Chewie
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Posts posted by Chewie
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tell him to go to kuujjuaq and ask for some igunak.
I think that is the first thing that actually qualifies. I might even watch if i had cable...
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I had the white pizza at Prato on St Laurent recently and very much enjoyed it.
(creme fraiche, bacon, onions, rosemary)
mmm
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Coffee Shop (Independent)
1. (tie) JJ Bean house of coffee
Various locations
1. (tie) Caffe Artigiano
Various locations
2. Blenz Coffee
Various locations
3. Bean Around the World
Various locations
4. Delaney’s Coffee House
1105 Denman Street, 604-662-3344
I couldn't help but notice that all these coffee shops are chains (with the exception of #4). How does a coffee shop chain maintain its independance? Is this similar to the Hollywood trend of calling any movie not produced by Jerry Bruckheimer indepedant? Aren't there actual independant coffee shops that need support?
Perhaps the category needs to be expanded to "Best Coffee Shop (chain)" and "Best Coffee Shop (Independant)"
(It should be noted that as my brother owns an independant coffee shop in Vancouver, I have a personal axe to grind.)
Regardless, I think the point stands.
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just another two cents...
I'll second Laika, I have had a couple of nice breakfasts there. Some of the offerings are a bit strange, but I have liked what I've tasted.
I haven't tried the new incarnation of Reservoir, although I would imagine it is as good as always. Far too smoky for me though, maybe I'll go back in June.
I would definetly also second Senzala. I tried to go to the Bernard location once, but the power was out that day. The De La Roche location however, is great. The space is really nice, with lots of sunshine, weather permitting, and good spacing between tables (a rarity in breakfast joints). the food is copious, especially the fruit, and they include orange juice and coffee. I quite like the fact that instead of constantly searching for a waitress to refill your coffee, the provide each table with a full thermos to refill cups at your leisure.
I remember also enjoying breakfast at Pistou Déjeuner, but it has been a while.
Finally AVOID L'AVENUE! I had one outstanding breafast there many years ago, but since then, many repeat visits have done nothing but disappoint. Mediocre food, and high prices, even in the context of the other restos I mentioned, none of which are a cheap breakfast. The bathrooms are nice though.
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If some of you are still looking for copies, they had tons of it yesterday night at Multi-Mags on Mont-Royal near St-Hubert.
Unfortunately, they have none left now. Rats.
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It's not that I have something particularly brilliant to say on the subject, but it is undoubtably true that Quebec cheese are in a league of their own in North America. As mentioned on other forums, they need a forum of their own.
I love the cheese here in Quebec, and want to learn more.
Perhaps someone could lead me in the direction of a interesting blue cheese, as I'm having a craving.
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Oh yes, delicious for snacking, especially that crazy-delicious new milk chocolate.
I had a sample and ate the whole thing in about 15 minutes. You can also chop
Is that the Tanariva Lactée 33%?
I haven't tasted that one...
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It comes in both pistoles and bars. Just specify when you order.
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I had surprisingly (i say surprisingly because it was much better than at a previous visit a few months back) delicious brunch at Laika on St. Laurent just north of Duluth on the west side of the street. The only disadvantage was that the prices are almost as expensive as Reservoir.
I have always liked Reservoir's brunch (although I haven't been recently due to thew aforementioned high prices), but I wonder if the departure (soon?) Chef Mehdi Brunet-Benkritli will affect the quality of the brunch.
Does anyone know where he's going, or who's replacing him? (Or if this information is actully correct and not just a rumor?)
Also, has anyone eaten brunch at Senzala on Bernard? The menu looked good from the outside, but there was a power outage on Bernard st the day i was there (so I went to Laika!).
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I believe both Les Caprices de Nicolas and Milos are open on Mondays, whereas Le Club Chasse et Peche is not. Just remeber that Milos is in NY as well...
Brunoise is also a good choice for Monday dining and has had writes-ups in the NY times.
Lemeac is also very good , but maybe not impressive
Monday dining is tricky- too bad it's not tuesday...
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Usually I cut it to 2 1/4-2 1/2cm thick. Thinner and it overcooks too easily, thicker and the outside crust suffers from the long cooking time to get the centre right.
I like to start it over high heat (not smoking!), then reduce the heat to medium high to finish.
(I believe Thomas Keller cuts it to a similar thickness, and he is somewhat an authority on the subject. See above...)
The first time I cooked foie gras was at home and it was discouraging to say the least. Thankfully I've had lots of opportunity to practise since then.
Hope this helps.
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In my experience the best foie gras for searing is the A(+) foie gras I get from Palmex. The product is consistent, barely any fat escapes during the initial sear.
(I find that the first contact with the pan gives the best indication of the quality of the liver. A smaller amount of rendered fat initally usually indicates what will be a better result. Old or poor quality livers immediately start rendering significant amounts of fat into the pan.)
I have not found "B" foie gras to be consistent in quality, nor do I enjoy it seared as a rule. I find "B" foie gras generally more bitter, and searing only intensifies that flavour.
In fact we have used B foie gras, but it was soaked in milk to remove the blood, then marinated, and used in a terrine. For that use it worked admirably.
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I know you can get yuzu juice at La Mer (Papineau corner Viger? (514) 522-3003). It's a little expensive though.
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there is an italian pastry chef who works at Bronte. She makes excellent pannetone. last year she served individual ones for a chrismas brunch. maybe you could ask her to share her secrets?
I know the pastry chef at Bronte-MR Mark Tam used to make a pannetone bread pudding, although I am not sure of the pannetone's provenance...
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Cube of course, has a new chef (where is Pelletier ?).
Claude Pelletier will be reappearing any day now...
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It is also my understanding that Bleu Raisin has been under new ownership for a little while now (although definitely after your last review, Lesley)
I believe the new owners are the chef and owner of La Prunelle, a BYO on Duluth.
Furthermore I understand that they are to reopen soon.
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You can get them (the large ones anyways) at Cafe Sino-Net on de la Gauchetiere near St Urbain.
They sell bubble tea, and also the pearls, both cooked and uncooked.
I heard from a friend in Chicago that the large ones are a little tricky to cook. I wish I could provide more info on why. I'll try to call my friend.
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We are in fact doing just such an event this weekend (in the afternoon), at Le Club des Pins.
We can fit a maximum of sixty people, and can arange menus in many price ranges, paired with wines or not. It is the whole restaurant, as opposed to a banquet room.
if this is what you are looking for, you can call 272 9484, and ask for either Grant Macdonald or Carl Chevalier for more information
Good luck with the wedding arrangements!
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The prices have lowered.
Appetizers run $7-$15
Mains$25-29
Desserts $7-$9
We have many excellent wine selections under $50, and most are alsoavailable by the glass.
If anyone wants more info they can message me. (As I am attempting not to engage in self-promotion)
Grant Macdonald
(the new chef at Club des Pins)
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why are there three variations on plates of foie gras (which by the way in its raw form is not of the same quality as the foie gras alex buys, and yet the menu price is equivalent).
as for my comment about Au pied du cochon being viewed as more than a "brasserie"...a 30$plus "hot dog", albeit being composed of lobster and foie gras is served in a purchased hot dog bun
Please excuse my poor ability to use the quote feature.
I just thought it might be worth saying that to my knowledge, the hot dog bun at APDC is made in house. I think it is important to be careful of making assumptions of this kind.
Furthermore, I am deeply suspicious of the suggestion that restaurant A is getting better foie gras than restaurant B. In my albeit limited experience, evaluating the quality of foie gras is difficult as the product varies a great deal. Most of the foie gras in these restaurants is probably going to be graded A and be priced similarly (if not identically). Thus IF Cocagne is getting better foie gras than Lemeac it is unlikely that there is much of a cost difference. (Foie gras is apperently sometimes labaled A+, but I have not noticed it being that much better frankly. Nor that different in cost once again)
All this to say that I am appreciative of the fact the this forum allows people to voice their opinions on food in Montreal, but I would be cautious about some of the facts.
My facts included
Signed
Grant Macdonald
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A few years ago I was back in Vancouver checking out culinary schools and I had some observations that I thought I might share.
PICA: I did the tour, was astonished by the prices (It will take way too many years of a line cooks salary to pay that back), and had an quite disappointing lunch in the dining room. I'll just say I hope I never see uncooked spaghetti as a garnish again...
Dubrulle: I spent a day there watching the class in action. I found that the instructors were knowledgable and genuine. The class was interesting but it seemed to me that way too much information was being glossed over (due to I presume the length of the course and the volume of material to be covered). Once again, I found the prices hard to swallow.
VCC: I mostly only read about their program, but I did check out all the various shops in the building that were selling to the public. I definitely got the impression that the basics were important here.
In general I would say that school is a chance to walk before you have to run. The most important thing is that you basic knife skills, cooking skills, etc are DOWN. You don't really need to learn how to make nice plates, and daring combinations. That's what on the job training is for. A beginning line cook needs to get used to repetition and working with their hands again. This I think is probably the biggest change from accounting. Manual work is not as easy as it sounds, and you body needs to get used to it, and have time to internalise the skills that you gain. The first year or so, you will have to watch and think about cutting while you're doing it. After enough practice, it becomes automatic. I think what I'm getting at is don't go into a short program thinking that it will get you on the job faster. You will need the same time to learn regardless. In your shoes I would seriously consider VCC. It is far from glamourous, but neither is being a line cook at the beginning. In addition, the money you save on tuition would be better spent doing a stage somewhere after school and a few years experience. PICA, or France?
Just one man's opinion
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Try Mark Tam's desserts at Bronte. I am biased since I work there, but I have been impressed so far.
p.s. I heard that Michael Rae is no longer at Cube...can anyone confirm?
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If Daignault isn't making money then....damn....give up now...no one is!
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This refers to the first couple mesages in this thread....I reget to say, Cafe Electra is gone...
Where will I get sandwiches and coffe on the way to work?
Favorite Cookbooks
in Cookbooks & References
Posted
This is by far the book I refer to most often. Although the old one also gets used quite a bit
For desserts I most often use Gorgon Ramsay's dessert book. Everything I've tried works really well, and he includes a lot of the basics.
Recently I cooked a few things out of Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros, that came out nicely.
I also occasionally use The Chinese Kitchen by Eileen Yin-Fei Lo and Authentic Mexican by Rick Bayless and Deann Groen Bayless, when in the mood for the appropriate cuisine.
Unfortunately, there are not a lot of Quebecois cookbook that I reference frequently. I really should remedy that.