Week break

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be posting anything this week. Stay tuned for more posts during the month of september!!!

 

N.

La Boîte Gourmande

I often passed in front of La Boîte Gourmande, just 2 minutes away from Laurier metro, on Laurier street. I knew it was an urban cafeteria, but I recently found out that they had a brunch menu similar to the Sparrow’s. They have an entrée, a main meal, a dessert, a cold and a hot drink for a fixed price. They had 3 different options available on the Sunday I went: a croque-monsieur on a croissant (ham & cheese grilled sandwich), an omelette or a French toast.

I mentioned that it’s a cafeteria and it works just like one. To start with, you get a tray with some utensils and a glass of water at the end of the counter. Then, you order your meal to the cooks behind the counter. In the end, you pay at the cash register and sit down either inside or outside. Thus, don’t forget to tip when you’re paying.

They have an adorable terrace on the corner of Rivard street, which is surrounded by greens with a small tree near its entrance. I just find it disappointing that you have to pass through the main door to access it. I was glad that our main meals were brought to us outside. It was already a hassle of bringing my plate full of goodies to the table.

Lesley had a pressed egg sandwich, which can come with one or two eggs. She only had one on a bagel as her choice of bread. It also contained tomatoes, lettuce, goat cheese and bacon as the meat option. It came with some fruits on the side. I was surprised when she later told me it only cost her 4.75 dollars. I had a similar meal at Tiffanys that roughly cost 8 dollars!!! Hers looked way more delicious than the one I had.

I hesitated between the omelette and the French toast but finally opted for the former as I wasn’t in the mood for something too sweet. I appreciated that I also had a choice for the bread between ciabatta, baguette or bagel. I opted for the baguette, my all-time favourite for its crustiness on the outside and its softness inside! I had probably 2, if not 3, eggs in my huge omelette, which contained roasted peppers, goat cheese and green onions. Thankfully my baguette was cut in half, which allowed me to put my two halves of my omelette on each half of bread. Even so, I had too much omelette. My plate came with a side of fruits and some potatoes. My omelette was extremely good, with the peppers adding some flavour and the goat cheese melting at every single bite. The potatoes were delicious and they would have been better with some ketchup, but I was too lazy to go back inside to get some.

When I mentioned I took one of the fixed brunch menus, I was given the following at the cash register: a berry smoothie juice, a cup of plain yogurt with granola on top, a tiny portion of pecan & plum cake, and a tea (or coffee). I had my yogurt as an entrée, ate my omelette while sipping my tea and drinking the smoothie, keeping the cake for last. The latter was exquisitely divine. I am not a big fan of anything with pecans for their crunchiness, which hurt my sensitive teeth. Though the plum pieces complimented the cake perfectly, which wasn’t extremely sweet and the pecan pieces were small enough to not hurt my teeth. The smoothie was fresh and fruity, but not cold enough to my taste. The yogurt was plain, not sweet at all.

They have a lot of homemade desserts and nice snacks. I returned last Friday and had a strawberry and mango pound cake. The waitress asked if I wanted some fresh cream over it. Astounded, I accepted the offer as I was eating there. It was so heavenly, as if a grandmother baked the cake which she let cool and added her homemade cream.

They have cooked meals during the lunch hour, which is also available for take-out. The menu varies by day, it looks healthy and filling. They have different soups for the day, but you can also buy some frozen soup to prepare for lunches. They have many frozen goodies, including a banana chocolate popsicle! They also have salads, sandwiches, smoothies and juice. So if ever, you’re in the area and want a nice healthy lunch or snack, stop by and you won’t regret it. You can also buy coffee and tea by the gram. The tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis tea house. They also sell tea cups, infusers and thermos.

It’s only 16.95 dollars with taxes for everything I had. Unfortunately, it’s not like the Sparrow who offers free refills, but as they give you a smoothie and the tea is included, I think it’s a good deal. If you’re not a big eater but you’re curious, you can ask for the half portion for only 10 dollars. As you know me well by now, I took the regular size and yes I finished it all. The price range is pretty big as the pressed egg was roughly 5 dollars. I think for 10-20 dollars, you can eat well. It gets an 8.5/10, their food is good and their brunch menu at a fixed price is filled of goods.

I was delighted that we didn’t get kicked out despite finishing our meals. It’s the perfect place if you haven’t seen a friend for a long while and want to have a long chat without being rushed. My only complaint is that since you self-serve yourself for the most part, an easy passageway for the terrace accessible from the inside would have been appreciated. It might not sound like an important detail, but for me it is, especially since I know I can be pretty clumsy. I was nervous that I would mysteriously trip and my tray would go flying, making me cry all the tears of my body.

Brunch is only available on weekends, while you can have lunch or coffee/tea with a homemade snack during the week. I definitely recommend it for family brunch. It is very friendly with many children and their parents.

La Boîte Gourmande

445 Laurier East, Montreal, QC

H2J 1E5 514-270-5222

Tiffanys

I had often heard about breakfast at Tiffanys and no, I ain’t talking ‘bout the luxurious jewelry store for the movie with Audrey Hepburn. I’m talking about the brunch restaurant on Decarie boulevard, near De La Savane metro. I rarely venture in that area of my own will, I find it isn’t very pedestrian friendly. It is easier to get there by car, but it’s only 5 to 10 minutes away from the metro. Tiffanys looks incredibly vast from the exterior but from the interior as well. I entered and was anxious at finding Dee and Ella who drove, but luckily they were at eyesight of the entrance where the hostess awaits. The seatings are comfortable and large, especially the booth where I was seating but the chairs didn’t look too bad.

Ella and I decided to stick to the brunch menu that is available till 3pm, while Dee had a lunch meal.

Ella was craving an omelette, but hesitated between the Mediterranean and the Triple Cheese one. She finally opted for the creation of her own omelette, which allows you to choose 3 ingredients from a list of vegetables, cheese and meat. She put spinach, mushroom and cheddar in her omelette that’s made with 3 eggs. I had a bite and it was really good, loved the melted cheese. It is also served with potatoes and fruits. Poor Ella couldn’t finish her entire meal, but who can blame her, seriously 3 eggs is too much!!!

Dee chose the grilled chicken sandwich that had feta cheese, shallot onions, avocado, candied tomato, lettuce, arugula with aioli (sauce made with garlic & olive oil), ginger lime spread and olive tapenade spread. That’s a lot of things in a sandwich and it comes with two sides of your choice. Dee chose french fries and a walnut lentil salad. Those fries looked delicious and that lentil salad looked heavenly. When she took a bite of her sandwich, it seemed as if the world had stopped and she was on a cloud to heaven. A priceless moment as her face reflected an incredible joy that I wish I had captured. The caption under would be “Only a bite and you’ll be guaranteed a couple of seconds in heaven!” I don’t need to mention she very much enjoyed her meal and had no complaints about it. She also had a delicious mango smoothie.

I wanted to try something different so I chose the Bagelicious, which consisted of a fried egg with the choice of bacon or black forest ham, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. A BLT in other words on a bagel. I took bacon and wished I had chosen the ham instead; it would have been more filling than the small strips of bacon. The bagel was the skinny sesame one from St-Viateur, which I love. Though, I think it would have been better to have a fuller bagel that could contain the other ingredients that kept falling through my fingers. It also came with potatoes and fruits. The potatoes were grilled and burning hot, a delight. I loved my brunch, but was sad that it was so small and easy to eat. After seeing Dee’s smoothie, I gave in and ordered a strawberry one. Best choice of the day. Made with strawberry, banana, orange juice and vanilla yogurt, with a strawberry on the side.

A cute picture of our drinks, Ella had diet coke.

Dee also had a red velvet cake, she just couldn’t resist. Plus, she made Ella and I have a couple of bites. I loved how it was brought on a plate with whipped cream on the sides. The only disappointment is the sprinkles of lemon on top of the cake which added a lemony taste that disappeared after 2 bites. It was simply delicious but oh so filling! Dee and I managed our tight stomachs and finished it, Ella only had a bite or two.

It was busy for a Friday, I rarely go out for brunch or lunch on weekdays, so I admit I was surprised.

It gets a 8/10 for me, though I’m sure Dee would rate it with a perfect grade. The plates are enormous, which made our meals look smaller, except for Dee’s that was full. I have to admit that the presentations of the dishes, except for the sandwich and the dessert disappointed me. It looks less attractive when the plates have holes. I’d rather have a smaller plate that’s stuffed than a large plate that looks empty. I am aware that it is a delusion, but it’s more appealing to the eyes.

I definitely recommend it for both brunch and/or lunch, you can also have dinner. Prices vary between 15 and 25 dollars without taxes, depending if you take a drink and/or a dessert. Whether you’re among friends, family or co-workers, you’ll find it to your taste with a feel good vibe.

Tiffanys Restaurant

7977 Decarie, Montreal, QC

H4P 2H5 514-737-7977

Carré Confiseries

I was heading to the metro and decided to walk to the de bleury exit as it’s less crowded when I stumbled upon a marvel. A candy store, bright and new filled with delicacies.

No, I wasn’t dreaming! I knew there were going to open one soon, but I thought it’d be later in august. Without hesitation, I entered and felt like I was a kid again. Just that should make you want to run to the store. The staff is incredibly friendly. An employee welcomed me and explained how one side of the wall is 2.49 dollars and the other one 2.99 dollars. He ended me a bag, which I managed to not fill entirely (self control). Another employee, who seemed important (manager?), chatted with me. She told me the store had just opened at noon for the construction vacations, which is why the store looks empty. It was Thursday, the 26^th. She mentioned they will have an ice cream machine as well as some fudge and other things I can’t quite remember. You have to forgive as I was too distracted by the sweets to process all this information; I was probably on cloud 9.

I will be returning to the store pretty soon and urge you to visit it if you have a sweet tooth like me. I don’t want it to shut down like Candy Heaven shut down in the Eaton Center a couple of years ago!!!! : (

 

Just writing this makes me want to go back, despite my teeth hurting and my vow to avoiding sweets. Temptation seems to overpower my will.

 

Carré Confiseries

1502 de Bleury, Montreal, QC

H3A 2J2 514-507-7377

Souk

Finding no volunteers, I went by myself at the Place Des Arts a couple of times in order to be sure to try as many things as possible. It was on Ste-Catherine street between St-Urbain and Jeanne Mance. The instant I stepped in the area known as the Souk (marketplace found in Northern African), I felt overwhelmed. First there were so many people; it was hard to get to a stand to another without bumping into someone, everybody was curious. Second, many smells were intertwined that made my nose go slightly crazy. I believe I have a good one, which easily spots different aromas. I relate to Jean-Baptiste Grenouille from the Perfume sometimes, excellent novel by Patrick Süskind!!! Third, my eyes were jumping from left to right, trying to spot the most astounding stands.

It was my third time going as I lost the pictures of the two previous times (stupid camera)!!! I noticed that most places had pulled pork sandwiches and I decided to taste the one from Pas d’Cochon dans mon Salon. When I was handed my sandwich, I wondered how in hell’s world would I ever finish it. A big bun filled with pulled pork that was literally dripping. Apparently there was some salad in that sandwich, which I doubted until I came at the end and saw a few lettuces. How could I describe it? EFFIN GOOD!!! I mean yes, I felt like a pig eating that but it was so yummy with mostly only meat.

Ooh and the meat are barbecued on charcoal, bringing more people to their stand as they are attracted by the amazing smell in the air. Just 7 dollars for the sandwich, not only does it fill you up but it’s definitely worth its price.

Even if full, I stopped by Takoyaki Montreal to get some takoyaki again. What’s a takoyaki? It’s a Japanese snack often eaten during summer festivals. I loved that there was a sheet, describing exactly what it is in both French and English. I thought it’d be nice to put their description, which is accurate and very detailed: “Wheat flour based pastry batter with pickled ginger and fresh green onion. In the center, we put a piece of cooked octopus or a piece of Shiitake mushroom. After the balls are done we decorate it with Japanese TAKOYAKI Sauce (vegetable base), Japanese Mayonnaise (lighter & tastier), a sprinkle of dried seaweed powder and Bonito Flakes (smoked tuna flakes)”. They also mention a bit of history for the curious people out there. I already knew that takoyaki originated from Osaka (Japan), but I didn’t know that a street vendor called Tomekichi Endo invented it in 1935. I enjoy learning new facts.

Thus, you had the choice between octopus or mushroom (didn’t even know that option existed). There were four little pieces for 4 dollars, super cheap. You could also have the option of having 2 octopus and 2 mushroom. I took the octopus takoyaki and they were delicious. It’s mushy, but the octopus is a bit more firm but still soft. The best comparison I could give is that it’s close to the texture or crab but not the same the taste at all. The mayonnaise gave it a more salty and heavy feel. I had to wait a couple of minutes as it was burning hot. I made the mistake of biting into one too fast and burnt my tongue a bit, but how could I resist when it smells so good. Also they look so cute and adorable; it’s almost a crime to eat them!

I even had a couple stop me once and ask me where I got them. They also asked what it was and I nicely explained it to them. When they asked if it was good, I said yes but everyone has different tastes and you have to try it to see if you like it or not.

I returned there again and this time, I went to La Mangeoire and ordered a gourmet sandwich. I chose La Cocotte, a roasted garlic chicken with bacon candied tomatoes and pesto. It was 9 dollars for just the sandwich or 11 dollars with some chips. The chips are made of sweet potatoes and they are flavoured with lime and chili. I was curious about the chips so I took the combo. It was served in a large plastic container. The cashier had trouble closing it, it was jam-packed with the sandwich nicely cut in half on the right side and a load of chips on the left side.

I loved it!!! The sandwich was delicious and those pieces of bacon candied tomatoes added a little crunch and spice to it. The chips were spicy, acid and crunchy. Very different compared to your regular chips with potatoes. The flavours hid the sweetness usually found in sweet potatoes, an unbelievably original idea. I didn’t even finish my entire meal, it was too heavy. For someone with a small appetite, you could eat half during lunch and the other half during dinner. Yes, it is quite expensive, but it’s healthy and original street food. Besides do I need to mention that they’re gourmet sandwiches?

Thankfully, I had space for a small treat. I stopped by Dada, a catering service by Daren Bergeron. There was another counter where they had interesting salads served in cones like an ice cream. Original idea, but I didn’t think they were as eye-catching as their sweet counter. You had the choice between milkshakes or ice cream sandwiches. I opted for a milkshake, the vanilla strawberry one. I did not regret my choice at all. I haven’t had a milkshake in a very long while, but this one seemed like the best I’ve ever tasted (bias much?). I simply adored the sprinkles of candy over the foam of my milkshake with the cutest shade of pink. It was light and tasteful. I wish they had a store where I could get their milkshake in the summer, but the employee told me they were working on it and to check out their website.

I was extremely satisfied with my experience at the Souk. I even got offered some tickets to a comedy show of Zoofest as I was eating the sandwich from La Mangeoire on the last Friday, the 27th. Thus I saw some nice British humour with Dave Gorman. The Just For Laughs festival was a success for their 30^th anniversary, especially thanks to the street food. I can’t wait for next year’s edition, hoping they’ll be new stands.

p.s. Tomorrow Friday the 3rd of August, will be the 3rd and last edition of First Fridays at the esplanade of the Olympic Park near Pie-Ix metro. I will definitely be checking it out again, still a couple of food trucks I haven’t tried and I suggest you do the same, it’s from 4pm to 8pm! : )