Le Burger Week 16

For a 5th year, Le Burger Week returns from September 1 to 7, 2016. If you love burgers, then you don’t want to miss out on all the yummy goodness. There are burgers for all the tastes, from simple ones to outrageous ones. Of course, there are some vegetarian burgers.

I’ve decided to do a Top 7, in other words 1 burger per day. Though realistically, I’m aiming to try 3 burgers but we never know. Here’s my Top 7!

Chez Chose – Cheese Bagel Burger – $12

I love cheese and I love bagels and did I mention this burger is stuffed with cheese, what? A Turlo farmed pork meatball stuffed with l’Île aux Grues cheddar cheese topped with a fresh homemade bagel with relish and smoked mayonnaise.

© Le Burger Week

Copper Branch (Bishop Street Location) – Grand Sumac – $9.95

A clean burger made with plant-based ingredients, perfect if you want to eat healthy and stay energized! 100% plant-powered burger made with beet, carrot, Sumac slaw, coconut bacon, tomato, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts and pesto mayo served on organic kamut, gluten-free, or collard wrap. This burger is clean, made with wholesome, plant-based ingredients, and supports a healthy, active lifestyle. Get energized.

© Le Burger Week

La Brasserie Saint-Denis – Le P’tit Gros – $18

I mean there’s a tiny burger on top of a burger…how could this not be on my list? Wapiti burger stuffed with duck confit, 2- year old aged smoked bacon applewood cheddar from PEI, onion confit, apple cider infused radicchio and roquette, BBQ and beer mayonnaise, accompanied with a P’TIT burger puffed pastry stuffed with duck and foie gras mousse, garnished with radish sprouts.

© Le Burger Week

Le Gras Dur – Bacon-Wrapped Cheeseburger – $11

I mean, it’s a cheeseburger wrapped in bacon, need I say more? Certified Angus beef burger patty, cheddar, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and pretzel bread, all wrapped in bacon.

© Le Burger Week

Monsieur Restaurant + Bar – Spicy Chicken Wafberg  – $16.50 (lunch) or $26 (dinner – larger portion)

Waffles and fried chicken is a wonderful combination. Bacon waffle bun, Bird Bar local fried chicken, spicy mayo, BBQ-bourbon maple drizzle, more bacon, fresh jalapeños, iceberg lettuce, fresh coriander & chives. Also available at Miss Prêt à Manger for takeout.

 

© Le Burger Week

Taverne F – The Porctopus – $14

I just really want to try it because of the cute octopus decoration on top. Braised pork, lobster and octopus mayo, kale, and roasted peppers on a brioche bun.

© Le Burger Week

Vices & Versa Bistro du terroir – Vices & Versa Burger – $8.91 or $12.83 (with fries & salad)

I’ve never tried a vegetarian burger with eggplant before and I love goat cheese. Eggplant and smoked tomato burger with goat cheese.

© Le Burger Week

BONUS BURGER!

If I can get to Quebec City, I would love to try this amazing Asian-inspired burger!!! Sure I can drive now, but I’d probably take the bus or train and yes, I’m sure it’d be worth it.

Rideau Rouge – Hiroshima Burger – $10

A breaded Doritos and fried AAA Angus beef burger rests on a house Wasabi mayo. Sriracha sauce, cheddar slice aged 2 years from Îles aux Grues, bean sprouts, carrots julienne, sliced cucumber and Asian vinaigrette with soy sauce, fries ginger, honey and cracked strong chilli. Served in a fresh grilled crustini bread, topped with a Chinese brochette with a shrimp puff, lotus root chip and lime with 2 sesames.

© Le Burger Week

Have a great Le Burger Week everyone, make sure to stuff your face with at least one or two burgers!!!

N.

Mondial de la bière’s 23rd Edition with a Gastronomy Theme

The Mondial de la bière is America’s most prominent and international beer festival. The 23^rd edition of the five-day festival will take place from June 8 to 12, 2016 at Palais des Congrès de Montréal and its terrace, l’Esplanade.

The new spokesperson of the festival is chef Jonathan Garnier, co-owner of La Guilde Culinaire. The festival believes it is time to consider beer as a gastronomic product. The theme is beer gastronomy with an important gourmand component, including two new events from the Flaveurs Bières et Caprices (FBC) terraces.

• FBC Gastronomy: Five renowned chefs, a cheese-maker, a chocolate expert and some talented brewers will unite to offer gastronomic finger food paired with local beers. Wednesday June 8 & Thursday June 9 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cost: $85.
• FBC Spirits: Distilleries will offer spirit tastings. Jean-François Pilon, founder of Whisky Montréal, will host the event. Friday June 10 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Coupons required.
• Sorties Flaveurs: Reuniting beer and fine dining to present beer as noble product from the Quebec terroir.
• Beer, Cheese & Chocolate Pairing Workshops: Pairing presentations and new beer discoverings in collaboration with the Producteurs de lait du Québec.
• 18 Food pavilions

Chef Jonathan Garnier © La Guilde Culinaire

The Mondial de la bière is an event for any beer lover, whether you’re a beginner or a fine connoisseur. In exchange of purchased coupons, you can taste different beers or ciders while grabbing a bite to eat.

Numbers: 

190,000 visistors

586 products available (beers, meads, ciders…)

282 new beers

104 breweries, cideries and others, with 40 Quebec breweries

Bag & glass © Olivier Bourget

 

Free Admission 

Tasting Coupons: $1 each

Cost of one tasting: 2 to 8 coupons

Quantity served: 2 to 8 oz.

The souvenir glass is designed to accommodate 2 to 8 oz. samples.

 

Hours:  

Wednesday & Thursday: 3 to 11 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 

Location: Palais des Congrès de Montréal 201 Viger St. W.

 

Visit their website for more information.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons 2016 Extravaganza Tour

RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons (BOTS) is back in Montreal this Saturday May 28th for a second time. For fans of the show RuPaul’s Drag Race, which showcases diverse drag queens from the United States, it’s a show not to be missed.

BenDeLaCreme, Ginger Minj, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Katya, Manila Luzon, Sharon Needles and Violet Chachki are the queens that will be performing in Montreal. Michelle Visage, one of the judges of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, will host the show. The queens are from different seasons.

© Ivy Lynn

This year’s edition is bigger with BOTS touring in 60 cities compared to 50 cities last year. Last year, the queens toured in Europe for the first time and this year, they’re touring in Asia. Australia and Singapore are the only Asian countries. There are 16 drag queens in the tour.

Violet Chachki © Ivy Lynn

For their first edition, the tour stopped in Montreal in February on a cold night. The queens entertained their fans as the crowd laughed and screamed at each performance.

Fans are able to attend a Meet & Greet with the queens before the show whether to chat or take photos and selfies with them.

© Ivy Lynn

If the show is anything like last year with individual and group performances, Snatch Game and including audience members on the stage, everyone will have a good time.

As Ru Paul says: “Gentlemen, start your engines and may the best woman win!”

 

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons Tour is at Metropolis 59 Ste.-Catherine St. East on Saturday May 28 at 9 p.m. Tickets are available HERE. $45.50 + fees

Doors open at 8 p.m.

Pre-Show Meet & Greet: 6:30 p.m.

Invasion Cocktail – Opening Party

I’ve been writing for Montreal Rampage and I got to cover Invasion Cocktail. As media, I was invited to the opening party at PHI Centre and brought along my friend Janice, whom I knew would enjoy a few cocktails. After all, 13 cocktails is a little number, right?

A dozen of bars and restaurants from Montreal and Quebec City were present with their signature cocktails for the week.

Our first stop was the SAQ’s Espace Cocktail that allowed guests to make signature cocktails with either a vodka or gin base. Obviously, I chose a vodka base and Janice made us cocktails while I took photos and videos of her. I think she’d make a good bartender.

Janice the Bartender!

Super Sweet Cocktail!

We spotted the food bites quickly as we didn’t want to be drunk since we didn’t have dinner. There were delicious pulled pork burgers with red cabbage, crab cakes and mini pogos. Unfortunately, there was no desserts.

There was a Virtual Reality station and Janice and I tried it.  It was a fun experience and it was time I tried it, especially after having edited a documentary on AR/VR! Now, I understood what my classmates meant that VR/AR couldn’t be explained andyou had to try it to understand it.

Me trying VR/AR

Thankfully, there was ESKA water for the guests, important to hydrate with water after a few cocktails.

We got matching tattoos!!!

I loved the Alambika boutique, which had a selection of cocktail bitters and syrups. A little drop can add flavour in your cocktails or other drinks. I think the store will become one of my favourite. We enjoyed tasting the different flavours of bitters and syrups.

Alambika’s Table

There were cocktails for every taste from strong to sweet to bitter to spicy!

Janice’s favourite cocktail was Double Barrel with Jack Fire, maple syrup, lemon juice, ginger, angostura and mint.

Double Barrel is the drink with a piece of ginger

My favourite cocktail was Batida Passion with Cachaça and passion fruit puree.

Batida Passion was the sweetest & cutest cocktail with best table decor ~

Janice wanted to end the night with McDonald’s but I suggested we get some Chinese food instead so we went to Beijing, as Chinatown was only a few minutes away! It was a fun night filled with delicious food and cocktails, plus we made a new friend!

If you’ve missed out on Invasion Cocktail, you can still check the Closing Party and Finale of MADE WITH LOVE Competition on Monday May 16 at Rialto Theatre starting at 8 p.m. There are still a few tickets left to see who will be crowned Canada’s best bartender!

Invasion Cocktail 2016

Invasion Cocktail is a weeklong festival celebrates cocktails from May 10 to 16 in Montreal and for the first time, it will have an edition in Quebec City. There are 36 participating bars and restaurants.

“Not everyone wants to go to bars, some people want to enjoy their cocktails while eating, ” says Maryline Demandre, co-founder of Invasion Cocktail. She wanted to develop that aspect by including restaurants as partners.

Invasion Cocktail invites consumers to enjoy cocktails during the week and participate in festive events such as the opening night, brunch and closing party. Industry professionals are invited to participate in seminars where four international speakers will talk about mixology, offer mixology demos and talk about the reality of being a bartender in 2016.

The festival is for the neophyte as well as for the buff of cocktails. “Some people are intimidated by cocktails or have prejudices and it’s the occasion for them to discover cocktails,” adds Maryline. Every bar will create a cocktail according to its philosophy.

“For the enthusiasts, it’s the opportunity to go bar hopping and see how far the cocktail culture in Quebec can be pushed,” explains Maryline.

Invasion Cocktail has Quebecer liquors that recently entered the market as partners and it allows consumers to discover local products.

Cocktails

Bar Palco’s spicy cocktail

 

Events

Invasion Cocktail Opening Night: Highlights of the week with a dozen cocktails, which will be presented in Montreal and Quebec City. The SAQ will be present with their Espace Cocktail and offer guests the opportunity to make their own signature cocktails.

Tuesday May 10, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

PHI Centre

Ticket: $50

Brunch: Guests are driven to the renowned sugar shack of Pied du Cochon where they will enjoy brunch with two cocktails and one cup of champagne. The last tickets are being sold.

Sunday May 15, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

La Cabane du Pied de Cochon

Ticket: $100

Invasion Cocktail Industry Day: A professional day for bartenders, restaurant and bar owners, mixologists and sommeliers with guest speakers from France and the United States (Philip Duff, Nico De Soto, Dave Kaplan and Franky Marshall).

Monday May 16, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PHI Centre

Ticket: $50 special – $115 regular

Closing Party – National Finale MADE WITH LOVE: The 14 finalists from participating Canadian cities will be battling it out and the best Canadian bartender will be crowned. The international experts will be the judges of the competition.

Monday May 16 at 8 p.m.

Rialto Theatre

Ticket: $50 special – $75 regular

You can get your passport for the price of $20 and enjoy cocktails at the price of $7.

For more details, visit their website, Facebook Page or Instagram @invasioncocktail.

Blog Upgrade!

Hi everyone,

I am one day away from my only exam before the end of my Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism at Concordia. I am excited and nervous at the same time. How come, you ask? First, I wonder what will I do with all my free time. Second, will I be able to find a job in the field of journalism.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my blog and its future. I know it needs an upgrade but maybe I should turn it in a lifestyle blog where I talk about the things I love. Of course, food will be one of the main focus with film festivals and arts & culture events. I might include my portfolio as a journalist on it as well. Maybe it’ll become a website.

I’ll keep you posted for the changes and until then, I might not post anymore restaurant reviews.

Thank you for following my blog!

N.

Mac + Cheese Week 2016

The 2nd edition of Mac + Cheese Week is currently happening until March 13th! I would love to try at least one if I have the time by this weekend. A dozen Montreal restaurants are participating.

Here are my top 3 picks!

Le Cheese

As the founders of Mac + Cheese Week, I expect the best from them. A Sriracha Fried Chicken Mac + Cheese? SOLD! Ingredients: roasted cauliflower, sweet green peas, homemade bechamel sauce, sriracha, breadcrumbs, flour, chicken and Louis d’Or cheese.

© Mac + Cheese Week

 

Burger Royal 

A Blue Cheese Mac topped with chicken wings? YES! Ingredients: blue cheese sauce, macaraoni, fried chicken wings and wing hot sauce.

© Mac + Cheese Week

 

Reuben’s

A Mac’n’Cheese in a skillet? OMG! Ingredients: macaroni, smoked meat, panko with cheddar, Monterey jack and Velveeta cheese.

© Mac + Cheese Week

La Poutine Week 16: Escondite

Last night, I was finally able to get reservations at Escondite. I really wanted to try their poutine.

Here’s the description: yuca fries, chipotle gravy, queso Oaxaca, cheese curds, grilled pineapple, spicy pork chunks, coriander, guajillo & ancho powder and totopos. 

The New El Paso!

I am really happy that I tried this poutine. The yuca fries were delicious and the chipotle gravy was flavourful. The pieces of pineapple added a sweet and discreet taste. If you love spicy food, you’ll love this poutine. My friend Alex enjoyed this poutine more than the Jambalaya one from Poutine Centrale.

La Poutine Week 16: Fabergé

Fabergé is one of my favourite brunch places in Montreal. I loved their poutine last year and two years ago. Their breakfast poutine on the menu is also delicious.

Here’s the description: crispy potatoes, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, cheese curds, hollandaise & molé sauces and topped with an egg or our famous fried chicken.

Molé Breakfast poutine

Matcha latte!

Mango Morning Glories

The poutine was everything I expected it to be. The molé sauce was delicious and you could taste the sweetness from the chocolate and spices mixed to form the molé. The hollandaise sauce was tasty as always. It was a nice portion and I managed to finish it without a problem. I also had a matcha latte with a pretty design. Sat wanted to taste the drink of the day, which was a Mango Morning Glory. A delicious smoothie with mango, coconut milk and other delicious ingredients I can’t remember. It’s topped with a regular and mini carrot cupcake, and decorated with flower. Divine!

La Poutine Week 16: Poutine Centrale

I really enjoyed Poutine Centrale’s butter chicken 2 years ago. As I was walking to the restaurant on Friday night, 2 friends were trying to reach me to get my “expert advice” on what poutine to try downtown. Glad you enjoyed Le Gourmet Burger’s Umami 1957 Greg and Cas! It was on my list and looked amazing.

Here’s the description: smoked sausage and chicken in a blend of cajun spices and vegetables.

The Jambalaya Poutine

It was delicious with lots of sausage and chicken and many fries. If you like spicy food, you should try this poutine. I took the large size and wasn’t able to finish it so I took it to go. I should have taken the smaller version…oh well!