The 411 While Montreal is known for some stand-out restaurants, often there are places that will do a diner service but not be open for brunch. I often wondered how they would approach a brunch menu, and am glad to see Restaurant Les Cavistes has taken up the challenge. Best described as a French bistro placing an importance on wine, I have been following Les Cavistes for years. They even temporarily tried out brunch during the Festival en Lumière and I was quite pleased. So when I heard that they were bringing it back I felt it would be interesting to see how a French bistro handles brunch.

At 1st glance With a terrace and a well-lit interior, Les Cavistes warmly welcomes you in. With a capacity for 50, give-or-take a little, it’s great for a table for two or a special occasion group that requires reservations.

Food The menu is quite short and is quite interesting; we were a large group but oddly enough gravitated to some of the same dishes. Some of the dishes have more a lunch inspiration, which would be the bistro approach being applied. Although, they still have items like lobster Benedict, which is a nice marriage of bistro food and brunch. The blood sausage is also a very interesting choice and is nice to have since many people are die hard fans of this dish. The menu we had is as follows:

We were curious about some of the appetizers, like the oysters and scones. To be honest, at $2.50 it’s a nice little splurge and not too much damage to the budget, especially considering it is an oyster, and in the case of the scones they do serve two. Now I’m not an oyster aficionado, but what I do know is that I liked it and it fit with the menu. The scones were a tad dry, although, to be fair, most scones that I’ve had tended to be so. The cream, however, was very plentiful, so much so that I had used up all the scones and was relegated to scooping it up with my spoon. If it wasn’t a classy place I would have licked it off the plate, it was that good. Overall, the cream was brilliant; it was light and had a refreshing hint of fruit in it.

So now comes the main dishes: my friend had the omelette ($12.75), which in essence is a vegetarian dish since it is meat-free and included a side of salad. I should note that this ceases to be a vegetarian option when you add the lardon (pork cube) for an extra $2.50. This omelette was actually quite large, which I was not expecting, each bite was bursting with taste, and in the end quite filling. Although I’m not a fan of salad as accompaniment on a brunch meal, this was expertly done and deserved to be on that dish.

Next came the soft boiled egg and half quail. I was expecting this to be the most filling dish since you do get meat from the quail and, although being a small bird, it seemed like it would be a good value for under $10. This dish was not the largest when it arrived; there was a soft-boiled egg and some bread. The quail piece was not overly large but, as previously mentioned, it is a small bird, so in hindsight I should have known better. Granted, it clearly delivered in the taste department, but just don’t expect a hungry-man platter.

Lastly came the lobster Benedict which offers two English muffins, eggs and a very generous chunk of lobster. In fact, when I look at the price of a lobster Benedict being sold at other places, I am shocked that they offer it at so low a price. The lobster part was great as it was everything a nice chunk of lobster should be. The English muffin was a touch crispy, and while I like some firmness in my English muffins this was a little too much crispiness for my taste. The eggs and sauce, however, were spot on. It also came with asparagus, which went well with the plate. I should mention one discrepancy: the price listed on the site for this dish ($17), which was confirmed the day I went and the day I wrote this review, now seem different. The physical menu lists this plate as $17 & $28 (this is confusing, and no, it doesn’t make sense to us either), yet my bill shows a total of $18. To further confuse the situation, note that three of us each got TWO eggs Benedicts, so either there is a mix-up on the menu or the waiter made an error in our favour. That being said, the reality is that $18 for two lobster Benedicts is a great deal, and get it while you can.

Service

Our waiter was excellent, did a great job in explaining the menu, and did not rush us as we sat around a while after all our food was done.

Vegetarian

There are a few items on the menu that are vegetarian-friendly, although the majority of dishes do have meat in them. The above mentioned omelette is quite filling, so it’s a nice option to go for.

Wrap up

The dishes were well plated, tasty and a nice way to get a bistro inspired brunch. You may need to get an entrée or two if you have a large appetite. The price of the lobster Benedict was amazing (if it wasn’t an accident), although I can see how your bill can climb, especially when you factor in coffee at $2.45 -$4.45 with no refills.

View Les Cavistes in a larger map

Price	$$$	$12-$15
Overall		4/5
Wheelchair Access	NO	0/3
Parking	Street & meter	Medium
BUS	29,361,30,427	Get Directions
Metro	Mount Royal	8 minutes

So Mother’s Day is tricky because, although it is the busiest day for brunch, it can be an exercise in compromise and patience. This is something I have had to deal with as well as I try to find the perfect spot for Mother’s Day. Just like there are different kinds of people, there are different kinds of brunches. You have the small personal brunch of 2 people or more, which is simple enough to not need to find a place that can accommodate a dozen people. You have those whose Mother’s Day outings are like mobilizing a small army, filled with various extended families and that require double digit reservations. You also have differing culinary preferences, with those who want something simple and quiet, or maybe even a shiny polished service, while others want an all-you-can-eat extravaganza.

This last one is where my family comes in, and it drives me nuts. My family loves all you can eat and although they call it “brunch,” what they really want is an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. I will refrain on throwing in my two cents on brunches that are actually lunch but advertised otherwise, since this is a special occasion.

So this year we lined up a couple options that would fit your needs for whatever it is you want for mom, and as always, if you have questions feel free to contact us on the contact tab up top, or via Twitter.

So you want somewhere quiet, somewhere quaint. There are a few spots that come to mind, like Sain Bol (5095 rue Fabre) on Fabre, south of Laurier, with its inspiring menu and use of organic and market-fresh items. Chef Frederic Houtin does an amazing job in a quiet, laid-back neighbourhood spot. Dishes like their French toast and Omelette are but a few items that mom will love. Reservations are not usually possible, but if you call 10-15 minutes before they can give you a heads-up. If your mom loves healthy, organic food, with an impressive presentation, taste and cozy décor, then do try Sain Bol.

Griffintown Café (1378, Rue Notre Dame Ouest) has delicious brunch items, is well-lit, laid-back, and never fails to impress. I am a particular fan of the huevos divorciados with pulled pork. Reservations are possible but they are conditional based on time and how many you will be. You will definitely be satisfied with the food and décor and the neighbourhood is not that busy with traffic.

Lemeac (1045, avenue Laurier Ouest) is a great spot for Mother’s Day: they do reservations, they offer a classic French cuisine take on brunch, and all along with great service. The menu items have never disappointed me; the Pain Perdue is a personal favourite here. The place itself is well lit and has that nice polished look to it, so if you are looking for that particular fancy spot this is it.

Birks Café (1240, Square Phillips) is white-glove-fanciness applied to brunch. It’s situated inside the Birks Jewellery store and has that old-world look to it. Birks Café offers a multi-course menu with refinement in mind. It will definitely impress mom and make for a fancy experience. Reservations are required, so don’t wait until the last minute.

Café Melies (3540, St Laurent) is a marriage of glass and steel, the menu has some impressive items, and their pancakes are quite memorable with other menu items providing impressive plating and taste. The décor here is more modern but definitely has that polish if you are looking to have an impressive look for Mother’s Day. They also take reservations and have a large capacity for seating, along with a small terrace if weather permits.

Madre (2931, Rue Masson) is great if you are looking for a place that offers something that mom hasn’t seen before but is still in the brunch sphere. The nuvo latino menu offers some very interesting creations. It is definitely a foodie adventure. The place itself is quaint, quiet, and impressive, and they also take reservations. Overall, a great choice if you want to give mom a foodie experience.

Vino (5674, avenue de Monkland) is a great option if your mom loves brunch and has been to lots of places already. Vino is still relatively unknown but puts out some amazing dishes, like their ricotta pancake, and they offer gluten-free options as well. A bonus is that they take reservations. If you live in the west end and are tired of the same old places, try Vino, you will find something quite unique and delicious.

In the Old Port you can try out Verses (100, rue St-Paul Ouest) which has a very well priced brunch. The rates are as follows: adults – $39, kids (12-18) – $18, and those 12-and-under eat for free. The menu offers an entrée, main and dessert, all for a fixed rate. Reservations are possible and there is good seating capacity. The interior is impressive and is a good spot considering you get the Old Port as a background.

Now comes the all-you-can-eat brunch buffets. Normally a brunch buffet will cost you under $40, but many of the places I have contacted are charging at least $10 more for the Mother’s Day weekend. They often offer something a little more than the normal weekend brunch, so you will need to contact them to see if they fit the needs you are looking for. In many of the descriptions I have included a link to their site and menu, if available.

Resto Le Toit Rouge in the Hotel Universel (5000 Serbrooke East) Montreal has brunch in the east end. Their menu offers sea food, including fresh lobster, meats, such as veal and cold cuts, and salads, pastas, cheeses, and desserts. Prices are $42.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids 4-12, and kids under 4 eat for free.

The Metropolitan Golf (9555, Boul. Du Golf) has a brunch buffet with multiple stations at $49.95 for adults, $29.95 for kids 5-12, and free for those under 5. Tickets need to be purchased so you have to contact them in advance.

Suite 701 (701, Côte de la Place D’Armes) is another great Old Port option that offers a five-station buffet at $45 for adults, while kids 12 and under can eat at half price. You get a cold or warm buffet, and an eggs, meat cutting, and dessert station. Reservations are possible and it is great for all group sizes.

Vieux Port Steak House (39, rue St-Paul East) has a very well priced multi-station brunch buffet at $24.50 for adults (add $6 for a lamb option), and $12.25 for kids under 10. The capacity is quite large and reservations are possible, making it easy for large groups. It also has that steak-house feel with the benefit of being in the Old Port, so you can walk off that meal and take in the sights as you enjoy a nice lazy Sunday along the cobble stones.

The Queen Elizabeth Hotel (900, Rene Levesque West) offers two options. There is the Beaver Club, which is a fancy restaurant, and where I do know that they used to have a dress code with jacket recommended. I heard the dress code is no longer enforced, but call ahead to make sure. The price is $70 plus tax and service, all of which gets you a 3-page menu with a varied buffet option, a full main-course dish (fish or premium cut of meat), and loads of desserts. To be honest, I never knew that they did brunch at the Beaver Club, although this may be only for special occasions.

The second spot in the Queen Elizabeth is Le Montrealais, which is priced at $65 plus tax and service. The menu is a 3 pager as well, along with a main course dish. There are some similarities in the items, although the mains are different and the culinary styles differ. I would suggest looking at both menus if you can and compare which suits you best.

Also downtown is Delta. There are two Delta locations offering a Mother’s Day brunch. There is a Delta close to Sherbrooke (475, President Kennedy) which has varied menu combining classic breakfast items and vegetables, pastas, etc for $29.95. There is also the Delta with the rotating restaurant on the 30th floor (777, University), where the price is $78 for adults, half price for kids 7-12, and free for kids 6 and under. These prices do include tip and taxes and they state that there is entertainment for children, which is a nice idea if you have some kids with you. The menu is two pages loaded with options and stations. The bonus is that the view is great, helped by fact that the restaurant is constantly turning, offering you continuously different views, which is something kind of neat.

The Hilton (2225, Autoroute des Laurentides) is up in Laval, which is great for those in the 450. You have a brunch buffet option priced at $48 for adults and $24 for kids between 4 and 12. You get multiple stations and a never-ending buffet. I’ve been here a few times and have enjoyed it. You can make reservations and it works for large and small groups.

Across the street is the Sheraton (2440 Autoroute des Laurentides). They have an option of the restaurant or the reception hall. I personally prefer the restaurant, and the price is the same, with adults at $47.99, $24.99 for kids aged 4-11, and kids under 3 eat for free. I have also been here before and there is a large selection for hot and cold buffet options, as well as stations.

Chateau Vaudreuil (21700, Trans-Canada Highway) is an option for those in the west end of town. I have been here before as well, and back then they offered a buffet with various options and a full main item. They were unable to provide a menu when I asked them but they did say the price was $46.95, although do call to reserve.

So there you have it, a Mother’s Day Brunch round up. We hope this helps you make your decision, and do call to confirm information since often things tend to change and you don’t want to be caught with any issues or complications on mom’s big day. If you feel we missed a spot, feel free to comment and we will add it to next year’s round up. As always, if you have been to one of the places listed above and want to share something, please comment so others can get some feedback.

The 411 For some time now I’ve hear about Maamm Bolduc, the buzz about it has been positive, a breakfast spot where you can get your classic breakfast favourites at a decent price, generous portions and with little or no fuss. These spots are a staple feature of the Montreal brunch scene. Not every spot needs to reinvent breakfast; if you do it well for a fair price and make delicious meals then you have a winner. So now it is time to see if M Bolduc comes into this formula.

At 1st glance When you walk in you may sometimes be greeted by a lineup as it’s rather popular with people, but it has a quick turnover as well as a good capacity. The interior is very laid back, it can be a bit dark in some spots but the place has a warm welcoming feel to it. Things are laid back capacity is more in the 50 person range, there’s an outside terrace and they also have a hand drawn artistic menu, which is kind of cool.

Food The menu covers all the classic dishes and prices are generally under $10 and come with coffee and free refills. Oddly enough, waffles are missing but other than that you will find all your favourites. Now some dishes creep up above $10 and make it to the $14 zone but those are rare. You can almost get lost in the menu, not just because it’s artistic but rather that it has so many options and all are rather well priced. The menu breakdown is as follows:

Now having been here twice I had the chance to sample a variety of dishes and on two separate occasions so it is more random, since results can vary at some places depending on the day or month. We started with the Delice Omelette $9.99; which is a large omelette, with goat cheese and spinach, a side of potatoes, fruit and bread. The price is fair and you do get bread which some places don’t offer. The potato portion was generous, fruit slices rather thick, and the fruit selection was varied which included 2 cantaloupe slices although the pineapple was tough. The omelette itself was loaded with goat cheese and the spinach portion was generous. It was tasty and as an omelette plate goes, this one is quite filling.

Next came the Eggs Benedict Florentine $9.99. This dish has two eggs benedicts, with spinach feta and tomato. The feta is crumbled on top which is different from other eggs benedicts that I have had, I feel that topping it with feta is the best way to get the feta taste delivered. The spinach was present and tasty, the tomato was not really necessary and I did not see it adding anything, nor did it take away anything. A one eggs benedict dish is $8.99, so for an extra dollar it’s really worth getting the extra one. The dish also came with potatoes and fruit. The potato portions were generous although a just a little bit salty.

Next up on the list is the apple cinnamon french toast at $8.99. This dish is 3 french toast slices topped with pieces of apples, cinnamon and a side of fruit. The french toast slices are of normal thickness although you do get three of them for $8.99, which is quite good. The fruit side wasn’t really out of this world, although the slices were thick. The dish was sweet and did leave me satisfied but something was missing to take it to the next step further and make it a stellar dish. It was a comfort food dish but playing with the presentation and maybe adding some other ingredients may take it out of its comfort zone, although it is overall a fair dish that is filling and well priced.

Lastly came the combination plate at $10.50. This dish is of scrambled eggs, crepe, potatoes, beans, fruit, bread, and they also have an option two for the same price which is very similar. This dish is a good catch all dish that gets you you egg optiona, another main, and some sides and coffee, all for a very fair price. The fruit and potato portions are generous and they don’t leave much empty room on the plate, so you can walk out and feel like you only paid ten dollars and got a whole lot.

Service The first time the service was decent, although the second time resulted in me asking for coffee three times, and no one bringing it. It also took my friend asking the 1st person I has asked and then we got coffee. What made things worse was that I only got a half cup because the pot was empty and they never came back again. That coupled with slow service on the order taking side did not make us feel warm and fuzzy.

Vegetarian Many items on the menu are vegetarian friendly, so you can come here and have some choices. There are some specials that were a little more health conscious but no big vegan options.

Wrap up Overall it’s a safe bet for your classic breakfast lovers. The capacity is quite large, it’s very laid back and the plates are filling, as well as the prices fair. Now I did notice that some dishes are a tad out there in regards to price such as the smoked salmon eggs benedict which is priced at $14.95 for two eggs which is in my opinion a little on the high side, although the eggs benedict florentine 2 eggs options is $9.99 which is an excellent deal, so I don’t see why such a large discrepancy. Other than the service issue, and waffles not being on the menu it’s a good safe bet, were you can get some breakfast comfort food and fill up.

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Price	$$-$$$	$10-$12
Overall		3.5/5
Wheelchair Access	NO	0/3
Parking	Parking Meter & Street	Medium
BUS	10,368,97,29,45,359	Get Directions
Metro	Frontenac	12 minutes

The 411 Foodies…we come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds, all with different preferences. Our preferences differ from person to person, but at the end of the day we all love good food. A while ago I contacted a fellow blogger from The Butter Melts out of habbit, whose site I have been following as of recently. We spoke of doing a brunch rendezvous and managed to meet two other bloggers, Gluttoners and the sassy foodophile . Now we have four foodies and need to find a new brunch spot that no one has been to… so, no pressure whatsoever… So, when all else fails I go to my handy list of spots and go over every one and see if it’s foodie enough. Now, the risk of having a foodie brunch is that you may end up with something that resembles lunch, so after some research Le Comptoir made its way to the top of the suggestion pile.

At 1st glance Saying that reservations are recommended is an understatement; I mean, this place is jammed, and for good reason since it has earned itself a reputation amongst foodies for plating some impressive dishes. Now showing up without a reservation does not mean you won’t get a spot, it just means you might wait a while, and if you go in the peak period you will definitely wait a while, so save yourself the headache and make the call.

Food

The menu goes through various changes so some of these items may not be there when you go, but it should give you an idea of what to expect. The menu has less than twelve items and that’s counting the dessert and drink options. Many of the dishes have breakfast items at the core and non-brunch items accenting the dishes. Your average dish will start at the $12-plus range and does include coffee. Don’t expect to find basic bacon and eggs here, but do expect blood pudding, a spin on scrambled eggs, a breakfast sandwich and some other tasty dishes. So, having given a glimpse at the menu let us look a little closer in detail to see how the brunch measures up.

We all started with the spiced hot chocolate ($5.00), which was thick, rich and delicious. It was a true pleasure to nurse it through my entire meal and have the last drop in the glass. The hot chocolate has accents of cinnamon, chilli and a rich dark chocolate, which takes you a trip to deliciousland. Now this works really well in the winter, so I’m curious to see what the summer drink equivalent will be, but if it is as good I will be lining up for it.

Now that we moved onto the solid dishes lets see what they are like. We ordered four dishes in total. The salmon tartare ($15) is first on the tasting block. This dish has Loch Duart salmon, herbs, and is topped with a fried egg. Now you may ask “what is Loch Duart salmon?” Well, it’s a special salmon from Scotland, and it is supposed to have a reputation for excellence, being sustainable and organic. The tartare was excellently plated and quite tasty; the fried egg on top was a nice touch that made it kind of breakfasty. This is a nice touch for those who like a tartare in the morning, although it is not something you often find on the menu, and it is a deviation from what one would normally have for brunch, but the egg works to bring it back.

Next is the Scrambled Eggs Dish ($14), which has a scrambled egg base with smoked duck, and truffles in the mix. The dish is topped with some greens, and has a few pieces of bread in it. The smoked duck and truffles really make this dish rich, and offers you some bang for buck considering neither duck nor truffles comes cheap. However, the scrambled eggs had liquid collecting at the bottom, which took away from the presentation and plating. The eggs were good, though a touch wet, but the smoked duck and truffles are the highlights of the dish.

Next came the breakfast sandwich ($12) which consisted of bread, tomato, cotechino and egg. Cotechino is an Italian cold cut, which I don’t even think I have had before. It is best described as a type of salami, and what I do know is that it was tasty. The dish was served on a single wooden plank and came with salad in a bowl on one end of the dish. The dish was tasty, and it was nice to see something different like cotechino. The sandwich was quite filling and the taste was good, although for $12 I was expecting a little better. I did also find that the mechanics of the burger and the plank used for plating an issue. Simply put, I had a single plank to act as a plate, and part of the sandwich could, and did, fall on the table since the plank was too small to catch all my messiness. The salad was a nice touch and refreshing; I normally don’t like salads with my brunch but this works, as it helps clean up the palate and helps make space for their yummy desserts.

The last of our main dishes was the black Pudding ($14), which is a blood sausage with a panecote covering on a poached egg, greens, and beans. This dish was a success; the taste was impressive, the plating was beautiful, and it was filling and original. I mean, the poached eggs with panecote covering is rare in this city; in fact, I can only think of one other place in the city that has that, so big time points for being original. This dish, in my mind, was the clear winner. It combines various breakfast and lunch elements, and brings them together in a delicious marriage. The blood pudding was tasty and the poached egg was well done.

Now as a dessert we were curious about the dessert Brioche ($8), which was topped with caramelized apples, some raisins, sour cream and cinnamon. The sour cream was on the side and was great for scooping it up with the brioche bread. The caramelized apples and the raisins offer a lovely sweetness. The brioche bread was large yet light. This is supposed to be an appetizer dish and sharing it was fun since we were generally all full, and the price is pretty good.

Service

Service started off slow. We waited a while to get our orders taken, although it seemed as if they were short-staffed since our greeter was also our waiter. As the meal evolved the service improved and at the end, even though the kitchen was closed, they made the brioche dish for us, which was very nice of them. Although I do suspect that they knew we were bloggers by the end since we kind of talked shop amongst ourselves and kept taking pics of our food… However, at that point we had already received our dish so there was no way that it could have been biased, as in if they tried to make it better or nicer since they found out after the fact.

Vegetarian

Almost all the dishes have meat in them; there is an item or two that don’t, but keep in mind that it is a short menu. As well do not expect health menu items like cottage cheese or egg white omelettes.

Wrap up

If you are a foodie try this place out, you will definitely like it. The menu will likely change but you can expect lovely presentation, a creative mix of ingredients, and impressive flavours working in unison. Even though I had a few small issues, I would go back again and try out some different dishes, as the adventure aspect alone of trying new dishes makes it worth it for me.

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Price	$$-$$$	$12-$15
Overall		4/5
Wheelchair Access	NO	0/3
Parking	Parking Meter & Street	Medium
BUS	55,363,46,51	Get Directions
Metro	Mount Royal	8 minutes

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So as winter winds down, people start to breathe a sigh of relief; days feel longer, the fear of waking up to 20cm of snow is ebbing. So that means one thing: that’s right, Pied De Cochon Cabane à Sucre. If you aren’t familiar with the Pied de Cochon Cabane à Sucre, it’s a foodie’s dream come true. This dream is made up of a few ingredients, one part being foodie hero/saint aka Chef Martin Picard, add a generous portion of foie gras, some maple syrup, some duck, a little bit of meat pie, and 20 hungry people all ready to experience a culinary delight.

I should note that this is our 3rd visit to the PDC Cabane à Sucre and it is a much a culinary roller coaster as it is an emotional one. One the culinary side you just eat so much food, and it’s incredibly creative and delicious. In many cases you need to be rolled out and take a very long nap after. On the emotional side, there is so much pent up feeling leading up to this event; elation and excitement when you arrive, and sadness and concern when you leave. The concern is that you don’t know if you will get reservations for next year. For those who don’t know, you can’t drive up there and ask for a reservation that same day, week or month. In fact, you need to do this near the tail end of the previous year. It’s really that popular and delicious; I mean, we had 3 people who came all the way from Toronto just to experience the magic.

So now that we have a little background on PDC Cabane à Scure, let’s roll up our sleeves and dig in. Since I reviewed it last year I’m going to focus a little more on the dishes themselves than on the overall. To be honest, this is the one place where I don’t care how the service is, I’m just happy to eat. Note that the vegetarian section I have doesn’t really apply since if you are a vegetarian or vegan this may not be the place for you. Right off the bat the Pied De Cochon Cabane à Sucre is not your normal sugar shack. The food is different, the culinary philosophy inspired by traditional Quebec dishes, but the ingredients are far from what people had way back.

The price is $57 for anyone above 12, $20 for those 12 and under, and free for kids under 3. This is $3 more than last year’s price, and there is still the add-on option of a meat pie for $20, although it is quite large so you can easily share it. We were two tables of 10, and bought one meat pie for each table at $2 a head. It was easily shared, with everyone getting a large and filling slice.

To begin with we had a serving of picked herring and maple syrup, a plate of sweetbreads, foie gras, and black pudding. They also brought out the sturgeon fried cake. These dishes were small little starters but with explosive flavour. The presentation wasn’t nearly as dominating as the other ones, but the taste was out of this world. I would say that the pickled herring in maple syrup was the most impressive; the look of this plate was understated but I kept going back for more.

The meat pie made its appearance at around this time. I know it is an add-on for $20, but divided among 10 people it’s a steal and is extremely filling. This dish as well is a silent killer, it looks small an unassuming but it is jammed packed with meat and will make any carnivore happy.

Next up came two of the most intimidating dishes, and my personal favourites. In one corner is the foie gras salad which does have some of the usual salad aspects which may trick any vegetarian, but beware, it is a trap as inside are very generous pieces of foie gras. This dish was delectable and rich, and I had to slow down after this since my taste buds were being overwhelmed by the experience, but once I caught my breath, I kept eating.

In the other corner was its tag team partner: the lobster and smoked meat soufflé. One would not think that smoked meat and lobster would compliment each other, but you have these two distinct flavours that work happily together to provide a knock-out punch combination of taste and fillingness. The lobster pieces in this dish were also generous in size and quantity, and some of us even had fun with the lobster shell used as decoration.

So at this point some of us are getting up for air, or a small walk, because Martin Picard’s creations have taken a toll; the troops are getting thinned out but their spirits are still strong. So this is when they roll out the big guns. I mean, we’re already fully tired, so why not send in three more heavy hitters.

So out comes a large pot of beans and duck legs, and I recall some cream in there as well. This was enough on its own, but they also brought in a large portion of pork sides on a bed of potatoes and cabbage, just to make you think it’s healthy and light. Once you bite into those juicy slices, however, you forget everything.

There was also a third member to this group, and that’s the roasted duck with a knife jammed in it, and large onion rings around the handle. The duck was delectable and the only thing we left was the bones. Fortunately, we had some expert meat carvers with us to assure minimal waste.

So just to wrap things up, next comes the desserts. At this point I no longer know what I’m eating, but I do know that it’s good. There was a sundae glass with ice-cream and maple syrup taffy, there were tiny little ice-cream cones filled with more taffy, pancakes in duck fat, and these cinnamon roll looking buns which even the athletes among us could not finish.

So overall this was huge success. We were all happy and I am sure all of us and more will be ready to go again next year. I sometimes wish that some restaurants add brunch as a regular menu offering, and, to be honest, Pied De Cochon is top of my list. This experience is a foodie’s dream come true. The price is more than your average cabane à sucre, but you get something you do not get anywhere else. Think of what $57 gets you at a regular restaurant, and it doesn’t even come close; I mean, we had three people drive in from Toronto just for this. So yes, it’s that good.

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Price	$$$$$	$57
Overall		4/5
Wheelchair Access	NO	0/3
Parking	Lot	Fair
BUS	N/A
Metro	N/A	N/A

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So welcome back to latest installment of our behind the scenes brunch building at Deville Diner. Recently week we looked at the corned beef a hash menu item which is a classic diner dish, now this week we are going to look at something quite unique and creative with its roots in the diner cuisine and history.

The first dish we look at is the Po’ boy this is dish you will find in various diners in the USA and has its roots in Louisiana dating all the way back to the 1930’s. Now traditionally a Po’ Boy is fried meat or fish on a baguette style bread. This one is different in that it is a series of 3 mini breads with fried oyster. The dish is flanked with a tomato gazpacho in a shot glass and a lemon half. The bread used is a mini broche roll filled with oysters, iceberg chiffonade and topped with remoulade sauce. The oysters are breaded then deep-fried and their size is quite plump and you get one per Po’ boy. This dish is planned to be an entrée and each bite of these is loaded with flavour and pop in your mouth as you eat it. What makes this dish fun is that it takes oysters and brings them brunch, initially they wanted to have an oyster bar but the issue is that if it is not a popular item there is a waste of oysters since it needs to be fresh. This dish is a way of still giving you oysters but in a more filling and more fun manner. Remember not everyone is a fan of oysters and not everyone is ready to have them in the morning.

Now having focused on something fried I feel I should showcase something lighter and healthy. I recall when discussing the menu ideas months ago, the issue of something for vegetarians came up. A tasty and creative vegetarian option is something that you do not find often. I mean many restaurants have a vegetarian option but it is often bland and uninspired. One salad we saw draws its inspiration from a Greek salad but has some other ingredients added to it which make it the surprise dish of the day. This dish has loads of feta cheese, olives, cucumbers, fresh herbs and watermelons. It has surprised everyone who tried it; it is light and refreshing while still offering you the robust flavour of lots of feta and by lots I really mean it. The feta portion is extremely generous, and this dish can be enjoyed all year long but it is absolutely perfect on a nice summer day because it is refreshing and you get large portion so you will definitely be full.

So now that we have two dishes I feel like I should leave you with a dessert dish. Well to be honest it’s a sweet dish but not exactly dessert. These are 2 things that you would never expect to go well together. That’s right breakfast poutine. I almost all but gave up having a breakfast poutine at various places that have it since I always get disappointed and I realized why. It’s because most places just serve you poutine for breakfast and not a breakfast poutine. The difference is that potatoes and gravy are not intended at 10 am, but people do like poutine in general. So Deville surprised me with a French toast poutine. What you have are thick french toast slices made from brioche bread cut the same as julienne fries, stacked like a poutine and drizzled with a syrup instead of gravy this dish is also topped with ricotta cheese and some pistachios. This isn’t thinking outside the box it’s looking at the box from across the street. The only thing that made me happier than that is that there is finally a breakfast poutine that tastes good in Montreal which was a fun and great sweet dish. Over the next few posts you will see that the sweet dishes have some really creative stuff that you kind of thought of as a kid but never could do. So keep this in mind when you come, and you can likely share it with others as well if you are a group.

So with that in mind I wish you bon appétit and check us out for our next post.

MBR

The 411 The old port has a variety of brunch options, many of which are quite nice. You can find brunch buffets, nice sit down places, some small, and others large. The menus are quite varied and although you will not find many classic style places, you know the eggs and bacon ones simply put, doesn’t really fit. Then comes along the Gros Jambon, which is a lovely little gem in the old port. The menu itself is not a classic bacon and eggs menu, but rather has a twist, it’s kind of like a luncheonette meets small town USA diner with the expected Montreal flair.

At 1st glance

Getting a seat at one of the counter top stools takes either luck or patience. The seating capacity here is limited at fewer than 30, and you either sit at a counter top facing the kitchen or at another counter top facing the wall and some seriously eclectic photos of midget wrestlers, era photos, old advertisements, and a recurring theme of pig references. You can also find little items at the cash and eat in plates in the shape of a pig right down to the curly tail.

Food

The menu is one page with a USA style comfort food feel to it. What does that mean you may ask? Well they use biscuits, meat in their potatoes, and their sausages are a patty as opposed to a link. The average price will be around $12 with a few items in the $14 range while the lobster roll is up at $18. Coffee is included with all the drinks and you get free refills. There is a definite focus on meat in many of their dishes, and this includes having meat in the potatoes. There are some items on the menu that have quite interesting concepts like the pumpkin cinnamon french toast. The brunch menu is different from the breakfast menu they have on weekdays, but for the purpose of this review we will focus on the brunch menu. To give you an idea of the options, here is the menu breakdown:

Although it is a one page menu they have some rather unique dishes. We had the banana bread french toast for $10 which was topped with various fruits, apple sauce and syrup. The banana bread taste did come through and it’s rather exquisitely done. You can taste a deep consistent taste of banana bread in the french toast however it does not overpower the fruit and syrup at all. I’ve had other banana breads where the taste is either understated or overpowering but this one works ever so nicely. The slices are fair and you definitely get more benefit in the taste department than the portion size. It isn’t enormous but that’s doesn’t mean it’s skimpy.

Next came the eggs benedict at $14.50; there is a 2 egg option and a 1 egg option which is $3 less. The egg has a wonderful presentation in that it’s as if it was done in a kind of mold for the eggs, since the shape is identical and is polished on the outside. The down side is that it’s a little smaller, but the plus side it that it’s cool looking and does not run since it’s cooked a little more. The eggs are on top of a biscuit which is the highlight to this dish as it offers a wonderful taste which pairs nicely with the eggs, and the sauce is not overpowering and does not take away from the dish. It also comes with beans, a choice of meat (I went for sausage) and potatoes. The beans were tasty and traditional, the sausage was a patty not a link which was nice to see and it was moist and tasty. The potatoes were quite interesting since they had chunks of meat in them which was a really nice surprise to get.

Service

We had one waiter for the entire place which was ok, although at some points it was a bit of a pain to flag him down for coffee and to order another item to add on near the end. I was missing a fork with my cutlery but he was quite nice and I think he was swamped since he was getting pulled in every direction.

Vegetarian

Although a good amount of dishes will have meat in them and the potatoes have meat in them as well, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any vegetarian options. In fact the french toast had no meat and there was a fruit option too. Although don’t expect vegan options or healthy options. It’s just not the culinary style, but you’ve likely figured this out by now.

Wrap up

I really enjoyed Gros Jambon, the décor is fun, the stool seats make it quaint, and the food has a fun twist on classic breakfast options. The prices are the norm for that area, and I would definitely try some other dishes on the menu like the lobster which seemed really interesting. I love the fact that the imagery of the pig shows up through the plate and even in its plates.

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Price	$$-$$$	$12-$14
Overall		4/5
Wheelchair Access	NO	0/3
Parking	Parking Meter & Street	Medium
BUS	61,75,36,61	Get Directions
Metro	Square Victoria	4 minutes

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Top of the morning to you. So it’s a lovely St Paddy’s day Sunday and you need some fuel in the stomach before you embark on a marathon of green beer and parade fun. Now I know some of you may say that Guinness itself is a meal, and yes I agree, but in some rare instances, you may need more than liquid nutrition. So we put together a list of various places offering Irish Breakfast on this most sacred day of green beer and green eggs and ham inspired dishes. Now we tried to get a detailed list but some of the web sites for the pubs have very little info on the breakfast part of the day. So after many calls and many “do Guinness and Jameson count as breakfast” jokes here is a list with some info. Please keep in mind my info is only as good as the answer I get from whomever answers the phone. I don’t offer more details as to if it’s good or not, that you need to see.

Mckibbin’s Irish Pub has an Irish breakfast for $15 as of 8am and it comes with Irish coffee. They have 3 locations to choose from. There are 3 locations situated at:

1426 Bishop St, Montréal, QC H3G 2E6 (514-288-1580)
6361 Trans-Canada Hwy, Complexe Pointe-Claire, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5A5 (514-693-1580)
3515 St. Laurent, Montréal, QC (514-282-1580).

Next up is Ye Old Orchard with 5 locations (4 of them in Montréal). I called a few of them and I was able to get through to some; those I spoke to gave me similar info. The breakfast is from a full menu where prices range from $7.99-$13.99, and they open at 9am. I already reviewed the NDG one a few years ago so you can look to see and get a feel for what it’s about. The locations are as follows:

5563 Avenue de Monkland, Montréal H4A 1E1 (514-484-1569)
20 Rue Prince-Arthur Ouest, Montréal, H2X 1S3 (514-845.7772)
1189 Rue de la Montagne, Montréal, H3G 1P1 (514-874-1569)
322 Chemin du Bord-du-Lac-Lakeshore, Pointe-Claire, H9S 4L7 (514-694-5858)

Next up is McLean’s Pub situated on 1210 Rue Peel, Montréal, H3B 2T6 (514-392-777). Their doors open at 7am; they did not have prices on the menu items, so I don’t know if the menu is fixed or has options.

There’s also Hurley’s Irish Pub which serves an Irish breakfast as of 8am and is priced at $18 with an Irish coffee. Hurley’s will be deep in the party downtown, and their address is:

1225 Rue Crescent, Montréal, QC H3G 2B1, (514-861-4111)

Last is the Irish Embassy at 1234 Bishop St., Montréal H2G 3E3 (514-875-8777). No one answered the phone when I called and there was nothing on their site, but I have heard that they are supposed to have some form of Irish breakfast.

Now I hope this helps, and please keep in mind that I cannot guarantee with 100% certainty, so call in advance.

Recently I was fortunate enough to be allowed into the kitchen of Deville Diner to experience their brunch building process. This post is one of many where I will be discussing some of the dishes that we will be seeing on their up and coming brunch menu. Now before I start, I need to clarify that I was given this opportunity because I personally know the owners and they allowed me the rare privilege to see the process of testing brunch items.

To begin with here is a little background on Deville Diner: having opened in late 2011, Deville Diner is something you don’t see much of in Montreal… a diner. I mean we have delis but those aren’t the same as diners. If you have been to the USA you will have seen diners, and it’s kind of a throwback to a long lost era. Now Deville is a more modern take on it and has been offering dinner and lunch service for some time but brunch is around the corner, and it’s likely to be something unlike what we have seen in Montreal. So the goal was to produce a menu and dining experience that has its roots in USA diners but still offers some fun and new items that you don’t see on a brunch menu in Montreal. I started posting some items on my Facebook page album & Twitter , I also gave some brief descriptions of these items. Also, in each post I will explain a dish in more detail, so feel free to comment and ask questions. Please note they haven’t offered brunch yet but I will let you know when they do.

So with a bunch of items to choose from, what to showcase? Do we go savory or sweet? I’ll be honest, when you look at breakfast food in the USA which is where the diner influence comes from, there are some really interesting dishes. Today we will feature the corned beef hash which is something you don’t really see in Montreal, I can maybe think of 1 or 2 places out of the 180 brunch meals I have had in this city where I have seen this on the menu. In fact the last time I had corned beef hash was in New York City at 4 am after a night of partying and hankering for breakfast food. Simply put, a hash is mix of meat, onions, and potatoes mixed, cooked together and served. Presentation of this dish has never been impressive although it is tasty and filling, it sure isn’t pretty. So considering the fact that Deville puts an importance on presentation seeing how this dish comes out is interesting.

The dish has a hash brown base, then a 10 hours slow cooked corn fed brisket which is topped with 2 eggs. The slow cooked brisket is a really nice touch and does make for some serious prep time. This dish went through 2 platings. The first attempt was all the above ingredients and with eggs topped on it, the base was the same size of the top levels making it seem like an even mound until the eggs covered it. The taste was impressive, the eggs adding to it and working well with the meat, the hash brown base paired perfectly with the brisket in regards to taste and I can see how this dish can be very filling, although they weren’t 100% satisfied with it something was missing and that was presentation.

Now the corned beef hash is not the sexiest of dishes so when you have a restaurant that values presentation it is important to make this dish look good. I’ll be honest I didn’t think they could make this dish look sexy, until round two came around and look for yourself night and day. They made the hash brown base larger/wider then spread out the meat to showcase it. I mean it is juicy and tasty so why not show it? Some peppers were also showcased for looks and taste and the eggs positioning was improved. The taste was the same but what a difference proper presentation can make. I honestly never thought they could take an old school dish like corned beef hash and make it young and hip again. I’m happy this dish is on the menu, in fact brunch needs this dish since it is filling, often well priced and has a proud diner history.

So that’s it for now, tune in next time when we showcase another dish. Until then, keep brunching.

MBR

Recently a new place opened up in the downtown core by the name of Deville Diner. It’s different from most places in that it’s a diner, not a deli, not a quick serve, not a traditional family dining spot, it’s an actual diner. Montreal traditionally does not have many diners, we have Delis but if you have been to New York and eaten at a diner you know what the difference is. It’s the look, the feel, the food, and Montreal really hasn’t had any that stand out until now. Now like all things in Montreal there’s a twist to it and Deville is no exception as it is a diner for the 21st century in that there are accents in the décor, and has a diner look and feel to it. The menu focuses on classic diner items like burgers, meat dishes, and sandwiches but they give them a modern spin often inspired by some famous dishes and restaurants in North America, creating something new and unique yet still comforting the way a diner in New York welcomes you.

Now I happen to be friends with the owners and have known them for years, so it is thanks to this that I am fortunate enough to have had a chance to sit down with them and discuss brunch, and their brunch ideas. I also got to sample some of the dishes that are being tried out for their menu, so I got a very rare behind the scenes look into what goes into a brunch menu and the various aspects on the issues that arise. Stuff that you and I don’t always think of like how do you choose ingredients and suppliers, how do the ingredients you use affect the look of the dish, how much of a role does plating make, where do you draw your culinary philosophy from?

Over the new couple weeks you will be seeing some posts about my experiences at Deville Diner. I will be showing you some pictures, videos, some sneak peeks on what’s on the menu and a rare look into the kitchen of a popular Montreal restaurant. Feel free to comment on what you see and ask any questions. We want you to get engaged and involved as we explore the making of a brunch menu.

Check out the local phone directory and smartly find the restaurant you like.

Stay posted

MBR