Montreal’s ramen scene has gone from relatively non-existent to booming. There’s no denying that in recent years we’ve been spoiled at the variety of ramen houses available to us. Not only do we now have places to grub on some awesome Japanese soup noodles, but some of these places specialize in regional specific bowls that originate from different parts of Japan. Downtown is ramen-central with five different spots in a three block radius. I recently checked out one of the news places in town for a hot bowl of delicious noodles, Ichifuku Ramen.
Category:
Downtown
Montreal’s food scene is vast and it’s undeniable that awesome restaurants fill in all the nook and crannies around the city. Eating out as much as I do, I’m given the opportunity to find and discover some of the unique restaurants that make our city’s restaurant roster so rich. From the Mile-End, to N.D.G, locals have their favourite eateries they like to call their own. These neighbourhood gems are the places I love; casual, non-fussy food, served by honest and humble people. I recently discovered the charming Fiorellino – located in a very unassuming part of town, the Quartier International.
I was the guest of Chef Daniel Boulud at Maison Boulud located in the Ritz Carlton Hotel for lunch. He was in town creating the fall/winter menu and had invited four guests to join him to discover some of the new dishes. First of all, when a Michelin star chef invites you for lunch there are a few things that go through your mind, 1) Is this a joke? 2) Are they going to serve gluten-free, vegan items? 3) Did I shower today?
I made my way downtown after clarifying the checklist that the invite was in fact not a joke, I did shower and thankfully the menu was not hippie-friendly. We were graciously received by Chef Boulud and Miason Boulud’s Executve Chef Ricardo Berlotino in the beautiful veranda at the property that overlooked the garden and duck pond behind the restaurant for a preview of their new menu.