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... That's kind of funny actually, I love seeing adult have kid freak outs, but I don't see how that is entirely bad for kids to want more than brown parafine... In ten years, they'll be trying to get in (your) bars and clubs Kids and good food is an important thing.

1- Du monde is average, however, at 10:00PM, l'échaudé will have their dishwasher cook a steak instead of close up the kitchen. At other times, Echaudé is much better. 2- Tough question, might just be the best time for that poutine... 3- You are looking for best eats in the Cartier Area ? Tough question, I usually have lunch at Kregoff cafe simply for the speed, the organic toulouse and the coffee. Graffiti is a copious french place and not a high end spot by any means (Kriegoff isn't really a dinner place for that mater). If you are brunching or lunch or want a simple dinner, if you are in the Saint Rock area (close to Utopie), I suggest cafe du Clocher Penché. Nice little neighborhood spot. I have no idea in that area. I go to Metropolitain for Sushi and apparently the Voodoo Grill has new and imporved kicthen besides the Loews Hotel but I find it tacky to eat while some junkie is playing tam tams at my table.... The reviews for Sonar are always good, it is a tapas place but the seating and atmosphere is just so odd in that place. This is on Carteir street. 4- Not too many: Les Bossus cafe on Saint Joseph 5- I like party more than cozy. Last time I was there I went to a punk concert so I am not a good reference. 6- There is apparently a really good fast food joint in the Sillery area, small white box that does great burgers, could be the best poutine place ? I understand your remarks for Yuzu, it can be very weird there. I have been there when bikers and mafia invade the place calling booze and "these things" on the menu... I would however challenge you to try again, the service is usually good and the kitchen can be amazing on a good day. Very interesting combinations. I have always been extremely satisfied with Monte Cristo, it is not in town however, it is in nowhereland in Saint Foy, in a Chateau. (Chateau Bonne entente). Last year I had an incredible meal there. Maybe the fact that they babysat my three kids downstairs made it even better. http://www.chateaubonneentente.com/en/xcon...estomontecristo Panache in your hotel might be a good bet. I might go next week. It has received some good reviews.

I completely agree with Lesley on the concept thing... The En Route listing is just another addy reference and should not be by all means a scale of best to less best. I just came back from the Rosemead Inn in Victoria this week end. The place is absolutely gorgeous and the prices are very good, but the resto is by no means number 2 best new resto in Canada. My lobster was quite hard and the white beans had been prepped way ahead and dried up in the plate... The food prep was just not 100% correct and the deserts were a disaster. The next morning I went to Re Bar for an omelette and I had died and gone to heaven (even without the abusive amounts of truffle oil). Cafe Brio next evening aced in all aspects vs Rosemead, but of course, the restau did not look like a cold Maple Leaf Lounge. It's definitely not an easy concept to deal with but they could have done better job at ranking and following up.

The menu at Laurie Raphael has changed quite a bit (the place altogether). I haven't been to V2, the menu is without any descriptions. I'm curious to find out if Lesley went to Yuzu and Toast!

hahaha, good lord, yes guanaja. I could never say I actually screwed up on that one. Autumn is an great time for butter extracts.

Just under those two men's nose is quite a bit of Amedei chocolate. René should have stuffed a square of 4 minis in your bag some time ago (mini travellers, I call them)... Import: Angleo Rindone Itaca Direct 1-800-518-5333 www.itacadirect.com and I agree 100% with passionate, Caribe and Ganja all the way for cooking, Amedei straight up only. René will also sell Val in big blocks at a much better price than O and G (last time I checked) just be ready for an answer when he inquires about your chocolate fetishes... mouhahahaha. I think JFL would chime in about the most expensive chocolate in the world but I hear he is extremely busy these days... One love huns

Oh give me a break... Young women lawyers with beemers... You are obviously not in the legal business... Even I drive a luxury import and wear prada shoes, I can't imagine myself other than with a few baba cool friends who don't throw up their gold platted samosa's at 7:15h... This is Montreal buddy, not San Francisco. Don't confuse hate and an opinion. There's a lot of crap going down in Montreal right now. I spoke about this before. Mee toos and Paper type restaurants are a dime a dozen around the world. Only the ones with true signatures will survive. Even the big ass Gino enterprises of the Main are shaky at this time, just ask CDP why Gino and Co can't move out of Godin and need to sue them for mere loan payments . Just ask Dave McM why he's just had enough of the rosie world you're describing (I don't even know Dave but I can probably predict his answer). Having a good time has nothing to do with money or charity, it's not a question of living it 5 star or getto and it's not about the type of car that you drive. If you want to oppose that, so be it, but please, stop imagining yourself in the sack with a young natural perfect corporate lawyer who drives a beemer... cause either you have no clue or I need to meet your dealer. And don't believe that self described cool getto spots are any better either, some are failing miserably by trying to reach the above mentionned crowd as an ultimate objective. If you want to be double stack melting cheesy for one night and let loose, that's one thing. If you want to defend weekly cheesiness that's a whole different subject.

Off topic While on the subject of Utopie. I have to go to Quebec almost every week now. Keep finding new hotel gems by the water. Latest opening is Hotel 71 on St-Pierre Street. If you need to find a decent stay in Quebec, I suggest: Au Priori (above Toast!) great terrasse. Dominion, a classic and Germain owned. Auberge Saint Antoine, best bathrooms, best archeological class. Auberge Port Royal, full suites, can stumble upstairs from INOX. Au 71, just beside and owned by Auberge Saint-Pierre, slick breakies. Chateau Bon Entente, away from town but best deal with kids and an excellent resto on site too, great summer pool. With these offering, it's a shame to go to the crappy chain stuff.

Compared to mythos, I enjoyed a bit more Vegera on Van Horn. I had to go to both back to back in the same week. The fried calamary at vegera are very hard to beat, just stay away from the kitchen area when the flames are on... The party atmosphere downstairs at Mythos is more fun though... screaming greeks unite !

Overated, I don't think so. Seattle ? Oh you mean the constant easy recipee of speed on speed off of Nirvana... blah... great band (from what I can remember at the Foufs) but if you must live in the past, I'd rather listen to the remastered Gang of Four. It's easy to live in the past, it's even easier to catch the present when so much is happening in your backyard. I actually had the stuffed spinash pizza last week and it was vile, they used old garlic to make it (way to much too) and the ceasar used rusty old romaine... shame, so close, yet so far from an good cheap eat.

I know all three and always considered to be the same, in fact, this is the first time I realised the rosa and rossa difference... The club social I think is just an overflow for both concerts and food (I saw kings of convenience there). It is all owned by the same consortium (creators of the mythical Godspeed, black emperor). Off topic, this reminds me that just about 6 months before becoming one of the most respected indie bands and Bowie protegés, a few of Arcade Fire were heating up pizzas in the middle of the night at Euro Deli...

Best indie music spot in the world...

I suggest you call Saint Vincent right now... tonight might be too late. I can confirm to you that they indeed have the birds as he is one of my weekly stops. Schwartz birds can be picked up right off the resto. If you go during the two different times they sell them. They have a guy in the doorway with a wireless headset. Basically you call them about 2 minutes before driving up Saint Laurent with your car description (hey, I support walking but...). Double park, hazards on, he will bring it to your car, pick up the cash and give you change. I saw a ton of birds go up and down the alley that way last year.

This might be off topic. I like going to Utopie also JF but I have an issue with showing up in Quebec City, on a Wednesday night being alone in the place. I hope folks in Quebec City can get off the St-Rock "is bad and full prostitute" scare mongering. That whole area, needs some serious evening jump start on weekdays and Boudoir ain't gonna help any. It's kind of a shame that I would rather have fun eating a toulouse at 9:00PM at the bar of C du monde than look at my own reflexion in the windows of Utopie with excellent food. One can't help wonder about the plannar speakers, the decor, the sheer size of the place, the rent and the weekday volumes... I guess the place must be packed for lunch. They also have a very nice wine list. Have you checked out the new Laurie Menu ? , it's pretty drastic change although I have not seen the undescribed plates.

Table Tourigny going back into low season mode so call ahead if you're planning on a weekly visit. This means mainly closed on early week days. Mr. Tourigny will open the place for a large group in advance. Week days are better spent giving cooking classes to the lakeshor McMansion's desperate lonely house wifes...

I am lucky to receive a Nikolakakis private import monthly. It arrives from air canada cargo to my door in an old recycled wine bottle. When this gold walks through my door, I usually treat it with the most respect (as one would witha 500$ bottle, I guess) Last week, the fresh batch went on a bed of sel de guerande, organic heirloom russian black and yellow cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozz, fresh herbs, organic heirloom french citrus cucumber. All ingredients rolled from my garden to the plate in 15 minutes. No resto can match that in my view. Do not look for the Nikolakakis private import, as it arrives from a private greek island orchid and is distributed to local family friends. Cost: the cheeze Taste: "priceless"...

The daylight factory is... not new or it has been renovated. But I remember very well going to a new spot that had (maybe) the same name... arrrgghh I'm trying to remember. It was a very smart place with excellent food but it opened in an area that was basically circled by huge quartier international renovations and might have suffered from that (might have been around 3 years ago). Definitely a challenging yet inetersting spot to be, off downtown, in the CDP area but hidden, could have an amazing terrasse in the back... Can't wait to check it out again.

yes it is... I haven't had the bavette de cheval at Continental since... oh my... 17 years ago... I would recommend them.

those picking apples in the south shor area should look out for the ice cream from Cabosse D'or, better known for chocolates, in Saint Hilaire.

Interesting, I knew Chloé would geat high marks, always wondered about Geneviève. Interesting how there is so much attention to branding and ingredients with what is considered faily turn-key fabrication...

I'm curious, what was the general reason for the Grandbois thumbs down...

Nope, I don't mind salt. Bring on Lafleur or any Kosher at full value... There is salt and then salt. What I mean by that is for example greens, the vinaigrette was heavily salted, the salad must have been prepped with salt and then the combination of both was re-salted. When salt takes over a larger size of it's tasting region in your mouth, there is an issue, especially when you have a top notch wine on the table. I think I'm failry well versed in salting dishes (I have family in the Charentes and Gerande regions)... maybe it's a US thing and as a French I am not used to it, but there was definitely an absolute lack of balance because of the salt. Unfortunate since everything under the salt looked amazing. However, there was no salvation since salt was added at prep and at cooking and was present from top to bottom of dish. The deserts, bread, coffee were all to die for and all but one plate of main was not oversalted (a porc plate). We talked about it to the staff and they recognise that it was a SALT night, they shaved off the deserts which was nice... That's probably the dangers of borderline too much salt, if you so slightly cross that line, you destroy the plate. Maybe that's what happens at 10:30 PM. We literaly had to rince our mouth to even have a sip of wine. I will definitely go back to give a anothyer try.

I travelled to San Fran last week. We ate in various places and our free night was meant to be spent in a casual affair. Upon arriving at Delfina, it was clear we were going to be treated to some very fine food and wine. And we were, everything looked amazing, from the first quality produce, to the cooking time, service, etc... There was one slight problem... our plates were laced with pounds and pounds of salt... I mean, we could really have had salt poisoning, we were barely able to enjoy the wine and the food. Some serious issues with salt, I'm sure it's a one off and maybe the sous chef is lacking marathon fitness (we walked in at 10:00h and have noticed how early folks eat in San Fran...). I thought I would post this because I am curious to know if I should blame love, a one off drunkedness in the kitchen or the fact that all patrons of Delfina should run to their doctors to have their thyorid checked...

Lesley's reply made me laugh. Rightly, so by the way. I also say WOW. The crowd is not just a weather thing (let's get serious here... since when weather was a Montreal show stopper....)

Hi CiriloE, I go to Quebec City almost every second week. As far as Hotel, I second Leslie about the Dominion. Great service, great breakfast. With luck, you also get to have a late night drink or pre dinner drink with some wise ass politician or others. The Dominion is practical and the service from the front staff is first class but it is Boutique. Recently, it's been so booked there that I have also grown to go at Auberge Saint Antoine. This is by far one of the nicest hotel I have been in, anywhere, gigantic bathrooms, heated tile floors, rain showers, the works. Every room has local artefact in the decor from digging the new grounds. It simply lacks a bit in ambiance, business travelers need drinks and people. But the view of either the sea-way or the streets of the ptit Champlain are stunning. They also have the Panache restaurant which is excellent and will probably have a terrasse this summer . Both these hotels have wireless systems and Bose radio for the Ipod driven parties... Breakfast at Dominion is great and included. At Auberge Saint Antoine, the buffet is as good but not as well presented, for 15$. Their yogurt choice suck (Activia please) but they have a pretty good "pain perdu" and cheeses. Two other potential spots: Hotel Le Priori http://www.quebecweb.com/lepriori/introang.html Hotel Ste-Anne but that place is really a no service spot. http://www.hotelste-anne.com/ The first 3 hotels are in the lower part of the city, just below La Cote Royale. The last one is right across the street from Chateau Frontenac. Someone else is also asking for kid information. I will suggest three spots, Auberge St-Antoine for the museum hotel factor, same for Chateau Frontenac but most practical with kids is the Chateau Bonne Entente because of the pool, jacuzi, great resto (Monte Christo) and full kid entertainement room and nannies. They can set up a rush parent only table at the hotel main restaurant which is very good food, last time I was there, the food was very well prepared and executed. This hotel is however remote. Hotel Le Priori also has an independantly run resto called Toast which is very impressive, a bit heavy on the butter but a real flavorfull place. Terroir with an asian twist http://www.restauranttoast.com/menu_s.htm Of course, Saint Amour is a classic Quebec reference. Laurie Rafael has indeed finished work and now sells local produce in the resto. I would also ad great Chef Soulard, restaurant Le Champlain. Two other new comers, I had a great meal at restaurant Utopie but now I never see anyone on weeknights there (which is not always weird in the off season). If you are a fish lover, sushi, I highly recommend Yuzu restaurant, excellent seafood-sushi with a french twist. Three bistros, for kids, lunch or regular supper. In the more remote Basse ville, le bistro cafe du Cloché penché offers one of the best deal in town. If you are in the Cartier Street area, you can have a nice meal and great coffee at Kreigoff café. If it is late in the night, if you need to feed a clan of kids while you order a very honnest duck confis and wine glass: Cafe du Monde still runs all night (I suggest also l'Echaudé but it lost point when I went late and they let the dishwasher cook my meal instead), cafe du monde will serve the same plate night after night. On a weird note, the old cafe du monde location will be turned into a big pharmacie... kind of a nice way to kill a building but a great way to pick up orders from the boat cruise tourists.