Larry

I know this is off topic, but has bibloquet opened for the season??

Has anyone tried Asha on Parc?

I'm looking for a good new Indian restaurant to try in Montreal. I usually go the Taj on Stanley because it's close by but does anyone have any other recommendations? Thanks

We try out a few new recipes each year, each soaked in different liquors and with different combos of dried fruits. My favourite one this year included dried cherries, figs, cranberries, currants, golden raisins, peaches and walnuts. Of course the fruits marinated in port and brandy for two weeks before making te cake. It was made in october and was doused with an equal mix of port and brandy once a week. It was the best one we've made so far. I have never bought a christmas cake that actually tastes good (and we have tried one's that claim to be the best) and that is why I think there are so many people who claim to hate it.

Same as you and and completely understand where you're coming from. In my family it's the debate over which paskas and babkas are the best. My grandfather also always makes great liverwurst, hrin, blood sausage and his famous flourless walnut cake. Yum

Love: Jamie Oliver, especially from the early days Not a fan of: Ina Garten

I either love the PC product or I don't. Most of their frozen stuff is horrible, especially the pasta dishes (obvious). The chocolate fudge crackle ice cream is great as are the gelatos. The organic line is ok but I've had better luck with other brands that specialize in organics.

In Montreal? Whereabouts?

My father who commutes to Florida on a weekly basis has an ongoing order for the filled Maple Cookies, Jo Louies and ketchup chips. They just can't get enough of them

Very pleased with craftbar as my final spring break meal in ny, but it was my first time so cannot be the perfect judge. Salad with bresaola, spanish almonds, and thyme honey was superb. Just enough to split. Followed with the wild bass on sweet potato puree with braised fennel and pistaschios. My mom opted for the braised chicken with french lentils and picholine olives, very comforting and almost too large of a portion. Both were simple yet delicious. Dessert was alright, simple sorbets, blood orange being the best out of the three with intense vanilla shortbreads. Loved the atomosphere and comfort of the place.

Classic Dubonet with the essential twist of lemon rind

I second that. Eating in Germany is one of my all time favourite food experiences. Are you going to be in Dusseldorf or Cologne? If in Strasbourg be sure to pick up some pain d'epice from the pain d'epice store, I still have dreams about how good it was. I forget the exact location but it seems that everyone knows where it is. Just ask for the best pain d'epice.

Yes, just cut them in hapf and lay the chicken on them. Once done, drain a bit of the fat and mash them together.

My new current favourite is from Jamie Oliver where you stuff it with couscous and dried fruits, rub it with moorish spices and then bake it on a sweet potato "stovie". Then just squeeze fresh lemon over the top and it's fantastic.

I want to make some chai spiced chocolate truffles for valentine's day but don't want to buy a whole container of the concentrate. Would it turn out ok if I just added some ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves? Should I add it to the cream? Just wondering how others have gone about doing this and any other suggestions you might have. Thanks

Thank you for that picture. Oh do I ever miss Paul's macarons, and just Paul's in general.

I hope this low-carb fad is over in the next few years! People will begin to see the toll that it is taking on their systems.

Somebody posted that at wd50 they make this amazing turnip cake, but can't find it at the mometn. I wonder if it tastes anything like it??

I was being a little facetious. So I take it that you are not against Paul's? I will only start to worry if they plan to open outlets in North America! The horrors!!!!

It OK to like a chain!!! When I first stepped into Paul's I had no idea that there were more locations, and when I discovered that there were, I was pleased and not at all disappointed. If the quality remains in the product there is no problem. One could argue that Poilane is not even a true experience because you can get their breads shipped anywhere in the world.

Wow, another Ottawa native! I still do check on it every now and then, it is pretty bad though. I still believe that the general Ottawa reader enjoys it.

Tea infused chocolate stuff is delicious. I think I might try a chocolate cake with a chai spiced frosting as I mentioned before. How about a cardammon and chocolate rice pudding topped with toasted coconut?

Larry, ARE YOU SERIOUS!! I'll ask you again, ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! In all my years, of checking out the Montreal Gazette food section, I've never been impressed at all. Nowadays, the Wednesday food section is even shorter & shorter(less space devoted to food content), as it's part of the revamped Art & Life section. I can't remember how long, Julian Armstrong has been their Food Editor(must be around 20 years). I see locals in their respective areas complaining about the Toronto Star & NY Times's food section on eGullet. The Montreal Gazette's food section is a hundred times worse!! As for as the Saturday restaurant reviews(not really part of the food section). It's better, but still could be improved. I like Lesley Chesterman's selection of the fine dining restaurants that she reviews(she has reviewed quite a few restaurants, throughout the Montreal area(& sometimes beyond that), that I have never heard of). Although quite a few of the fine dining restaurants reviewed, are not really true fine dining restaurants(can't blame her as there's not enough of these restaurants, for her to review a new restaurant weekly). I would like Sarah Musgrave's casual-dining reviews to be a little longer(it's way too short). And it's always been my feeling that the reviews in the big city daily papers, should always be based on at least two visits(Lesley occasionally makes more than one visit, before her reviews). A pet peeve of mine, is that many of the Montreal restaurant critics, rush to review the high-profile new restaurants(as soon as 4-5 weeks after opening). -Steve I did mean with the restaurant reviews. However, when you mention it, I do agree that they rush to review new restaurants way too fast!!! Sarah Musgrave also just seems to enjoy every restaurant that she reviews. I just think that for the general Montreal reader they do a good job. If it became too in depth many would not even read it. It could include some new fresh writing though. People who are into food know where to turn for good writing and info, and I think that the Gazette just tries to give their readers what they want.

This is one of my favourite streets in the entire world!!!! Everything that you need is at your fingertips. We stayed in a flat on Montorgueil while in Paris and every morning would go down to Paul's for bread and fruit from the market, and then come back in the evening and get fresh chickens to roast and delicious pastas and olive oils, and then of course more bread!!!!!!!

We use green cabbage for the cabbage rolls, and the filling consists or either rice or buckwheat with onion, garlic and dill. They can also include ground veal or pork if you are not going meatless.