The Plateau is undoubtedly one of the city’s most colorful neighborhoods. Vintage shops, cute cafes, and restaurants specializing in any kind of cuisine you can image… except for Korean. For the longest time, the Plateau had no love for bi bim bap, pajeon or japchae. Why? Who knows. But recently, a little spot called Hoya on Mont Royal and the corner of Henri-Julien just helped the Plateau diversify its eatery options and turning up the gochujang heat while doing so.
I’m on the never-ending quest to find the epitome of comfort food. Dishes and meals that not only put a smile on your face but also evoke childhood memories and transport you back to a place and time where “mortgage” and “income tax” were strange words you heard your parents say. I grew up with juicy dumplings, chewy noodles in flavorful broths and smoked meat sandwiches. I’m sure my comfort foods differ from your creamy mac and cheese, slow-cooked smokey chili or fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. Although our definitions are different, we can all agree that the warm fuzzies are the same when it comes to seeking familiar dishes and foods for comfort. I recently hit up this new local neighborhood spot Paradis BBQ located in the plateau for “comfort food”.
Remember the last time you were at the Asian market picking up your pickled mustard greens, pork trotters, salted fish and bottle of lye and saw stacks on stacks of aluminium tins with old Asian aunties huddled around them making deals and trading back and forth like they were gambling plaques from Macau? That coveted aluminium tins house one of the season’s most illustrious treats – Moon cakes! But what are they and why do we eat them at this time of year?