Gator Girl – Out of the Swamp

If you want to have dinner at a popular restaurant on a Friday night, then The Keg is the place to be. Just make sure that you have a reservation to ensure you get a table.

We had a nice table at the window. The table was more casual with comfortable leather seats that made it feel like a lounge.

I started with a Sangria. They made it beautifully. It had bubbles from the Sprite they added. It had a great sweet and spicy flavor.

We started with a few appetizers to share. The crispy cauliflower was the first thing out. It was tender and had a little heat because of the seasoning they sprinkled on top. They served a chipotle hot sauce on the side as well as a lime aioli. They were perfect for dipping. I really enjoyed mixing both dipping sauces together.

The Mushrooms Neptune was an extremely rich dish. They took mushroom caps and stuffed them with crab meat and cream cheese. Then they ran it through the salamander (broiler) to put a crispy layer of cream cheese on top.

The crab meat was sweet and complemented the slight sour taste of the cream cheese. The mushrooms were tender and the perfect vehicle to serve the crab and cheese.

For my dinner I got Filet Mignon with Lobster & Crab. The tender filet was grilled to the perfect medium. The seasoning was the best blend of salt and pepper. The crab meat and lobster (both Atlantic and Norway) were placed on top of the filet. It was then covered with a lobster hollandaise sauce. There was also asparagus and baby carrots served on the side. I had a baked potato and I decided to get it twice baked, that way the cheddar cheese on top was a little crispy.

The gilled Top Sirloin was also ordered the exact same way. The difference was the baked potato came loaded.

The appetizers and steaks were so filling there was no room for dessert. The meal was fantastic and I recommend everyone check them out. thekeg.com/en/locations/old-montreal

Enjoy!

T

If you are looking for something unique to do in Montreal, I would recommend you check out Aura. It is a spectacular light/music show that is preformed at the famous Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.

basiliquenotredame.ca/en/events/the-aura-experience

When you walk through the doors of the Basilica, you will be walking into darkness which is a major contrast from the light outside.

Once your eyes adjust, you will start to see the lights and candles that adorn the altar at the front, the ceiling, and the side displays. It is absolutely beautiful. It is awe-inspiring, especially when you remember you are in a place of worship.

The show is amazing. The music and lights help tell the story of the Earth’s creation. The lights dance on the ceiling and walls as the audience watches the changing of all four seasons.

You watch the great flood with the sound of rain and thunder all being created by music.

And to finish, you see the rainbow and the promise of a new day with triumphant music.

For those that are religious and know the Bible, you will recognize the imagery. For those not interested in the religious aspect, you will still enjoy the music, lights, and technical aspects of the show.

It is perfect for the whole family. Get tickets in advance to ensure a spot. The seating is open so get there early to have a seat close to the middle.

After the show, the Basilica is open for everyone to explore. I encourage you to walk around and look at the beautiful sculptures, stations of the cross (which are beautiful oil paintings), artwork, and the craftmanship of all the carved wood.

Enjoy!

T

When visiting Montreal, I was able to visit a beautiful family Italina restaurant called Bravi with one of the owner’s cousins. Since we had a huge party, we had a preset menu, but almost everything on the regular menu came out. We did not go hungry tonight.

When we walked into our private room, we were greeted with wine and Focaccia. It was absolutely delicious. Everything happened so fast when we arrived that I did not even get a chance to snap a photo. The wine was called Tullum. It was an amazing red wine. We ended up drinking may, many bottles.

After a little socializing, we all sat down at the table and the starters all came out. If there is one starter that I would suggest you try it is the Bruschetta with goat cheese & caramelized onions. This was to die for! It was the onions that made this dish so delicious. They were sweet and complemented the tang of the goat cheese.

The Calamari Fritti was extremely tender. The breading was light and crispy.

Do not shy away from the Grilled Octopus. I have never been much of a fan of octopus, but the preparation of this dish completely changed my mind. The flavor was fantastic, and it was so tender. It melted in my mouth.

The fried bocconcini was essentially fried cheese. It was lightly breaded. They served marinara sauce on the side for dipping. It had wonderful flavor of oregano and basil.

The Charcuterie board were enormous. There were piles of Italian meats. The quality of the meat was superb. The meats that they included were Mortadella, Hard salami (cut into thick pieces), and Prosciutto. The Prosciutto was so lean, it just melted when I took a bite. This was some of the best Prosciutto I have ever eaten.

The next course out was the pasta, which was Rigatoni Romanoff. The homemade rigatoni pasta was tossed in a Rose sauce along with shallots, spinach, and parmesan cheese. This dish was so creamy. The sauce was amazing and soaked up wonderfully into the pasta.

Up next was the salad. This was a classic salad with freshly made Italian dressing.

The main entrees started arriving and I had a hard time deciding where to start. The Branzino was roasted seabass with vegetables and roasted potatoes.  The fish was flakey. The light caper butter sauce they put on top made the overall fish buttery.

Veal Scaloppine Ortobosco might be a mouthful to say, but you will your mouth will thank you for ordering this dish. The veal was served in a white wine sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms, and a demi-glaze. The veal was so tender, no knife was needed. The sauce was savory and the perfect accent to the veal and potatoes. The mushrooms added texture without adding that earthy taste.

If you like lamb, then be sure to order the Costolette di Agnello alla Rustica. This was a grilled rack of lamb in a port wine sauce. The presentation was beautiful. I tried a little of this since I am not a fan of lamb. The meat was tender and seasoned to remove that gamey taste.

Even with all the food that we ate around the table, no Italian meal would be complete without desserts. The Tiramisu was very traditional. It was extremely creamy and had a wonderful espresso taste.

The Limoncello Cake was light. It had fluffy icing that had a hint of lemon flavor.

There were large plates of fresh fruit that also came out to the table. These plates were loaded with cherries, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, and watermelon. It was extremely fresh.

I would also recommend the cappuccino. It was perfect to sip while enjoying the desserts.

If you are in Montreal, I would highly recommend visiting Bravi. It is a little out of the city but worth the Uber ride.

Check them out at restaurantbravi.com/en/

Enjoy!

T

Located in Old Town Montreal is a premier steakhouse called Mechant Boeuf. They are known for their butcher-cut, dry-aged beef and seafood.

They have a beautiful skylight in the restaurant that opens up between the two buildings. It brings in so much natural light into the restaurant.

We started off with delicious red table wine and freshly made hot rolls. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

For my starter I got the Cauliflower Soup. This soup was pureed. I was creamy in texture. The flavor of the cauliflower was not overpowering, it was subtle.

For my lunch I ordered the Tagliatelle Cacio e Pepe, which was a homemade pasta with parmigiano Reggiano cheese and black pepper.

Tagliatelle is a type of pasta that is wide and long strips. It is thinner than fettuccine and wide than linguine. The pasta was tender and I could tell it was homemade because it did not have a starchy texture.

There were a few chopped up truffles mixed throughout, which added an earthy flavor. This complemented the cheesiness.

This was a great lunch. There are plenty of other items that looked delicious when they came out of the kitchen including the cheeseburger and the ribs.

If you are in Montreal, check them out www.mechantboeuf.com

Enjoy!

T

I got to go on a river cruise in Montreal (Guided Evasion Cruise). We left from the Du Port do Montreal. This was a fun way to see Montreal from a different perspective and to learn about the city and history while on board.

The ship was really nice. There was an indoor covered level. This is where the bar was located. There are also servers walking around taking food orders.

There is an outside section of the boat that is all the way at the top. You will get a nice breeze sitting up there. If you get cold easily, make sure you bring a jacket.

It was fun to have a mimosa and learn all about Montreal.

Enjoy!

T

While visiting Montreal I got to experience a sculpture series called Le Mignonisme by Philippe Katerine.

There were 16 pink sculptures placed around downtown Montreal and the Quartier des Spectacles. These pink sculptures are of Monsieur Rose (“Mister Pink”), a little pink man.

It became a fun little game for me as I started walking around. I wanted to see how many I could find. I took a picture of the map I found but I really did not want to use it. It was more fun for me to find them unexpectedly. I never was able to find all 16. But I did find quite a few.

#1: I found on the underground floor of the hotel I was staying at – Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth

#2: This was located just outside my hotel at Esplande PVM a Place Ville Marie. It was one of the largest statues of Monsieur Rose.

#4: This was located in a window inside a mall, Centre Eaton de Montreal. This was harder for me to take a photo without a glare.

#5: Mr. Pink was located in a beautiful  park called Square Phillips. This park reminded me of Bryant Park in NYC.

#8: This was high up on a building. It was as if Mr. Pink was climbing up the side of the building. He was specifically at Rue Sainte – Catherine Quest – Place des Arts.

#10: I found Mr. Pink taking a break and sitting on a bench at Sur la façade du Theatre Maisonneuve de la Place des Arts.

#11: I found unexpectedly inside another mall – Complexe Desjardins. This statue was really tall and I could see it from a distance.

#12: This statue was challenging to find. I did not see it on the balcony until I was walking on the other side of the street. And even then I was glad I looked up. The specific location was Esplanade Tranquille.

#13: This was located at Au Croisement des rues Sainte-Catherine Quest et Clark. This was a popular Monsieur Rose because he was so easy for everyone to take pictures and selfies.

While those were all the statues I was able to see one more Mr. Pink. I was back at the Place des Arts but this time it was a night. There was a free country music concert. While I was singing to the songs I noticed that Monsieur Rose was appearing on the side of a building.

When I looked at my map this appearance was considered #6. It made me so happy that I could see one more before I left Montreal.

This was a really fun experience. If you want to participate in the hunt for Monsieur Rose, get to Montreal by September 29 otherwise they will go away.

Enjoy!

T

Near the Montreal Underground City there are several restaurants. The Italian menu at Monza looked delicious so we decided to check them out for lunch.

We had just gotten there when they opened for lunch. It was perfect timing.  We sat at the bar for great service.

I ordered a Bellini which was prosecco, Ciroc Peach, peach puree, and a splash of Sprite. It was sweet and bubbly. The perfect brunch cocktail.

The Rickard’s Red Ale was also ordered. This was an Irish style red ale that was brewed locally.

The Arancini was a perfect appetizer to share. It came with two on the plate. These rice balls were stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella. They were lightly breaded and fried. They were then placed on top of their homemade marinara sauce that was infused with basil oil and parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

The marinara sauce was fantastic. It had a great flavor. The rice ball was amazing the way the prosciutto was chopped up into small pieces. It was not overly salty. It paired perfectly with the creamy, melted cheese. It all combined well with the savory rice. The taste was wonderful, and I could have eaten both of these Arancini by myself for a meal.

For my lunch I ordered the Black Truffle and Parmesan Gnocchi. This was an appetizer but based on the size it was perfect for a meal. This dish was unique and nothing I have ever seen before. They took fresh gnocchi and fried them until they were crispy.

They created a truffle aioli with Reggiano cheese and cognac pepper butter. They sprinkled black truffle and gremolata (a blend of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest) on top of the gnocchi. Finally additional parmesan cheese was sprinkled all over.

The texture of the gnocchi was interesting. It was crispy on the outside but not overly crispy like a fried mozzarella stick. The gnocchi inside was tender but not overly soft or mushy. It was a one of a kind way to enjoy gnocchi.

The Focaccia Quattro Formaggi was also ordered. This was a pizza flatbread with roasted garlic and herb butter, parmigiano Reggiano, mozzarella, smoked Caciocavallo, and ricotta.

The flatbread had a great taste. The flavor of the garlic shined through. All the different cheeses added a slight salty taste with an extremely creamy texture.

Just the few dishes we had at Monza were delicious. I would want to visit again to try several of there pasta dishes that were on the menu.  Check them out at www.restaurantmonza.com

Enjoy!

T

Located in Centre Eaton de Montreal is a brewery/restaurant called 3 Brasseurs.

They have many beers to choose from, as well as an assortment of cocktails ad a variety of sangrias.

I ordered the Red Sangria. This was different from other sangrias I have had in the states.  This one was layered which was extremely colorful. They put a splash of Sprite in to give it a little extra sweetness and some bubbles. I loved the flavor.

I was excited to get some Poutine. This is a dish made famous in Montreal. Everywhere you go in the city, there will be different versions. I ordered the Authentique. This is the traditional poutine. It is simply fresh cut French fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy.

It was absolutely delicious. The fries were crispy. The cheese stayed in pieces; it did not melt that easy. The brown gravy was savory and not overly salty. It was the perfect trio of ingredients.

This was the perfect first spot to start my food visits of Montreal.

Check them out at www.les3brasseurs.ca/en/

Enjoy!

T

Montreal is an easy city to walk around. We headed to Old Town Montreal to see all the old and new blended together. The area is close to the waterfront. There are great views of the area.

There is a Ferris Wheel that you can ride. Tickets are around $27.50 for adults. It’s a great way to see all of Montreal.

Check out Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bon Secours Chapel (https://margueritebourgeoys.org). This chapel was built in 1771 over the remains of the Chapel of Pilgrimage founded by Marguerite Bourgeoys in 1655. It was completed in 1678 but destroyed by a fire in 1754.

Visitors come to this chapel in order to pray to Marguerite Bourgeoys. There are multiple statues of her throughout. There are candles you can light, or a piece of paper where you can write your prayers and intentions.

The stained-glass windows, statues, and paintings throughout the church are gorgeous.

The sacred altar is magnificent. You must remember that you are in a place of worship, so you must be respectful.

Continuing down the main street in Old Town you will come to the Quartier International de Montreal. There is a water fountain at the center. Many people throw coins in and make wishes.

Across the street from the water fountain, you will see Notre Dame Basilica. One of the towers is under renovation. In order to go into the Basilica, you must buy tickets. We were planning on going later in the trip to an event there.

Walking around there are historical plaques on many of the buildings. I encourage everyone to stop and read them. One of those buildings was the original Molson Bank. William Molson (one of the Molson brewery family members) founded a bank in 1853 to help grow the community.

Near the Montreal Underground City is a metal circle sculpture. At night it has lights on it, creating a glow. This was a new $5 million art project that was erected a few years ago.

Near Phillips Square you will find the original Hudson Bay Department Store. It reminded me of the Macy’s in New York City.

Rue Saint-Pail Street is a hot spot. This street is loaded with shops, restaurants, cafes, art museums, and hotels. The street is easy to walk, with many sections of the street being blocked off from cars.

Between this area and Old Town, you will find everything you need.

Enjoy!

T