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Montreal Restaurant Recommendations


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P.S I also wanted to add about Joe Beef how much I loved the music playing in the place.. I have every song playing on my rotation.. Any place where you can hear The Smiths into Greatful Dead into Biggie Smalls is my kind of place.. Just wanted to add that!

Day Three:

Sorry for the delay..

So we woke up at around 8 am and were ready to hit the town again.. After about a half hour conversation about how we should stay one more day and should we go to Joe Beef our APDC, reality kicked in and we were on our way to breakfast..

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Thank you for suggesting this 24 hour Poutine-aria :raz:.. Besides having Poutine they do have a dineresque menu.. It was 9 am and we ordered from the lunch menu..

My girl had the coffee I had Orange Juice..

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Classique:

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Winner winner chicken dinner style.. This was our favorite.. The ultimate in comfort food.. Oh baby.. We both loved this.. And in this dish it kind of worked that the fries are a little on the meaty soggy side.. I think on the classique where all you have is the fries, gravy and curds I want a crunchy fry.. But hey that could be me..

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Oh we also got a BLT.. :biggrin: I almost forgot about that.. The mayo tasted strange for a Hellmans man like myself.. The bacon was not really present.. But I am a glutonous American and would prefer a fistfull of bacon on my sandwich..

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Jean Tallon Market.. I am sorry about the lack of photos but, we were just carrying too much stuff.. Normally when we go to our Market in New York, we have a large cart.. This time we unpacked our suitcase and used it as a cart.. Well after one session at Prince Noir, the suitcase was done.. We got a ton of meat pictured above.. So far I have eaten some of the Venison and the baby rack of Lamb.. The meat has been excellent..

Here is the rack

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This is why you shouldnt play with plastic bags..

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+Above+ This was actually gotten from a pork store where we bought a "few" items..

I actually was fortunate enough to meet the owners son.. It was randomly.. I asked for the price of this duck liver and he came around the counter and walked me through the entire meat case.. He was extremely educated on meat and spoke English very well.. From Duck Breast to Caribou the quality is excellent..

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Is Prince Noir the best meat market in Jean Tallon?

Next we stopped by the duck store.. I think I got the price wrong but he was telling me the price for foie gras was 115 a kilo.. Thats like New York Prices.. My girl talked me out of buying, which I am still upset about, this huge Bucket of Duck Fat.. I literally mean a bucket.. It was 45 Canadian and it must have weighed 10lbs.. I could have made a confit out of an entire pig head or something..

We took a break at this ice cream place recommended by our waitress from the night before.. I dont remember the name but it was amazing.. One thing that creeped me out however was that they recycled the spoons.. Obviously they washed them, but still..

We then stopped by Hamel Fromagerie as I had stated up thread..We are still eating the wonderful cheese from there..

The drive back we took our time after I got a ticket aorund Saratoga.. 88 in a 65.. Ouch! I swear I wasnt going any faster then 87.. I was set up.. Considering that was the slowest I had been going since we left Canada, I happily took it. We also stop at this Mexican Restaurant I would not recommend.. With the speeding ticket and then returning home to find our Fridge had stopped working, we were quickly brought back to earth..

Thank you guys for all your suggestions and for having such a wonderful City.. The city, the people, everyone is so gracious and kind.. Not everyone, there are jerks wherever you go :raz: But seriously, we love Canada, Montreal and Quebec especially and we are planning a drive across it this summer.. From Coast to Coast, but I will start asking questions the closer we come to that..

Thanks again,

Daniel.

Edited by Daniel (log)
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...

To make the Poutine Sauce I used a mix I bought at the store up in Montreal... I confess... To this sauce I added, foie gras, eggs, and cream.. It was still really delicious...

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Daniel--

first of all, that poutine looks awesome. but i am doubled over laughing that you added foie gras to St-Hubert grocery store poutine sauce mix! :smile::biggrin::laugh:

Daniel: EDIT to add that it sounds like you guys had an amazing trip--and i can't believe you and your girlfriend could go through that much food in two days, but I'm glad you guys loved it... thanks for writing up the meals--that cabby sounds creepy. I've been a Montrealer for most of my life, and it just makes you proud when someone comes from a world capitol (like NYC) and can enjoy what we have to offer here. you guys should come back in the summer~!

Edited by gus_tatory (log)

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the ocean."

--Isak Dinesen

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Yah, I dont think you are going to find that recipe on the back of the package.. :biggrin: But I really feel that is what the beauty is behind the dish at APDC.. I think its trying to make foie gras less scary.. Trying to remove the stigma of the haughty taughty type thing.. Its not this foie gras with this reduction or some type of compote.. Its cheese fries and gravy with a little duck liver..

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I myself didnt bring any of these products home.. I just bought them for a friend living in Canada.. But if one were to bring things across the border..

Love it!!! Especially the pictures! If I were thinking of smuggling food across the border (and I'm NOT because that is like so wrong ...) Daniel is one of the first people I would think of consulting :laugh:

i can't believe you and your girlfriend could go through that much food in two days, but I'm glad you guys loved it...

You've obviously never read one of Daniel's "Road Trip" blog's. This visit to Montreal was awesome Daniel! I need to get back there soon.

A.

Edited by Daddy-A (log)
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Hey thanks Daddy-A,

I really thought this trip was rather tame compared to our road trips?I wasnt prepared for the challenge.. I kind of regret not doing a smoked meat trifecta in one day..(Lester,Snowden,Shwartz) We might have to do that when we come back this summer on our X-Canada Road Trip..

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Daniel

Thanks for the posts. I could not wait to see the pics after having such a great time up there ourselvfes a few years ago. Brought back some great memories. You noted one thing in your comments which I think is very poignant - just one of the many great things about Montreal, which made me want to visit - the French speaking part of Canada being so close to those on the East Coast. Add to that the exchange rate and then the really nice people and the "european" atmosphere, MOntreal can't be missed. And then when you add great food like what you had, everyone should go. Thanks for all the hard work in preserving your trip and your experiences. I'd move there in a heartbeat, but I do not speak French.

Dave

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We might have to do that when we come back this summer on our X-Canada Road Trip..

Are you hinting at a West Coast visit???

I'll alert the troops.

A.

Wire to wire, coast to coast baby! Be on the look out..

Hey thanks Dave.. I appreciate you appreciation! Seriously, I am so happy that I was able to bring back memories for you.. Another favorite place of ours is Quebec City.. Especially in the winter.. Its like being in a Christmas Card. We might have to go there for New Years now.. :rolleyes:

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We took a break at this ice cream place recommended by our waitress from the night before.. I dont remember the name but it was amazing.. One thing that creeped me out however was that they recycled the spoons.. Obviously they washed them, but still..

Just to reassure you, they don't re-use the spoons. They just rince them and put them in the recycling bin. They're just trying to make sure that all this plastic doesn't go to the wasteland.

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daniel, thanks, great report and photos! someone ALWAYS seems to walk by my desk when i have the porn up on screen, though - just got busted with the huge chicken dinner and poutine shots. now i've got unshakable joe beef and poutine joneses.

can't believe it's not butter? i can.

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Hey thanks Bethala.. Poutine might be the best invention ever.. It takes a Disco or Cheese Fry and Gravy to a new level.. I am already looking forward to the Poutine I am going to make the day after Thanksgiving.. :biggrin:

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wow, eric, thanks for another great montréal (and québec) report and first post! you and daniel have sparked in me a need to visit montréal bientôt. and you've made it nearly impossible to attempt any more four-day weekends in the city; a minimun of ten is now required! i understand the temptation to go "heavy on the french" on a visit to montréal and am glad that you and chris ventured out and showed us other options. love your and chris' love of cauliflower, scallops, and panna cotta. and keep up your newfound fondness for chablis - next time you visit joe beef, dave macmillan will not disappoint you with his spot-on chablis choices. hope we can all bug you for san francisco recommendations in the future.

can't believe it's not butter? i can.

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Hey thanks Bethala.. Poutine might be the best invention ever.. It takes a Disco or Cheese Fry and Gravy to a new level..  I am already looking forward to the Poutine I am going to make the  day after Thanksgiving..  :biggrin:

poutine is the best. how about day-after poutine with giblets or chicken livers instead of foie?

can't believe it's not butter? i can.

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Great job, Daniel. I haven't been back to Montreal since Joe Beef opened, but I loved what David McMillen was doing at Rosalie. Joe Beef is a must next time I'm back there. it has been too long. APdC is great too. Montreal is such a wonderful food town. Jean Talon may be the best market in NA for meat and dairy though it is not as good with seafood as some west coast markets and can't touch top California, N.Y. or Mexican markets for veggies.

John Sconzo, M.D. aka "docsconz"

"Remember that a very good sardine is always preferable to a not that good lobster."

- Ferran Adria on eGullet 12/16/2004.

Docsconz - Musings on Food and Life

Slow Food Saratoga Region - Co-Founder

Twitter - @docsconz

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...as for Mexican near Saratoga, you should have asked first :wink:

John Sconzo, M.D. aka "docsconz"

"Remember that a very good sardine is always preferable to a not that good lobster."

- Ferran Adria on eGullet 12/16/2004.

Docsconz - Musings on Food and Life

Slow Food Saratoga Region - Co-Founder

Twitter - @docsconz

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Great job, Daniel. I haven't been back to Montreal since Joe Beef opened, but I loved what David McMillen was doing at Rosalie. Joe Beef is a must next time I'm back there. it has been too long. APdC is great too. Montreal is such a wonderful food town. Jean Talon may be the best market in NA for meat and dairy though it is not as good with seafood as some west coast markets and can't touch top California, N.Y. or Mexican markets for veggies.

Hey thanks Doc.. I appreciate the kind words. The seafood wasnt too impressive and I am thankful.. I dont know how it would have fit in the car... There was one good produce market there.. And wouldnt you guess it, the chef from APDC'S photo was in there.. I purchased a bunch of mushrooms there.. Purple guys, a big bag of dried morels, and a few other types I rarely see.. They also had some onion flowers and some really interesting baby vegetables, but it looked like they werent going to last too long..

In terms of the Mexican Food, it was just because we were in the area. I had just gotten a pretty fat speeding ticket so it was time to take a break from driving.. El Mariachi, not the best place on earth.. But we did think of you as we passed Saratoga..

Edited by Daniel (log)
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  • 1 month later...

I'm planning ahead...i turn 35 in may...my wife and i are planning a little get-away up north...two precious nights away from our precious little 1 year old!

I'm thinking Montreal or Quebec City...

I'm afraid to admit this on the board, but accomodations might be almost as important as food.

Thinking Auberge St. Antoine in QC and Hotel St. Paul in Montreal. Opinions?

Paramount though is the food...we live in NYC, so we can get plenty of big city, big attitude, big fuss at home...and we don't want any of that.

Just looking for great food and wine...budget is really not an issue...

So which city should we go to? Which is more fun for a 30-something couple from NYC? Where should we stay?

AND, most importantly, which city has better restaurants for what we seek? And what are those restaurants?

Thanks in advance...will report in full after the trip...

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If you have never gone to QC City, I would recommend QC city eventhough tons of address in MTL would make you drewel.....

Here are my recommendations for QC City :

HOTELS

Hotel 71

Dominion 1912

Restaurants

Utopie

Laurie Raphael

There's a good resto on Orleans Island (30 min from QC City) which I hope someone will reply with the name...

There are also some new places that have opened which I can't remember...

QC City is 400 years old and you can feel it when wandering the narrow streets...realy magical....

Now, if you want to stick to fun, dynamic gigs, MTL is a better choice....

If the latter is your choice, then I'll complete with a list....

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For this Vermonter, it's vibrant, cosmopolitan Montreal over conservative Quebec City any day of the week.

As for accommodations, I’ve stayed at the St. Paul many times and enjoyed it, though I know that many people find the hotel a bit cold. Also Cube, their fine restaurant, has closed. Still, there are many other fine boutique hotels in Old Montreal:

Hotel St. James

Hotel Place d'Armes

Hotel Gault

Hotel Nelligan

I think you be able to find some place that will please you.

Here are the places I go for great food and wine.

Fine Dining

Anise (French with subtle Middle Eastern influences)

Brunoise

La Chronique

Le Club Chasse et Peche

Serious Restaurants with deceptively casual atmosphere

Au Pied de Cochon

Joe Beef

Favorite Places for lunch

Olive & Gourmando

Schwartz's

While there are a few “see and be seen” places in Montreal where you’ll find plenty of attitude, (Cavalli comes to mind), you’ll find none at any of the places I mentioned above. What you’ll find instead is supremely competent professional service coupled with a relaxed, friendly, welcoming attitude. It has spoiled me for restaurant service in the States.

Edited by rcianci (log)
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Well, we love Quebec City. We stay at the Auberge St. Pierre and would recommend Laurie Raphael, L'Initiale, Toast!.

In Montreal, I like the St-Sulpice - not too tarty - just right. We enjoyed Toque when we went there last....

Chantal

www.kawarthacuisine.ca

"Where there are vines, there is civilization"

from Mondovino

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