Tag: Featured
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The Dishes That Wowed Us at Tbsp.
The W Montreal has seen its fair share of coverage on this blog. Whether it’s taking a look at newly designed rooms or checking out the latest cocktail menus or spending time getting pampered during Grand Prix, there’s always a reason to pay the W a visit. With the opening of the swanky hotel’s gorgeous…
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Authentic Italian Eatery In The Heart Of Old Montreal
It’s been a very busy few months and while I’m eating out now more than ever, I haven’t had a lot of time to write. I also haven’t had anything exciting enough to write about, until now. I’ve finally had the chance to drop by Jacopo in Old Montreal to give it a try. I…
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A First Glimpse Inside Marcus At Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
With the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal on the cusp of opening its doors, excitement surrounding the hotel is at an all time high. While we’ve seen renderings of various spaces located within the hotel’s walls, no one has actually laid their eyes on anything other that the magnificent exterior – until now. Last week I…
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Feels Like One Night in Bangkok
Thai food is an exhilarating experience. Earlier this year I paid a visit to Pamika, a Thai restaurant with a reputation for great food and a vibrant atmosphere. A week or so before visiting the restaurant I stopped by Mae Sri, Pamika’s sister restaurant and after that experience, Pamika needed to be great. Needless to…
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Maple Syrup Made Me Do It
The eagerly anticipated season of liquid amber gold is upon us. In restaurants across Montreal for the next few weeks, chefs will be dreaming up maple syrup infused and inspired meals that will tantalize our tastebuds. Le Richmond launched their 4th annual Brunch à l’érable on March 9th and we had the pleasure of sampling the…
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Red or White? Uhm, Chardonnay.
There was a time when I would have been apprehensive about going into a restaurant like Seasalt & Ceviche, a seafood lovers dream with a great view of Old Montreal. I wouldn’t haven’t had much choice because I wouldn’t eat any of the seafood and fish on the menu. Times have changed and so have…
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RECIPE: The Blairy Christmas
For well over a decade I’ve had the pleasure of a full table of friends at Christmas. For me, the 25th of December is the most special day of the year and with each passing turkey dinner I remain humbled by the love that comes along with the copious amounts of food, the glittering parties…
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Holiday Decorating At West Elm
While there’s never a bad time to stop by West Elm in Griffintown and browse through their crave-worthy wares, Christmas at West Elm is extra special. We look forward to great decorating ideas, new additions to our Christmas decor and much more. Every year they come up with concepts and collections that sparkle as brightly…
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Hair Nourishment For Men
Guys, we’re doing good things for ourselves, or at least we should. We exercise regularly, we try to eat as well as we can, being careful about what we are putting into our bodies, but what about the rest? I know many of you are using those 3-in-1 shampoo/body wash/face wash in the shower but…
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Wrapped In Mud At A Nordic Spa
I’m a fan of vacations, both big and small. Getting away from it all doesn’t have to mean getting to the airport, getting on a plane and getting out of Dodge. Escaping everyday stress can be a simple and taking a day to head to a spa where you can be pampered from head to…
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A Grand Night Out
When the masterminds behind Grand Marnier invite you to an exclusive dinner at Montreal’s Ritz-Carlton, you accept – very graciously. That’s what I did a couple of weeks ago with the iconic brand of cognac blended with exotic bitter orange reached out to me. A selection of Montreal’s various media gathered for a VIP, invite…
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Seven Mouthwatering Dishes You Need To Try At Ibérica
Back in February, Ibérica’s opening became one of the splashiest events of the season. Seven months later, the restaurant is going strong thanks to a team that prides themselves in delivering an unforgettable experience to their clients. Seven months ago I can safely, without a shadow of a doubt, that I wasn’t a seafood person.…
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5 Must-Try Dishes At India Rosa
Late last winter, work quietly began on the space that would eventually house India Rosa, a new Indian restaurant on the corner of Mont-Royal and Brébeuf. Everyday I would walk by wondering when this place would finally open and a few weeks ago, the decor was finally revealed; it is stunning. From the second I…
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The Must-Try Dishes From Joiea Sociale
In Montreal’s vast restaurant landscape, there’s something for every taste – especially if you like Italian food. From quiet corners in mom and pop restaurants to fancy white-glove fine dining, Italian food is available for one and all in Montreal. Joiea Sociale is a blend of several different styles and they all work well. The…
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Blurring The Lines Between Chocolate And Art
Walking into the Lecavalier Petrone atelier in Pointe-Saint-Charles, the scent of cocoa power is enrapturing – and that’s just the beginning. The awakening of our senses as we enter the quaintly chaotic, brightly lit work space and storefront begins softly with scent and explodes with flavour the second we crack into one of their inventive…
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Ibérica
Early last week, in the midst of yet another glorious snowstorm, a select gang of media, influencers and bloggers gathered downtown for a private tasting at Ibérica, a swanky new high-end Spanish eatery. The exquisitely decorated restaurant sprawls out across a beautiful main floor and ascends to a multi-tiered mezzanine. The modern space is the…
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Onward and Upward
While Christmas and the end of the year is a time of quiet reflection and nostalgia, the start of the new year is the perfect time to look to the future with wonder, curiosity and hope. As I sit to write my very first blog post of the year I want to try and outline…
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Last Call – A Thin Blue Line
A couple of weeks ago the sad news broke that Wunderbar, le Plateau Lounge and E.A.T. would be leaving the W Montreal. The news came out of left field and was a gut punch for many in the industry. For a number of us, these nightlife staples are synonymous with endless stories of great nights…
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Rosetta
Passion, hope and courage are among the driving factors for many who wish to set up shop in Montreal. Rosetta, a fantastic new Italian/French bakery, café and pastry shop on rue Notre-Dame in Saint-Henri is a highlight of the year where the passion to impress customers with quality and service reigns high. They offer exquisitely…
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SAISONS X MTL à Table
With MTL à Table 2017 finally underway, you’re no doubt in between meals, taking a break between bites or waiting for your glass to get refilled at one of the 175 restaurants participating this year. I’m looking forward to getting down to business myself but before I do I wanted to share an incredible experience…
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MTL à Table 2017
It’s back! The 2017 edition of MTL à Table is just around the corner and this year promised to be bigger than ever. Coinciding with the Montreal’s 375th anniversary celebrations, this year’s MTL a Table extends a full two weeks will feature 175 restaurants located all over the city. Each of the 175 participating restaurants…
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ACCM RIDE
2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Aids Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and to celebrate this monumental milestone the non-profit organization is inviting you, their supporters and members, to join them in celebrating their success during an evening of art, dancing and more. ACCM is a volunteer-driving, English-language community organization that provides services for those living…
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Drag Superstars 2
With 9 regular seasons and 2 All Star seasons already in the can, RuPaul’s Drag Race shows no signs of slowing down (season 10, All Stars 3 and more Untucked were announced this week). To date 113 very talented Drag Queens have sashayed and chantéed down the runway of the main stage on what might be…
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Oysterfest Legends
Nine years ago Oysterfest started out as a small gathering of fans, friends and farmers of oysters. With shucking competitions, oyster plating and kegs of beer swilled with glee, the grassroots project launched a phenomenon that has grown into one of the most important summer festivals in Montreal. As our unofficial last hurrah of the…
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El Zaziummm
It’s very rare that I make it back to a restaurant as quickly as I did to review El Zaziummm. I attended their 25th anniversary party back in June and a couple of weeks later I organized (with plenty of wonderful help) a sit down dinner to try a little more food in a setting…
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Hachoir
It’s very, very rare for me to go to Hachoir and not have my usual Big Mec (or at least the Classic) burger, a delicious salad (that ginger vinaigrette is unreal) and of course the piping hot fries. This meal is one of my favourites in the city but every now and then I have…
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La Champagnerie
The time flies when you’re having fun. That’s what I thought when I received the invitation to the fourth anniversary of La Champagnerie. I remember being at the off-the-wall opening of La Champagnerie in Old Montreal four years ago and it was one of the most epic champagne filled parties I’ve ever been to (the…
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Grand Prix 2017
Montreal’s busiest weekend is only days away. With so much to see and do in Montreal during the Grand Prix weekend, it can get a little overwhelming. Here are our picks for this year’s not-to-be-missed parties and events. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines… Le Richmond From Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon Le Richmond in…
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Le Saloon
25 years ago I was a 14 year old boy living in a fishing village in Newfoundland and dreaming about life in the big city. That same year le Saloon opened in Montreal’s Gay Village. It was a very different time in Montreal. In 25 years a lot has changed in our city’s gay community…
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Portus 360
A little over a year ago Helena Loureiro and the team behind PortusCalle uprooted their restaurant, which had been located in the micro-neighbourhood of Little Portugal on the Plateau, and migrated south to Old Montreal. Taking over the revolving restaurant that sits atop the EVO student residence (formerly the Delta Hotel) Portus 360 is a…
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Le Mount Stephen Hotel
Montreal is a city teeming with awe-inducing structures, beautifully designed public spaces and buildings that reach high into the sky. Heritage Canada has done a wonderful job of protecting the rich heritage of the buildings that helps retain Montreal’s old world charm while sleek new additions are painstakingly added to keep our city looking to…
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West Elm Montreal
Next to book shopping, furniture and home décor shopping is one of my favorite ways to spend a few hours of the weekend. I can easily take half a day to search through a store to find that perfect chair, a new candle or even just dream about redoing my whole home from top to…
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5 Hoods, 5 Must Try Brunches!
Weekends in Montreal are as much about the splashy parties as they are the morning brunch that follows. Great stories begin with a toast to our health on Friday and Saturday nights and followed by a healthy helping of toast, Caesars, eggs Benedict and just about anything to cure that hangover while dishing about what…
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Nespresso Atelier
Imagine for a second that it’s early morning. The blankets that you’re wrapped in are warm and you grip them snugly so no cool morning air can creep in. After waking you get out of bed quietly, hoping not to wake anyone else, and slowly make your way to the kitchen. There’s absolute quite and…
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Nolana
I’ve been meaning to try Nolana for quite some time. The Italian restaurant on McGill Street in Old Montreal has been open for a few years now and every time I’ve walked by I’ve been captivated by the decor and how people seem to be enjoying themselves so much. Last week I finally got my…
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ARTSIDA 7
The ACCM’s (AIDS Community Care Montreal) Artsida art auction fundraiser draws hundreds of people every year in support of those affected by HIV and Hepatitis C in communities across the city. On March 12th art lovers will come together at the celebrated Musee d’art comtemporain for an exciting evening that will feature the works of…
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Le Boucan 2 Is Open
Montreal isn’t a big city. Sure our island is home to millions of people and it sprawls from the West Island all the way east to Point aux trembles but the centre, the main neighbourhoods of the city are relatively close making it easy to get from one end to the other by metro, Uber…
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Super Bowl Sunday
For hundreds of millions of people around the world, the Super Bowl is the biggest event of the year. If fans are not at the event to see it live, they are gathered in their favourite bars and restaurants or they get together at home to watch the game and of course the halftime show.…
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5 Things To Do In Montreal In January
Montreal is a diverse collection of eclectic neighbourhoods filled with wonderful things to do and see. Here are our picks of five great things to do in five of our favourite hoods in January. Le Plateau Mont-Royal Perhaps Montreal’s most well-known neighbourhood you’d need to spend a great deal of time on the Plateau if…
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Spa Le Tsar
Starting January 20th the Tsar Spa returns for its 8th edition. What is Tsar Spa you might ask? It’s only one of the most relaxing, immersive and multi sensory massage experiences you will ever have. For three days only (January 20-22) you can enjoy a deeply calming massage inside the vaulted structure of the St.…
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Happening Gourmand 10
Early January means the return of one of our favourite food festivals, Happening Gourmand. For it’s 10th edition, Montreal’s media and VIP guests crowded Modavie on St. Paul to kick off this year’s month long celebration of great food in Old Montreal. To celebrate 10 years of serving inventive meals from specially created menus at…
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Dolcetto & Co.
I’ve walked past Dolcetto & Co. in Old Montreal a thousand times or more and almost every time the restaurant’s marine inspired decor has caught my eye. Anchors, buoys and life preservers are not things I would normally associate with an Italian restaurant but upon finally getting a chance to try their food last week,…
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The Holidays At Le Richmond
There are a number of reasons why I keep going back to Le Richmond. The larger-than-life decor is still as impressive as the first time I saw it, the ambiance is as lively as ever and the food keeps getting better. The main reason why I love going back to the restaurant and the market…
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New Year’s Eve
There isn’t another night of the year in Montreal, or the world, that has more pressure on its shoulders to be the biggest night of the year. On New Year’s Eve in the city, hundreds of thousands of people will be out on the town, dressed to impress and looking for that special kiss when…
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Ichigoichie
A few years ago Montreal went through a Japanese Izakaya moment. A number of them quickly opened and just as quickly closed throughout the city as we moved onto the next trend du jour. The thing about restaurant trends is the first one or two of their kind are original but then the money grabbers…
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Taberna
I had big plans for this year’s MTLATABLE. With over 150 restaurants participating during the 10 day food festival, there was almost no limit to the choices that were offered. Well, those 10 days slipped by quicker than expected but I did manage to snag myself a table at Taberna towards the tail end and…
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CCAC Gala 2016
On November 10th the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada Gala returns! This year’s theme is inspired by the Flavours of the Mediterranean and will feature 14 amazing restaurants, the best wine and slew of surprises. Some of Montreal’s best Mediterranean restaurants are lined up to tantalize our tastebuds during the charity event. Doca, Candide, Ikanos…