Blog du Wren

Montreal Food Post

I've crossed paths with a number of Montrealers in the past couple years, or people who at least have spent time here, and one thing that always comes up is the food. "Montreal has the best _____!", people would say. Or "If you go, you have to try ______'s." Well, with one or two exceptions, I've tried it, and I have to say I'm not that impressed.

Other than the food, I'm totally enjoying my Montreal experience. And the food isn't bad. I've actually had some really good meals*. Nothing has warranted a "you gotta try this", but I'm not going to come home complaining.

Among the "you gotta try"s were bagels and poutine. The bagels don't really do it for me. Give me Bellingham's Bagelery anyday. As for poutine, the famous Canadian dish of fries served with gravy and cheese curd, I love the concept, but in practice, was disappointed. I'm thinking maybe I will have to try some homemade poutine sometime and see if I can do better.

Another "simply must" was , home of the smoked meat sandwich since 1928. While I can't say that there was any false advertising (their sandwich did consist only of smoked meat), I not only walked away disappointed, but also with a healthy jump on a triple bypass surgery.

Yep, so far Montreal's food scene hasn't come close to living up to the hype. The one possible redeemer will have to wait until next visit, as it isn't the season. Sugar shacks, literally shacks that serve everything coupled with maple syrup, definitely have a chance to win it all back. I mean, it's a jug of freaking maple syrup. I'll keep you posted.

Monday May 24 2010

File under: food, travel

Toggle Comments (8)

comment?

on Mon 24th May, 2010 06:06 pm PDT Saxtor said:
Eeeeeeeh, no one ever confused you for a foodie. Montreal is a wonderful food and beer town.
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on Mon 24th May, 2010 06:48 pm PDT gretchen said:
shiat,per! that sure doens't look vegetarian...guess you gave that up, huh?...
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on Tue 25th May, 2010 08:43 am PDT Kat said:
I think there is something wrong with you since you don't like the smoke meat sandwich.
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on Tue 25th May, 2010 08:26 pm PDT Sean said:
Poutine can be hit or miss depending on where you get it from, and how crispy/soggy the fries are with your pout. I made my own poutine recipe using tater tots, and it ROCKS THE HOUSE. And Wren, you would LOVE sugar shack food, along with the whole tour. Some let you stoke the fire and all that jazz where they're boiling the sap.
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on Thu 27th May, 2010 06:56 pm PDT per said:
Rest assured I had a long conversation with my bowels the days ramping up to Wren's arrival. My diet doesn't really entertain the meats, thought I would be eating byaslag over a yak dung fire if my Mongol bretheren happened to swing through town on their stepped plateau buggies.
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on Thu 27th May, 2010 09:22 pm PDT mely said:
i agree strongly with kat.
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on Thu 27th May, 2010 09:22 pm PDT mely said:
i agree strongly with kat.
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on Thu 27th May, 2010 09:38 pm PDT mely said:
so much so that i posted twice!
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