Do you like brunch? Of course you do. I don’t. Well, I didn’t, not until my girl turned me on to it. I used to think that the idea of brunch was for greedy people who woke up late one day and couldn’t decide whether they wanted breakfast or lunch and decided to meld the two together and have both.They inadvertently created a dish that had already existed to many people already who call this meal that breaks their nightly fast known as “breakfast”. Needless to say, I go out for brunch often. Can you think of anything better to do than to wake up early on a weekend to go eat? I didn’t think so. I recently went to this local spot that’s popular for their weekend brunch, Sparrow.
It’s that time of year again, where I look back at some of the most memorable dishes I’ve had in 2015. It’s also that time of year when I look forward to all the “New year, new me” declarations on Facebook and Twitter and the avalanche of tacky, cliché motivational quotes on Instagram. I’m so proud to say that I’m fortunate enough to live in one of the world’s best cities for food. Our food culture is perpetuated by the amazing culinary talent that calls Montreal their home. From fine dining to casual, international cuisine to domestic terroir, we truly are blessed. 2015 has been a year full of delicious food and amazing experiences, so in no particular order here is my best of the past year.
Everyone has their own indulgences; some like fine imported wines, or Cuban cigars or even PVR-ing Keeping up with the Kardashians to watch alone at night under a blanket of shame. I on the other hand, like cake and sushi, both of which I’d love to eat more often but they are indulgences for a reason. Sure, if I could, I’d eat cake all day every day, but because, duh, common sense, and sushi because proper sushi is expeeeeeze. That’s why when I find out there’s a place to go for sushi that not only serves unique modern takes on Japanese dishes and traditional specialties, but who’s chef is a noted up-and-comer in the culinary scene in Montreal, I knew I had to check out Sogen – Sushi Restaurant in La Prairie in the South Shore.
Food porn. You know what it is: the act of taking and posting photos of food throughout different social media channels and status updates. To tempt people who aren’t even hungry in that moment into a full-blown food hard-on giving hours of hard work at the gym and meal-preps a big middle finger covered in Nutella dotted with peanut butter M&Ms. One of the biggest apps responsible for the proliferation of food porn is Instagram. Instagram has an estimated 400 million active users around the world. If you don’t already follow me on Instagram, I would love if you did, not only because of the awesome food porny pictures, but follow me because you’re just so damn good looking. Which brings me to this week’s post: The finest purveyors of food porn: Foodies from Montreal on Instagram You Should Be Following!
One of my favourite movie scenes is the famous phone-call scene from “Taken.” It’s when Liam Neeson is talking the hostage takers of his stupid daughter (who literally asked for her ass to be kidnapped) and said, “I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you.” These words stood out to me the first time I saw this movie, not because they were riveting or thought-provoking, but replace “kill” with “eat” and it’s exactly what I think about brunch. One of the most colourful neighbourhoods in Montreal is Plateau Mont-Royal, and that’s where you’ll find some of Montreal’s best brunch spots.
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.
Sometimes I’m fancy, and by “fancy” I mean shower regularly. Other times when I’m fancy it often involves food whether I’m cooking it or eating it. Using terms and phrases like like “vol au vent”, “brunoise” “translucent” and “holy shit that’s hot” will definitely make you feel like you know what you’re talking about and give the impression to your dinner guests that you’re a variable Daniel Boulud and know what you’re doing in the kitchen. One of my go to recipes when I’m feeling fancy is vol au vent. A really simple mixture of meat and vegetables with a cream sauce in a warm, flakey pastry shell, this dish is great for a dinner party to impress your friends and loved ones where you have to break out your cloth napkins… or a dinner with your family.
One of my New Year’s resolutions for 2015 was to stop procrastinating when it came to Christmas gifts and I have about a month to make good on it. Seriously though, have you ever found yourself at Couche-Tard on your way to your family’s holiday dinner trying to pick out the perfect bag of mixed nuts or flavoured jerky to best suit our relative’s personality? Or debating whether the chicken or pork flavoured instant ramen would fully convey your holiday sentiments to your loved one? Me neither, I’m asking for a friend. I’m just saying, I made a promise to myself that if I ever wanted to be invited back to Christmas dinner, I better step up my gift game this year; there are only so many boxes of Merci or Bocci I can buy before the staff at Pharmaprix starts to feel sorry for me. So this holiday season I’ve compiled foodie gift guide of local goodies and products to bring holiday cheer to the ones you love and to possibly get an invitation for future family gatherings!
That dreaded time of year is approaching and I can literally feel it in my bones. A cold chill runs down my spine just at the thought of it. The anxiety of knowing that you’re going to have to brave through this just for a little while before it all passes and sunny skies return, waddling your way over ice as to not fall on your ass in public, trudging through 30cms of snow, boots that clutter the doorway… but enough about having to visit my relatives during the holidays and let’s talk about food. One of my most favourite things about the holidays is the food; it’s the time to chow down on recipes and dishes that make their once-a-year appearance and are then tucked away for another 365 days. A dish that our family sees only during the holiday is traditional Quebec Tourtière; a savoury meat pie notable for its rich combination of spices and a light, flaky crust.
Montreal’s pizza game is fierce. Recently there has been an influx of pizza places popping up around town that are all bringing different concepts to the table, from places that strive to bring you the most authentic of Italian pizza experiences to those who strive to deliver your pizzas with a bucket of chicken and a mixed-meat shwarma sandwich. Not that that’s a bad thing as diversity is what makes Montreal and dinner tables less volatile while satiating a wider variety of appetites. I love pizza. I don’t know many people who don’t, and if I didn’t, they wouldn’t really be worth knowing. I recently stopped by this cute spot, San Genarro in Little Italy for lunch.