Nibbling about Montreal! Montreal, Quebec

I LOVE French Canadian food!  It's daring and sometimes freaky to us statesmen, but it's always fun to experience!

Pied de Cochon

I only wish I'd started this blog a few years ago when I began venturing up to Montreal in the Fall.  Then I'd have many more treats to share, but I'll start with this past weekend.

  

Au Pied de Cochon (536 Duluth @ Hubert)

The braised Pied de Cochon (Pig's foot) came highly recommended by Food Republic food writer Chantal Martineau in her article entitle "11 Things to Eat in Montreal Right Now", posted back in April 2012.

I don't remember being particularly interested in pig's feet as a child when my grandmother would prepare them.  All I can remember is being pretty grossed out by all of the fat and cartilaginous material.  BBQ sauce couldn't even help me to move past my aversion to this classic soul food dish!

Chef Martin Picard, however, has renewed my faith in my ability to enjoy this ungulate's primary mode of transportation.  I never imagined there could be so much succulent meat and flavor in this dish!

The more I tore into this magical pig part, the more it felt like Christmas morning.  I was immediately glad that I decided to take it back to the hotel room so that my obsession with and moaning over this dish could be expressed in private....or at least in the company of my family!

Pied de Cochon, slathered in sauce, fresh herbs, sweet onions and peppers over thick whipped potatoes!

Foie gras poutine!

My trip through heaven's kitchen didn't end there...

I also ordered the Foie Gras Poutine....

Need I say more?

 

Well, if I must:

Fries: fried in duck fat!

Toppings: Rich pan-seared Foie Gras (generous portions), rich, creamy gravy, and large cheese curds.

Foie gras poutine!

 Dilallo Burger (2523 Rue Notre-Dame)

You would think that I would have tried The BURGER being that is Dilallo's (around since 1929) claim to fame, but blinding hunger pangs and my heart-wrenching devastation over the inability to grab a table at Joe Beef led me and my equally as hungry family members to stumble down the block and into Dilallo's. 

I was interested to try a "Hot Chicken" sandwich  while in Montreal, so I went for it at Dilallo.  A hot chicken sandwich is simple.  It's carved white meat chicken between white bread and topped with chicken gravy.  It's often served with peas and potatoes.  It reminds me of terrible school lunch back in middle school, but alas, I've tried it and now the curiosity is out of my system!

Hot Chicken Sandwich

Check out this a healthy recipe for a Hot Chicken Sandwich along with beautiful, appetizing pictures here.

*See my poutine reviews from this weekend here .*

Atwater Market 

Atwater is part of the public farmer's

markets in Montreal. 

Many vendors are posted here to sell a variety of food items, including fruits, veggies, baked goods, meats, seafood, etc.

I tried a few snacks as we walked about the market.

 

Le Noix du Marche...

...is all about delicious roasted nuts!  The offered everything from yellow curry cashews (which were amazing!) to rosemary-herb roasted mixed nuts (again...amazing!)

Yellow curry cashews

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I enjoyed the vegetarian and the chicken Rouleaux.  The dipping sauce was tangy with shreds of carrot!  The role itself was crisp and light, the noodle and veggie filling, tender.

Sausage

Chocolats Privilege

Chocolats Privilege is a beautiful sweets shop, but I was immediately drawn to the sorbet.

I ordered a mix of the delicious mango and strawberry sorbet.  I also sampled the raspberry and lemon.

Good times!

Bar Le Senateur @ The Marriott Chateau Champlain, 1050 de la Gauchetiere West, Montreal, Quebec

" A Relaxing repasts"

"Bar Le Senateur is an intimate gathering spot located on the lobby level, warmed by rich-hued woods and comfortable seating. A favourite of visitors and business people in downtown Montréal for its wide choice of beverages, friendly staff and selection of daily lunch specials." -Montréal Marriott Château Champlain Hotel

Photo Credit: Marriott Chateau Champlain

The handsome Chef Richard has been the Executive Chef at Bar Le Senateur for 6 months and was excited to share his plans for updating the tapas menu which will be showcased soon. 
He offered me a bit of insight on what's to come: Snow crab Mac n cheese topped with Doritos!  How fabulous!

Me & Chef Richard

I really enjoyed the stuffed (cheese, onion, bell peppers, etc) portabello mushroom caps and the duck confit spring roll with cherry demi glace!  Both were served with a fresh arugula salad!

I was spoiled just a tad bit more when Chef Richard insisted I try the Nanaimo bar for dessert!  It was sinfully delicious!  Named after Nanaimo, British Columbia, this traditional west coast Canadian dessert was described as "fried cake batter/custard". 

Its was super sweetness was cut with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!  The crunchy funnel-cake-like coating was brilliant and was filled with both vanilla and chocolate "cake batter".  This dessert would quell any sweet-tooth's desire!

The dessert will be on the menu soon!

The staff at Bar Le Senateur are consistently pleasant and friendly and the service great!

I am definitely looking forward to sampling the new menu this fall upon my annual visit to the region during the foliage season!  I am sure Chef Richard has many more appealing tricks up his sleeve!

Battle of the Poutine, Montreal, Quebec (various locations)

I absolutely adore poutine and have never had any worth a dime outside of Quebec!  I decided to taste the poutine at a number of places in Montreal to compare to my favorite Montreal chain's vegetarian poutine at La Belle Province (Rue Sainte-Catherine @ Rue Amherst in The Village). 

So I sampled the poutine at one chain restaurant (La Belle Province), one 'Mom & Pop's" restaurant (Green Spot Restaurant), and one fine dining establishment (Au Pied de Cochon)

La Belle Province's gravy is the best, it's light without being watered down and has a mild beefy, peppery flavor and topped with a generous portion of cheddar cheese curds!

Vegetarian poutine. La Belle Province Restaurant chain

Vegetarian poutine. La Belle Province Restaurant chain

On the recommendation of Chantal Martineau, food writer for Food Republic, I had to try the poutine at Green Spot Restaurant (3041 Rue Notre-Dame O Montréal, QC H4C 1N9).

Green Spot offers a vast variety of poutine toppings in addition to the classic.  

 I tried the classic and the bacon and found the gravy to be a bit heavy and the bacon poutine was much more salty.  Overall, they were both just ok.  The portions were massive and they were served piping hot!

Classic poutine. Green Spot Restaurant

Poutine w/ bacon. Green Spot Restaurant

 Au Pied de Cochon

 (536 Duluth Est., Montreal, Quebec) 

 Way to class up poutine!  Chef Picard's foie gras poutine was a show stopper!  Its rich, creamy layers of pan-seared foie gras, cheese curds, and fries cooked in duck fat is a must try!  So is the restaurant's namesake dish (reviewed in another post).

 

Ceiling Candy @ Au Pied de Cochon

I love Montreal for many reasons...one is the amazing food that I simply cannot get enough of on any visit!  I am looking forward to my Autumn visit so that I can continue on my foodie journeys through Canadia!