A New Yorker in Montreal: December 2011

December 23, 2011

Boulangerie Guillaume

It's no secret that I am a devout bread follower....I have searched high and low in all my travels to find 'the best loaf in town'! And that means different things in different places, at Boulangerie Guillaume it means a transporting experience.... It is remarkable how many varieties of bread are made and sold in such a small place! The quality of the bread is phenomenal!! Different varieties are baked on different days and although I have not sampled as many as I would have liked I can attest for the seriousness of this business.

Check the list of breads made fresh each day if you don't believe me....(in french only but even if you can't read you can count, this place is the real thing!) Wouldn't know where to begin to make recommendations, I believe this is a personal choice but I assure you there is something for most, if not all!

Organic whole grains & flours, kamut and prune, whole wheat date & orange, the breads are as unique as they are good!

Located at 7 Avenue Fairmount Est in Mile End.

Olive & Gourmando

This is the place that inspired me to do this blog!

It's a lively cafe in the Old Montreal district of the city where the streets are cobbled and narrow, surrounded by history. Just as you are trying to escape the hordes of tourists near the old port you find a safe haven with mostly locals: Olive & Gourmando.

A feel good place with great food to boot!! The type of place that you just don't want your meal to end...........

The goat cheese sandwich with caramelized onions is perhaps the best sandwich I have had! And I am a declared and unabashed bread lover - it's that good...

Go on a lazy afternoon and plan to stay awhile!

**Note that it's closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Located at 351 Rue Saint Paul Ouest, in Old Montreal

Les Enfants Terribles

Well, there you have it - the best brunch this fall by far!!

Perhaps the french toast with glazed pear, roasted pecans and maple syrup is to blame but...this place also has an awesome cool yet laid back vibe....!

In general, I love that brunch in Montreal is earlier and significantly less congested than in NY, making it that much more enjoyable!!

Located in Outremont, this is one trendy spot, in a rustic meets modern kind of way, that is not over the top. The mood is relaxed and the food....oh the food!!!

Located at 1257 Av Bernard Ouest in Outremont

Bucket List

Garde Manger - 408 Rue Saint François Xavier, Montreal
Pâtisserie Rhubarbe: 5091 de Lanaudière (au sud de Laurier, 4 rues à l’Ouest de Papineau)
Grumman '78: The coolest food truck in town, known for their killer tacos, just went brick-and-mortar. Grumman '78's prep kitchen has been redone to resemble a funky warehouse-restaurant, with cheeky art on the walls and christmas lights hanging above the makeshift tables. They only serve on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and at the end of November it will shut down, only to reopen (maybe) in the spring
Mangiafoco: The first thing you’ll hear about this new pizzeria and enoteca in Old Montreal is that it’s co-owned by Jeff Stinco, Simple Plan’s lead guitarrist. Some of his hot-and-bothered fans might go in hopes of stealing a snapshot of him, but the real draw is the no-fuss, well-priced menu where the stars are the carefully-sourced ingredients, like the deliciously delicate buffalo mozzarellas and burrata
Les 400 Coups: Best place in town for modern cuisine, with ambitious tasting menus and stunningly complex desserts. Run by a duo of very well-known chefs (Marc-André Jettée and pastry wizard Patrice Demers) and sommelière Marie-Josée Beaudoin.
Lawrence: The top restaurant in Montréal’s hip Mile End, known, among other things, for sommelière Etheliya Hananova.
Maison Publique: Chef Derek Damman made his name at DNA, the ballsy restaurant in Old Montreal that he co-owned with Alex Cruz. Now he’s got a new partner — his old boss Jamie Oliver, no less — and a new restaurant, with a pub-inspired décor and meat-heavy menu.
Tapeo
Le Cartet
Ryu Tapas