sf&m

I am a regular at 10 pm $22 at Lemeac... hard to beat!! Although I wish they rotated through a few more variations on the $22 menu..... I was referring to Milos regular Exalted prices, but count me in on their $22 11 pm deal.... The City of Montreal also needs to step up to the plate... help promote tax paying inner city businesses! Remove irritations like parking etc. Ok, small thing in $$ but imagine if the City promoted a FREE parking night per week, to come in and enjoy the city restos. But frankly I am not sure I'd like to see too much erosion of resto plate prices because it ultmately will reduce food quality = Long term disaster. I'd rather see resto owners cool down their wine prices a bit. Ok, drinks is the cash cow, but IF we're really in hard times, if you can STILL provide excellent food and a decently priced glass of wine, you will have customers. And Montrealers pay a LOT for wine, relative to food compared with the US for instance. MAybe offer a Table d'Hot with with fixed paired two glasses of wine per dish for say $10. A $30 price for a table d'hot and two glasses of wine would be hit. And with a economical wine selection you can keep food quality up and still make money. You know what wine to open, use a well priced....you can secure an average respectable tab and the customers feel they got a deal in food + wine. Anyway... good ideas are needed, NOT necessarily giving up quality and GOOD CHEFS!!

Taverne Crescent offers "Pay what you want - Payer C'que vous voulez", Monday through Friday 11:00 - 15:00. They are at 1433 rue Crescent. Food not drinks is "Pay what you want". Taverne Crescent They were written up in an article in The Globe and Mail about this trend - here and overseas. Pay what you want restos link

Hmm, wonder what $22 will get you at Milos? Nothing on their website, or the others either, about these offers. In either case let's support our local restaurant and party like it's 2009!

Anything yet? I guess we'll know Dec 16th but is there anybody with "pre-release" news? In these supposedly blah economic times, let's this one shine and make it a Montreal feast to remember.

Suberb job!!! Click here for Lesley Chesterman's Montreal Fine Dining and Much More Website Nice design, LOTS of information and you keep it updated too. WOW! What's wrong with you folks, why aren't you chatting up her website?? Oh, forgot - asleep at wheel like me - or over at that canine place. Zzzzzzz. This is an impressive website, good reviews of old and new and up-to-date written by a pro. Use it before you come to Montreal. So..Thanks Lesley (late but humbly).... did not know: - Mikado moved - THANKS .... the old place entrance always reminded me of a "oriental" massage parlor. New digs look great. - Villa Armando Shoot...did not know it was a restaurant - I thought it was some kind of institution. Fancy that - an actual resto in TMR! And I can walk there in 5 minutes. Agree... Hooray!

Hmm, never had those vibes at Juni. I have taken several people there and never had any problems like what you experienced. It's a small space... what... maybe 30-40 seats, with 6 people to seat....if anything goes wrong.. it's hard to recover quickly. I wonder if the reservation person got your cancellation of the 2 people wrong and cancelled your whole party? Obviously not a reason why you should be treated rudely! I would not write them off, because Juni's skills are unique in Montreal.

IKEA's food store at the cash registers have SWEDISH pickled herring. I don't think they have the plain matjes filets here in the Montreal store, but they do have variety of ready made pickled herring.

Article in NYT about Montreal Restos. The usual suspects are mentioned. Not particularly enlightening here, but hopefully good exposure and more business from down south. http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/travel/06choice.html

This in on the email from Racha Bassoul: En plus de la carte du brunch hebdomadaire, la chef Racha Bassoul a conçu un BRUNCH spécial pour le weekend Pascal. Réservations suggérées! ============================================== In addition to the weekly brunch menu, chef Racha Bassoul has created a special BRUNCH for this Easter weekend. Reservations are welcome! ============================================== http://www.lebazaar.ca :: 365 Laurier Ouest :: 514-276-6999 ::

Tapeo http://www.restotapeo.com/ Laloux http://www.laloux.com/ Pullman http://www.pullman-mtl.com/ Bouchonné and ze ol' standby.. that never fails... Leméac http://www.restaurantlemeac.com/en-CA/index.aspx

Yes, I've tried it several times. It's a clean fresh taste. Don't know if I believe it's from the second pressing after they pressed for Ice Cider. At 12 % alcohol the initial sugars don't add up. So maybe they Chapitalize (add sugar). Anyway... it's good, clean product. Check out Ciderie Minot..... they have some nice traditional ciders including a Rosé Sparkling at about 7 % alcohol, perfect for summertime sipping. There are actually quite a few traditional Quebec ciders that are worth checking out!

Chile, eh? Very interesting. At the November Ottowa Wine and food show there was a a great Chile booth presenting a huge range of vere nicely made Chilean wines. Goodby Bulk and Depaneur!! And not a label critter in sight. Chile can produce wine styles from Racy NZ like Sauvignon Blancs to Hot Syrahs. Some interesting Bourdeaux like reds made from a grape I don't recall at the moment. Would be very interesting to see what Chilean Chefs can come up with and if they will feature some good Chilean wines. Any pre-pointers where they will appear....??

Well, I got the press release below off the web. The 2008 Website for the festival is up. Details of the "Wine and Dine Experience" won't be posted until December 12 it seems. http://www.montrealenlumiere.com/volets/ta...en_bref_en.aspx I really enjoyed the festival last year, especially the Maremma event with Chef Cesare Casella. So I'd like to get a heads up early for 2008 and check out the Toronto talent. Any comments? /gth ****Press Release**** Media Advisory: Toronto's Finest Chefs Spice up the 2008 Montreal High Lights Festival Press Conference TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 23, 2007) - Attention: News/Food/Lifestyle/Travel/Photo Editors, Tuesday, November 27, 2007 What: Toronto is the featured city for MONTREAL HIGH LIGHTS FESTIVAL Air France WINE AND DINE EXPERIENCE presented by American Express, February 21 to March 2, 2008. Chef Susur Lee, honorary President, will lead a delegation of Toronto chefs to the Festival, the largest culinary celebration in Canada. Program details will be announced. Fourteen Toronto chefs participating in the festival will be in attendance. When: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 12:00 noon Where: Susur Restaurant, 601 King Street West, Toronto Photo Opportunity: Toronto's top Chefs participating in the Festival will be present: Susur Lee, Susur Marc Thuet, Bistro Bakery Thuet Keith Froggett, Scaramouche Anthony Walsh, Canoe JP Challet, The Fifth Grill Lorenzo Losetto, George Bertrand Alepee & Jason Inniss, Amuse-Bouche Jason Carter, Lee Anne Yarymowich, AGO David Chrystian, Chez Victor Carlos Hernandez, Torito Gabriele Paganelli, Romagna Mia Christopher Brown, Perigee

The announcements of the 2008 High Lights Festival should be coming up soon. Anybody heard anything - pre-release?

The 2007 enRoute Selection of "Best New Canadian Restaurants - 2007" is out: 1. Atlantica - Portugal Cove (New Foundland) 2. Kingyo Izakaya - Vancouver 3. Salt Tasting Room - Vancouver 4. Bistro Bienville - Montreal 5. Colborne Lane - Toronto 6. Le Moine Echanson - Quebec 7. The Trough Dining Co. - Canmore (Alberta) 8. Restaurant L'Idylle - Dieppe (New Brunswick) 9. Blink Restaurant & Supper Club - Calgary 10. Foxley Bistro - Toronto Sooo... not much showing for Montreal & Quebec. Kudos for Bistro Bienville though, anybody been? No, we can't blame LC. She was not involved in the selection. Several writers from Vancouver it seemed. Montreal and Quebec was represented by Sarah Musgrave - Montreal Gazette and Remy Charest - Le Soileil Quebec. Seems this years selections has a "casual feel" to it, but maybe that is THE trend right now. I mean - number 3 - Salt tasting room - does not even have a kitchen!! Hmmm??!! I suppose that is the danger with these kinds of across the board "awards"... can you really compare all out fine dining and casual, chic, new and trendy on the same page? In terms of Montreal - further down the list appeared "Vella" with no mention of Atelier next door. They both started about the same time. That's a shame in my view, Vella being really sub par... But why be negative.... Hurrah for Atlantica....now finally maybe I can make it to New Foundland!! And now that the 2007 list is out, Lesley, care to share how YOU would have voted?