Month: September 2024

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

If you are looking for a hotel that is conveniently located in downtown Montreal, and only 20 minutes from the airport then the Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth is the perfect place.

The hotel is beautiful. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by the staff. They are very friendly.

The room is pretty standard, but the view out the window is spectacular. We were able to see St. Patrick’s Basilica.

I normally never talk about the hotel toiletries that are provided in the rooms, but I really wanted to mention these. I loved the fragrance of each of these. The brand was Rose 31 by Le Labo. The ingredients they used were so lovely.

The interesting thing I learned about this hotel is that John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed here back in the 70s. Their room  was on the 17^th floor and was just a few doors down from where my room was. They really called out the room with a special door, and icons all over the wall.

Another special room on the 17^th floor was a Barbie suite.  You could not miss the room because of the giant pink door.

Speaking of Barbie, there is a little café that is Barbie themed in the lobby area of the hotel. It is the perfect place for a Barbie lover to grab a coffee or ice cream.

If Barbie is not you thing don’t worry, there are plenty of other places to grab something to eat at the hotel. From sandwiches, fresh made pizzas, pastries, and candy, there is something for everyone.

https://www.fairmont.com/queen-elizabeth-montreal

Enjoy!

T