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
