance ensconced by professional service makes Faros a comfortable and satisfying dining experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Restaurant Faros<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">362, avenue Fairmount Ouest<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Montreal, QC H2V 2G4, Canada<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(514) 270-8437</span></div></div><a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/67/721179/restaurant/Montreal/Outremont/Faros-Montreal"><img alt="Faros on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/721179/minilink.gif" style="border:none;width:130px;height:36px" /></a>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-65089915040896078212011-01-14T20:34:00.002-05:002011-01-18T00:25:08.586-05:00About<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><style>
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Montreal. You think you’re so cute with your European flair, your sidewalk terraces, and joie de vivre. Your poutine and smoke meat sandwiches may set you apart from your sister cities, but you are more than that. You are a paradox of chic and grungy. A plethora of flavors, textures, and complexity. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This site is about the love affair one forms with Montreal and its food. Whether you’ve lived here all your life or have come for a short visit – you will know that the city’s restaurant scene affords an infinitesimal array of experiences. Our intention is to compound a series of posts about the quality eats the city has to offer. The reviews will focus on fantastic (and perhaps not so fantastic) restaurants we visit. Before showing you some of our favorite places, let’s clear the air a bit. This blog will focus mostly on food, but other venues are subject to review as well. Also note that we leave the city on occasion and when we do, we’ll be sure to write about great places to eat and drink outside of Montreal. Consider this a random place-to-go generator of sorts and tailored for the indecisive.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Some of you may read restaurant reviews by professional food critics in the newspaper. If you are like us, you will find that your Saturday mornings are spent reading nothing but tedious and scathing reviews by L. Chesterman and her peers. You will also notice that these columns often review the same restaurants three times in one year (Bice anyone?). Montreal has some of the most incredible, charming, unusual and often unexpected restaurants and bars waiting to be discovered. That’s where we come in. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Some of you may also turn to restaurant reviews online. These are sites that are often sponsored by (what-else) restaurants and either give extremely biased reviews or are comprised of forums where people just like you will write little one-liners about the fabulousness of a place and others will berate their dining experience in meticulous detail and hope it will propel the restaurant into bankruptcy. This is also where we will try and help you out. We promise to deliver unbiased reviews, while giving you something more to go on than just two chili peppers out of ten, or: “worst restaurant ever – waiter brought my check without me asking! BOYCOTT this place!!”. So save the drama for your mama, because a great restaurant does not deserve to be verbally massacred because of a trivial mistake by a waiter. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Also note that no place is too lowly, too trendy, to out-of-the way, too commonplace, too popular, too little popular, too new or too old to be featured.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Bon appetit! </div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2885774734916401993.post-52373897906009168352011-01-14T20:27:00.002-05:002011-01-18T00:19:16.289-05:00About 2<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Be forewarned that these reviews will not include any star ratings or thumbs up icons to help you skim through and filter out which restaurants suit your mood. If this is not your method of choice, then pick up your iPhone –there’s an app for that.<o:p></o:p></div></div>MTLFoodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702682409388082414noreply@blogger.com0