What’s better than to beat the hot, humid summer heat than with a cold, frosty, sweet treat? I love ice cream. If you follow me on Instagram, you would know, that I’m a sucker for a cone topped with deliciously creamy scoops or perfectly spiralled soft serve. My passion for ice cream has prepared me for this moment… Today, in collaboration with Ca Lem Creamery, we are launching an exclusive Shut Up and Eat soft serve flavor of the week… and I’m giving some of it away!
There’s no denying the fact that I love Chinese food. All of it; saucy stews and crispy noodles of Cantonese cuisine, spicy numbing stir fry dishes and fiery soups of Szechuan, sweet and sour notes of Hunan. The magic of Chinese food is that China is over 9 Million square kilometres, has 23 provinces and boarders 14 countries. The fine intricacies of Chinese food change from region to region and reflect the locally available produce, ingredients and influences of neighbouring countries. It’s all “Chinese food” but all very different, but similar. I recently checked out Restaurant Delice Oriental (Huang He Lou), a spot downtown serving up classic Szechuan, Hubei and Hunan specialties.
Dear the person who invented brunch, I don’t know who you are, but I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kiss you on the lips with an open mouth. I mean, what a novel idea. There’s breakfast and then lunch, but to have the presence of mind to discover the hidden meal in-between meals takes an innovator and culinary visionary. What’s even better, is brunches that stray from the traditional offering of cookie-cutter chains. Brunches by chefs and restaurants that incorporate their cuisines into their weekend menus. “Like what,” you ask? Great question! How about Cajun inspired brunch from Bistro Nolah?
What do you consider “street food”? Dirty water street meat from New York? Our version of food trucks that situate themselves in random spots around the city? Or street hawker stalls usually operated by an auntie who’s last fuck she gave was in the late 80s, manipulating a fiery wok and bubbling cauldron wearing flip-flops? Unfortunately for us, we do not have the luxury of food hawkers and the romantic image of curb-side noodles and spicy grilled something-something like in Asia. However, we are lucky enough to be home of some of the most creative culinary minds to realize those dreams in their own ways. First it was Singaporean satay and laksa, now, Cambodian fish amok, sausages and men siam. Make your reservations immediately for Les Street Monkeys.
There are a few things in life that I take extremely seriously; family, friends, dental hygiene and barbecue. Friends and family is a given but can you believe that 75%* of the Canadian population suffers some sort of periodontal gum disease? More importantly more than 80%* of all all barbecue aficionados will at one point in their lives eat bad barbecue.
I love barbecue, I’m confident to say that I’ve probably eaten my weight in delicious ‘cue. Being said, I am equally confident to say that I’ve eaten the weight of a small child in bad ‘cue as well. I’ve traveled to explicitly eat barbecue and have dined at some of the best spots around. So you can imagine my excitement when I heard that there was a new barbecue joint opening in town – Prime BBQ Co.
Go to the ATM, grab an umbrella and lace up you sneakers, because Montreal’s 2017 food truck season officially kicks off TODAY! Today, June 2nd come out to the First Friday’s Launch event at the l’Esplanade Financière Sun Life at the Olympic Stadium and check out some of the hottest food trucks int he city! The “First Fridays” food truck event happens every first Friday of each month during food truck season starting today and will run until October.
The First Fridays event has become the largest food truck gathering in Canada featuring a unrivalled 50 food trucks! This year the event space – l’Esplanade Financière Sun Life – has expanded to and will be boasting the BIGGEST TERRASSE in the city (with seating for over 2300!) Here’s everything you need to know.
One of the questions I was asked most growing up was, “Jay, why are you so awesome” followed by a close second, “do you eat general tao chicken and egg rolls everyday?” Being Chinese I was subjected to a barrage of idiotic questions that I attribute to stupidity of adolescence and mild racism. As much as I tried to ignore the dinner inquisition, I couldn’t. Not because of the blatant discrimination that weighed heavily on my mind in a weird time in my life when I was struggling to find my identity… but because I secretly wanted it to be true.
Canadianized-Chinese or “Pan-Asian” dishes were rarely on the menu at home or when dining out in my youth. The sweet candied sauces over fried golden nuggets of battered chicken and beef was alluring and enticing. The fact that my parents never ordered it, made me want it even more. I recently checked out Restaurant Maneki Comptoir Asiat’ – newest hotspot serving forbidden dishes every Asian adolescent dreams of.
Think of the food scene in Montreal, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Poutine? Smoked meat? Foie Gras? Those are a given. But do you ever stop to think why these foods are the first things that native Montrealers will say or even visitors will have in mind when coming to the city? It’s because of our “food culture”, it’s basically what we’re known for. For the same reason when you say Singapore or Thailand, you’re thinking delicious street food hawkers, or golden baskets of fish and chips from England. Despite not having particular inherent cuisines native to Montreal (or even Canada for that matter,) being a gastronomic destination and foodie city, some of the most interesting and unique foods are well represented. Case and point; Captain’s Boil – Asian style seafood boil.
Fried chicken is often considered comfort food. Comfort food rarely ever considered fancy food. What’s there to make fancy? A dismembered bird, bathed in its children, floured and deep fried. It’s usually comes with a side of fluorescent coleslaw and served in a bucket. It’s the best kind of food. It’s everything you want it to be; greasy gluttonous comfort food eaten with our hands. Lip smacking, guilt inducing take-along batter pops. It’s perfect. So how does fancy fried chicken even exist? I recently checked out Le Bird Bar, the newest hot spot in Griffintown proving that fancy fried chicken is a real thing, and making fried chicken is their thing.
They say a sign of getting older is brunching harder then you party. Actually, I’m not really sure who “they” are or if this is a real adage, but I’m saying it now, so it’s a thing. What better way to end the weekend and mentally prepare yourself for a work week ahead than with day-drinking, because brunch without booze is just a sad sad late breakfast. I’m confident in saying that Montreal’s brunch game is on point. In any corner of the city, regardless of the neighbourhood, there will always be a local café, big box chain, or bistro du quartier serving a weekend brunch. An area that is often is overlooked is right under your nose; The Golden Square Mile, AKA, Downtown! Amidst the new wave brunch spots, sits various O.G. go-to’s that pillar the scene with brunch classics. That’s exactly what you’ll get at La Société.