I'm back! And I've got poutine!

Huge-ass long hiatus. I know. Life...and stuff...happened.
But now? I'M BACK!

Much has happened since the last time I posted. RL aside, I've discovered the joy of BBQ ribs, the cozy warmth of pupuserias and the stout tastiness of pierogi.

Also, I finally visited this landmark Montreal cafe:

Brûlerie St-Denis

I always knew that they had great coffee and desserts, but I was surprised at how good their food is too!

So far I've had a roast beef panini (very filling, but a little on the dry side), cauliflower cream soup (I love creamy soups, period) and a light, fluffy chocolate cheesecake. I also hear that they serve a mean breakfast.

My favorite dish though, has to be this:


Philly steak poutine! Fries, cheese, philly steak, grilled onions and mushrooms all topped with gravy sauce....mmmm. Incredibly fattening, but also incredibly delicious!

Brûlerie St-Denis has got over a dozen locations all over Montreal, but my suggestion would be to stay clear of the ones inside malls and keep to the bigger shops that have terrasses. The original ones actually on St-Denis street (near the Mont-Royal and Berri-UQAM metros respectively) and the one on Côte-des-Neiges are my faves.

Okay, time to go! I know that I have at least another post to do about Paris and oh, about every new eatery that I've discovered since. So until next time and...bon appétit!

Ode to a Bagel (or Two)

'Tis true:

Montreal bagels are the best in the whole friggin' world.

As a Montrealer, I'd dare anyone to prove me wrong. Where else on Earth can you find such chewy, fresh and savoury deliciousness? Nowhere, that's where. Even astronauts agree that our bagels are out of this world.

It all starts with natural ingredients and an old-fashioned wooden oven. Throw in lots of skillz (have you ever seen bakers make bagels? They've got mad hands yo!), much love and dedication, sprinkle with downright deliciousness (usually sesame or poppy) and ta-daa! You are now about to taste the most delicious bagel of your life. And none of that perfect roundedness,s'il-vous-plaît!

(Picture snagged from Wikipedia. Poppy seeds (top) and sesame (bottom) toppings. I think these are from Fairmount?)
The eternal bagel-related debate in Montreal is not "Poppy or sesame?", but rather Fairmount vs St-Viateur. Fairmount's bagels are prettier, St-Viateur supposedly has better flavours. I say supposedly, because I have yet to taste both bagels side-by-side (something I hope to remedy very, very soon). If you want an interesting article comparing and contrasting both, I recommend this article on the ever-awesome Midnight Poutine. Be sure to read the comments, they are always the most insightful part!

Personally, I find that both bakeries producing some pretty amazing bagels, so to me, it's all good. The raisin-cinnamon one I had today (courtesy of my boss and her husband) was a warm, chewy, fragant and oh-so-delicious. I ate the whole thing in a few bites and relished its mix of sweet, sour and spicy. Fairmount or St-Viateur? Who cares, it's YUMMY!

Fairmount Bakery
74 avenue Fairmount Ouest
(514) 272-0667

St-Viateur Bagel
263 avenue St-Viateur Ouest
(514) 276-8044

OPENING HOURS: What opening hours? Both places serve up fresh bagels 24/7!