Tag: restaurant
Trekking to Fashion Week in Montreal is treacherous — it’s in Old Montreal and those cobblestone roads are not easy when you’re in skyhigh heels, such as these (I am very, very fortunate I did not faceplant, let me tell you).
But what makes me oh so very thankful MFW is held in Old Montreal? I can skip (well, as much as I can skip in heels on cobblestone) over to Olive et Gourmando.
Incredibly delicious, if somewhat greasy (bet that’s what makes ‘em yummy, though) grilled sandwiches. This melty thing here is the Cuban sandwich.
To die for baked goods; the fleur de sel turtle bar (chocolate, nuts, salt, caramel) is my weakness (but then again, I’ve always had a thing for sweet and salty). I limit myself to bringing home just one each visit. And I throw in an almond croissant, too.
This time around, I tried the macaroni and cheese and it was rich, with plenty of earthy mushrooms and gooey cheese throughout, and had the perfect balance of crunchy topping (it’s served baked in a shallow cast iron pan so every bite includes some crunchy goodness). I don’t seem to have a photo of it — I know I took one but I must’ve not saved it properly as I was in a mega rush to dig into my food.
Just. Go.
Here are their hours. Word to the wise — they’re always busy. Always. Go at lunch hour and it’ll be rammed (in fact, a group of us risked missing a flight by staying in the long lineup one time…that’s how much we wanted lunch from there). This time I went at 4PM (a slow time, you would think) and there was not an empty table in sight.
Olive et Gourmando, 351 rue Saint Paul Ouest.
February 16, 2012
(Anything I find swell. Posted on Sundays. Real scientific, I know…)
(This includes deliciousness I’ve eaten recently.)
When I got the invite to try the new holiday menu at Brassaii, I immediately started counting down the days until the dinner. At the summer tasting, I’d had a ravioli that when sliced into revealed the perfect runny egg yolk that was soo good I still dream of it. And at the seven-course tasting this week, it was this dish I fell in love with (pardon the bad photo):
It’s a bay scallop, with beluga lentils, iberico chorizo and roasted pistachio vinaigrette. Yes, you’d expect me to like it (chorizo, after all) but scallops are actually not my favourite — it’s a texture thing for me (too squooshy sometimes for me). But the melding of flavours in this little number has me singing its’ praises.
Yes, I know, you want to go to there to try this. Trust me.
(and while you’re at it, try the Drunken French Sailor cocktail; it’s my favourite there — although the smokiness of the scotch may not be for everyone).
December 4, 2011
I was both skeptical and starving when I arrived for lunch date at FOUR restaurant. Starving because I hadn’t eaten breakfast (which means I was a little, OK, a lot, cranky, too) and skeptical because I found it hard to believe a restaurant that only serves healthy dishes that ring in at less than 650 calories could be:
(1) filling
(2) tasty
(3) (and as a result) satisfying.
Having never worked in the Bay St. downtown core (for which I am very thankful for — I hate the whole rat race feel of the ‘hood), I was unfamiliar with this restaurant, which is located below Far Niente. I expected the tiniest of portions — more like amuse bouches than proper entrées — and planned on having to eat a proper meal afterwards.
Was I ever wrong. I taste tested two appetizers — the crab & corn cakes and the calamari and both dishes rivalled many of the calorie-laden versions I’ve had elsewhere. In fact, the tender calamari, cooked in a black bean sauce, is perhaps one of the more inventive and flavourful ways I’ve ever had squid.
The dish that completely had me swooning, though, was the smoked sablefish. The crispy skin had an intense but luscious smokiness, and on the side was a delightful edamame and sweet corn succotash. Also drizzled on the plate was a passion fruit mustard glaze (I used it sparingly, dipping occasional forkfuls of sablefish into it when I wanted a little extra sweetness).
I learned from chef Matt Rosen that the restaurant isn’t even equipped with a deep fryer. Also, before any dish makes it onto the menu, a nutritionist analyzes the recipe not only with regards to calories but also to ensure the rest of the ingredients are appropriately portioned. After all, low in calories isn’t so healthy for you if saturated fats are sky high.
FOUR was jam packed when I was there — and since I was too busy taste testing dishes I didn’t get a chance to find out if people were there for the healthier-than-the-food-court fare or just for a darn tasty meal. Whatever their motive, it’s a win-win situation.
FOUR, 187 Bay St., Commerce Court South, concourse level
February 18, 2010
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