fireweed

Great photos! Thanks for the tip, Lesley.

I was unfortunate enough to work with Rocco DiSpirito for two nights in Montreal and it was pretty laughable. Although he was a guest chef, presenting a menu that featured his cuisine, he spent most of the service on his cellphone, laughing and being an ass. I still remember him in his designer jeans and three buttons open on his chef's jacket. "don't you want my autograph?" he asked, sprawling out along the plating table at the end of the night, and seemed suprised when my fellow female cooks and I didn't drool. His show "the Restaurant" opened a few months later, and i realized he was always like that. What an ego!

Ah, yes, silent cooking. Although my 16 month-old is a much sounder sleeper now than he used to be, I am still in the habit of carrying my spice grinder to the bathroom, closing the door, plugging it in next to the sink and grinding away. My husband no longer asks why there's a light dusting of cinnamon on the change table.

Hope I can clear this up! I was thrilled to see the recipe published in the Gazette just two days afte we ate the the Beaver Club! Yes, it is the same recipe as what was published in the paper and I have since credited the Gazette in my blog for the recipe. Hope to try it out soon!

I must disagree with CharityCase as say that my recent dining experince at the Beaver Club was not ALL wonderful. Lesley C, if you were curious about a change for the better, I have to report that the deserts are still pretty bad and quite possibly the worst I have ever tasted in Montreal. Click here for the full review with pictures on my food blog.

Hat's off to you, Angus! You did it! The pictures look amazing and I've been hearing nothing but great things about your place. Can't wait til I can travel from MTL and eat!!

No worries, Simon. Hey moms have to get out too! A while back I took my 6-week-old and met my sister and her 7-month-old there for lunch . The staff were most accommodating. Were they holding their breath? I don't know, but we had a great time. We both breastfed during our lunch and it didn't raise any eyebrows, nor should it! There's babies everywhere you look now. If everyone stopped eating out for the first few years of their child's life, what a shame that would be! Enjoy yourselves.

Ditto this request. We're there St-Jean weekend. Looking for great, affordable food in the Old City. Thanks

Le Jolifou is open seven nights a week. 514-722-2175

This thread kills me, but here's me 2 cents. Here in Quebec we have poutine at Costco and it come in true Costco size, but my poutine connoisseur-of-a-husband doesn't give it thumbs up. Something about the bad taste the sauce leaves in your mouth. I enjoy strolling the frozen food aisles and noting the dumbfounding new additions available for people's freezers. Last time it was the jaw-dropping discovery of ready- made omelettes. Just heat and serve. I didn't check to see if you put them in your toaster like an Eggo, but I'm curious now that I've gotten over the shock . Nothing. Nothing can replace a fresh homemade omelette. Costco or no Costco. We're fans of the samples and we look out for eachother in the way that if we eat something really bad (like breaded mozza) we signal to the other one to 'skip it'. Thumbs up to all the booze samples!!! Do you have those in the States? They usually have a wine and cheese stand at our Costco and quite often a beer and cooler sample station too. I'm also a fan of the energy drinks! YAY for Costco we're only 2 1/2 people at home and our friends think we're nuts to shop there, but man, I am loving my 3.3L stash of Kalamatas in the fridge and the 1.1 kg of Jelly Belly's I am snacking on right now.

Still Looking for copies? Costco had stacks when I went on Friday. At a dollar off the normal cover price, too! Gotta love Costco. Non-Cosco members, do you need a hook-up? Should I pick up a pile? Fireweed

Thanks to all for the help! I've passed the info along and everything is very useful. Fireweed

The Gazette named the top 10 caterers in Montreal roughly a year ago. Does anyone remember this list??? A friend of mine is getting married soon and is looking to me to point her in the right direction as far as a caterer, but there's so little info out there about who's good, who's hot, etc!! Any help would be appreciated! Is Area still doing events? I know De Vienne is one of the best, but the wedding is for 400 plus people, I don't think they would do it. And forget Denise. Any feedback on Agnus Dei? Avocado?? Thanks all, Fireweed.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without Manjari truffles. Thanks for the tracking tips.

How do I go about getting my hands on some manjari if i'm not in the restaurant scene ? Does anyone sell the chips or is it just bars? thanks