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Congratulations to everyone out there who is attempting to quit or who has already quit. Don't give up, even if you do slip. When I was trying to quit & after several losing attempts my GP told me that based on her experience with drug addicts, it's harder to quit cigarettes than it is to quit using heroin. Nicotine is a very powerful drug so you can imagine how difficult quitting cold turkey must be. For those in the process of quitting, allow me to share a few tricks that really helped me while I was going through my own personal hell. Do seek out professional help if you don't think you can do it yourself; use resources available to you at your workplace or on the internet. Fortunately in Canada, smoking cessation products (prescribed by a Physician) such as the Nicoderm patch, Zyban & Wellbutrin are covered by medicare. However, these are powerful anti-depressants that not everyone reacts well to. From personal experience, Wellbutrin helped me tremendously but my friend on Zyban had to stop because she reacted badly. I think if you can make it through the 1st week using Zyban without thinking you are about to lose you mind, you are well on your way to quitting. A good thing to remember is a cigarette craving usually lasts from 3-4 minutes & if you can distract your mind or your hands for that period of time, the desire will usually fade. I used a 5 minute timer (the ones with sand) & that worked for me. Another big help is if you can avoid places or things that enable you to smoke (such as bars or alcohol). Fortunately for those who enjoy dining out in Quebec, all restaurants have been legislated to go smoke free by May. Lastly, I am very happy to say that I have been tobacco-free since February 2000 & all facets of my health have improved dramatically. Folks, please don't give up ... I had been smoking from age 13 until 39 & I NEVER thought I would be able to give up cigs but I succeeded & if you want to stop badly enough you will!

Couple of years ago we had a great banquet lunch upstairs at Bice, it was an awesome event & everyone came away raving. Click here for more information: BICE

Toto2 it was great meeting you last Saturday & since you specifically asked me to post back, I'm happy to give you my comments. If people have not yet visited Toto2's kiosk at JTM, you are missing out. The pecans & peanuts were great, not overly sugary & a touch of a bite kicked in about 10-15 seconds after you pop those beauties into your mouth. My only complaint was the fear of cracking a tooth on some of the larger clusters of nuts/candy. Happy to report all 28 are still intact. Toto2 if I see you this weekend, I will ask you for the recipe! Keep up the great work.

Went to ArtJava last week & we had double espressos & thought they were very good. The cappucino I had Saturday from Open da night was most excellent. I would give a slight nod to Cafe Olympico.

Got a new camera so I thought I'd post some pictures from my brief stop at JTM today. Looking west to east from the south side street, around 12:30 the market was starting to get busy. Great day to enjoy lunch outside. Chez Louis is always worth a visit. Near the Premier Moisson under a tent-like cover lies bushels & bushels of tomatoes. Looks like a good crop this year. I have no idea what a dain is. Public displaycase of affection. And on the menu today at Havre aux glaces ... Friendly staff dishing it up. They all look so good. I just can't decide. And then the memory was full. More picture updates to come in the near future.

Carswell, thanks for the info. Makes sense for their Atwater location to be seasonal. I can't see too many x-country skiiers going off trail & over a bridge, unless really jonesing for what is undoubtedly the best gelato in the city.

Another Havre aux Glaces! Just off Lachine Canal over the Atwater bridge or across the street from Atwater Market, there's a little kiosklike building (with water fountain & public washrooms) that - last year at least - used to sell Premier Moisson sandwiches & the like. It's a great place for cyclists & bladers to rest or have a snack & on a recent visit to the market I noticed that one side of the kiosk had a Havre aux Glaces sign! Does anyone know when it opened under their banner? It appears that they share the kiosk space (you can also get water, juice & snacks at the other window.) It's probably seasonal so if you're in the area, enjoy it while you can. Yet another good reason to cycle along Lachine Canal!

Snowdon Deli on Decarie corner Isabella has corned beef but I would not be able to comment if it is "the best". I've always enjoyed it more than their smoked meat. But can you also get a smoked meat & a pastrami sandwich so you can report back to this board your findings?

Hey Carwell you sound disappointed; is being too sweet a bad thing? You must've visited the same vendor as I did because this corn was bursting with sugar! Corn on the cob ice cream at Havre aux glaces perhaps? Hmmm.

Since we're now entering prime time corn on the cob season, I picked up some yellow corn at JTM last week. When I asked the vendor if the corn was sweet, he cracked open an ear, broke it in half & handed me a half-cob. Probably could have eaten the whole cob raw but thought I ought not to. Just by pinching a few kernals, its juice literally squirted me in the face & all I tasted was pure sugar. I can't remember the last time I tasted corn that sweet (last summer I could not find ANY sweet corn). At home, I quickly cut the corn off the cob (juice squirting everywhere) & very briefly nuked about a cup. A touch of salt & pat of butter & I was ooohing & aweing for a long time. The corn was orgasmic! I don't know about the mixed yellow/white corn, but if you can find any of the yellow, buy some. I'm going back to JT this coming weekend to seek out my "corn guy"; gotta get me lots.

People certainly do adapt & quickly. Regardless of the temperature outside, people who need to smoke will go smoke where they are permitted to. That holds true in my workplace, even when it's -30 outside (yes it can get that cold here December-February) people are still outside smoking, albeit quickly. One of our VPs schedules brief "outside" meetings from time to time & that means meet him at the east-side entrance.

You can't smoke in public places so why not extend it to restaurants & bars? I will only go to a bar if I'm dragged there because I feel & smell like I've smoked a pack & a half by the time I walk out. And if I walk into a restaurant with the smokers too close to the non-smokers, I simply leave. Haven't they banned smoking in most (if not all?) major metropolitan areas in North America? NYC is no-smoking, ditto for Toronto. I don't know it it's rumour or truth but I heard that you can't smoke on the beaches in California. Patrons adapt & hey, a fully enforced smoking ban may even prompt some people to quit. And the number one reason for banning smoking, the food tastes better.

When visiting a new city or strolling around your home town with a full bladder, it's always good to know where to go when you really gotta go & here's just the link: CLICK.

What a refreshing change for JT with the whole "indoor" market all open-air (despite the weekend rain). Much different atmosphere with all the facades open, very bright & much more spacious. Also nice to see the fresh herb plants & tomato plants on display. Noticed fiddleheads & thin young asparagus in various establishments. And how smart for several vendors to still be offering tire a l'erable; saw quite a few people (mostly kids) lining up for their maple sugar fix. Spring has definitely sprung at JTM.

IMHO the food at Mesquite was just ok. Some similar menu items as the old Benedicts with more emphasis on their "smoked" meats. Was less than impressed with a pulled pork sandwich (very fatty & stringy). BBQ (mesquite) chicken was pretty good. Sides included ho-hum mashed potatoes, good onion strings, ok fries & black bean salsa was enjoyable. Although neither of us tried their ribs, saw many orders coming out. In an advertisement in last week's Suburban, I believe I read they have an all you can eat ribs on Monday pm & something else advertized for Tuesday; suggest you call ahead for a reservation. We were there early evening during mid-week & the place was packed & we loved the ambiance. Added bonus is they deliver to the NDG/Hamstead area. And chef Michael still serves his excellent corn muffins & spicy butter. Like Carswell said, mixed reviews.

pheh! - Montreal bagels are overrated. They are not chewy (they are kind of like... a bagel shaped/sized challah... weird) ← Pam, I'm sure that I sensed scarcasm because if you've ever tried St. Viateur or Fairmont Bagels you would retract your statement immediately . Montreal bagels are defined by those 2 historical establishments & yes, they are boiled & baked in a wood-burning oven & they are as chewy as chewy can be fresh out of the oven on day 1, days 2 - 4 toasted & equally chewy. And they are small enough to never ever leave 1/2 behind! People line up 24/7, especially when the bars close at 3:00 a.m. the line can get very long. According to many, they are the best bagels in the world.

I'm reviving this to see if anything has changed in Kingston since last year. Looking for something a bit refined for an upcoming business tip - any suggestions from locals?

Having always lived in Mtl I now feel quite inadequate for never having heard of Muntreal melons. Can you please enlighten me? Thanks!

I wonder if pss700 can help? Here's his site: Paul's Finest. I'm sure he would have a recommendation. Paging Paul!

In no way is Snowdon Deli Kosher ... again, Kosher-style most definitely. And one source to check is: Kosher Restaurants or perhaps: Kosher Restaurants take 2 If you are looking for certified kosher smoked meat, I can direct you to Chez Benny, an Israeli cafeteria-style restaurant that's certified. They are located on Queen Mary Road, west of Decarie (practically next door to the metro). I can't attest to their smoked meat, but their falafel & baba ganouj is top rate & other Israeli specialities as well. They have just added Kosher Szechuan to their menu but I can't comment since I have yet to try it.

100% not kosher, kosher-style most definitely. (Mom, Dad, how come we eat Chinese on paper plates but not Schwartz's ... shhh don't tell your bubby)

During last years SM marathon we really wanted to rate SM Pete's but never made is since after George's in Laval we headed to Abie's on St. Jeans with thoughts of hitting Ile Perrot afterwards ... but the snow flurries & distance to Ile Perrot got the better of us & we decided to call it a day. I work on the WI & many colleagues swear by Pete's so they must be doing something right.

I second that, he captured much of the essence of Jean Talon Market. There should be a different flavour this summer with the new addition. Nice of you too Carswell for reviving this thread; theoretically we're not that far away from Spring. (although based on this: NEXT 5 DAYS it may feel like winter may never roll over & die) I was sound asleep. I heard it was a 5.4 ... did you feel it?

1) Probably not much of a difference - a deli is a deli; they sell delicatessen meats either sliced or in sandwich form & probably on rye bread; also sides such as fries, slaw & pickles. 2) Schwartz's - always has been, always will be 3) see 2) above. For photos of what Montreal deli's look like, click here & then scroll down: Smoked Meat Marathon

I have to say you show excellent taste for someone who doesn't like hot-dogs. I have been a fan of Nathan's since the 1960's when my Dad turned me on to them in Atlantic City. Of course, he had been eating them since a young man whenever visiting Coney Island. As far I know, they are not available in Canada. Being in Montreal, I frequently drive an hour to Plattsburgh and stock up at Price Chopper. Another really tasty hot-dog called Sinai Kosher used to be available at Costco but has not been available for months - a by-product of the Mad Cow disease scare. Unfortunately, I have not found anything else on the market that can compare.