The Bitch Next Door

Rococo food at Barroco

2011-01-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

I was asked where would be a nice place for a tête-à-tête, intimate dimly lite but still not quiet nor dull; Barroco (défunt Cobalt) came first to my mind, and after a second thought I wondered; why haven't I ever written a post about this rococo restaurant?! Out of everything, I adore l'esprit baroque the place embraces, a bit rustic and a hip twist. Stone walls, covered of black frames, about 50 seats including elegant white booths, which are the perfect setup to a ladies' dinner. The food is great -though you actually can hit the bar to drink and fool around only - flavors are comforting, slow cooked, lots of simmers and braised meats, yet again oysters, charcuteries and many Mediterranean-like dishes on the menu. On season, try their famous Lobster Shack. I had one of my best souper d'anniversaire at Barroco and I promise it's easy to fall in love for!

•Barroco facebook page

•Montreal.tv video of Restaurant Barroco

Long time no see Byblos!

2010-12-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

Reconnecting with a place I used to squat; Byblos le petit café. I discovered this charming Persian restaurant like 5yrs ago and it became a fling, a lovely one. You must know the address already but if you don't, well then you should! Try an out of common brunch with sweet breads, koukous (some kind of spiced omelettes), dates, nuts spreads, jams to die for (such as rose petal, pistachios and grapefruit) along with un thé à la mente. The different wooden tables sizes au naturel and the huge wall print is all put so greatly together. If you go for dinner time, I recommend ordering a few dishes and sharing with a guest. The hummus is unmissable, the feta to drool over and the Iranian ice cream surprisely tastes la gomme-savon!

•Byblos facebook page

GRANGE your winter

2010-12-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

Winter haters stop hating; hit GRANGE vin + bouffe for their white season feelgood menu! Dave Bernier, one of the rustic-chic place owner, invited me to try out foodies yesterday during the vernissage of Candiland by Maeve. The canvas and the tapas were both very inspired and inventives! It all started with a bubbly raspberry kir and a few oysters, then some Chardonnay along with hors d'oeuvres like the mousse de foie de canard à la pistache, the winter raclette, beef-cognac tartare, smoked-meat picks and since toute bonne chose a une fin; some brownies and pudding chômeur. You can figure I had to roll back home! Offer your tastebuds a gift for xmas and fly by this trendy place.

Thank you Dave for the invite!

•Maeve Gallery

•Previous post on GRANGE vin + bouffe

Hachoir is media covered

2010-12-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

Tuesday Dec7th was the Restaurant Hachoir Media cocktail organized by Patricia Larrivière, public relations, and thus had a chance to chat with the passionate trio behind the H; Jérôme Cadieux-Meunier, Greg Paul and Mathieu Guillemette. There couldn’t have been a better place to escape the snowstorm but cozily seated at the bar, surrounded by mini-burgers and tartares platters; oulala!

Jérôme, as a thoughtful and devoted Maître D, was greeting guests like VIP with a flirty smile, glasses of reds or whites and kindly introduced me in. Hachoir offers him a chance, he seizes with ambition, to build a name in this business. Jérôme, who left the Law Industry, admits to have fallen for the art of Fine Dining whilst working with the avant-gardiste Chef David Biron.

Le Français, Chef Greg, has a huge sense of humor and quite an impressive career pathway, from Culinary studies in Montpellier, he has worked for a few grandes maisons étoilées au Guide Michelin, been sous-Chef at L'Orangerie LA for 2 years, back to France opened their own restaurant with his father, before moving to Montreal; firstly heading Le Local and finally being given carte blanche at Hachoir.

Because great food should never come without great wines, Mathieu the epicurean and unpretentious Sommelier, was sharing his skills with excitement. From l’École hôtelière de Laval, he grew his experience working for prestigious places and offering wine tasting session at Matière Brute, his atelier, which are very on demand.

Can't avoid highlighting the magic Zebulon Perron has done with the défunt Cafeo. Great touch, great modesty!

•Previous post on Restaurant Hachoir

•Montreal.tv video of Restaurant Hachoir

H like Hachoir

2010-11-29T07:15:00.000-08:00

A week ago was the official opening of Restaurant Hachoir and if you haven't tried it just yet, you've got some serious catching up to do because this place is already a hit. The restaurant is located in the défunt Cafeo, tho you might not recognize the space after the what Zébulon Perron has done with it. Looks sophisticated, bistro-esque, raw with some eye-catching accents, very masculine to me. Every detail has been thoughtfully put together. La carte is mostly about burgers and tartares but wont let you get bored; for all I tasted was so greedy and yum; the venison tartare, popcorn shrimp, guacamolé crabcake. Wine list is great, sommelier is passionate and friendly. To end up the evening en beauté; the apple pie, sounds simple but meets perfection; 'ça goûte l'enfance', Chef says and I agreed, twice! Hachoir offers brunches sucrés or salés, along with a mimosa, makes my day!

•Hachoir official website
•Restaurant Hachoir facebook page

Mieux vaut la tête d'un chien..

2010-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

Its been a year that Le Chien Fumant started to charm us with innovative food, cozy intimate room (capacity of like 30 people) and casual-friendly service. With opened kitchen, the boys are giving quite a show and you can really feel the passion come thru. Its not cheap I must admit but after my festin I was not under the impression to have overpaid. The sides of meat dishes are very heavy and I have still to try out their brunches because a confit de canard with waffles sounds too attractive. The mood is young and casual, beers are served in teenstyle sacs bruns and their catch phrase is «Mieux vaut la tête d’un chien que la queue d’un lion».. feel free to meditate this, but before you do, try to make a pick from the chalkboard menu!

•Le Chien Fumant facebook page

There's a Tavern in the town

2010-11-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

Hyper-taverns are highly popular and this one's no exception, plus; it has a soul. Tavern Square Dominion opened in 1927 in what used to be the richest neighborhood in Canada.. it partially burned down few years later.. been one of the first gay bars of the 70s..then a gentlemen's private club.. to finally stand as a trendy restaurant, one of the few within downtown area to give off conviviality along with a modest menu. A wide bar-counter runs along the restaurant, aged mirrors and signs advertising Champagne at 16cents a flûte makes such a nice antique look! Definitely a place to go before heading a CH game at the Bell or for any happy hour times. The shrimp guédille is sloppy just as I like it and the beets and goat cheese salad is my favorite week-lunch. The place has a vintage vibe with its music and decor and I gotta give 5 extra points for the way absinthe is served with the French spoon, such a lovely detail!

Je plaide Coupable avec Plaisir

2010-11-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

If you are going to cheat you might as well do it right, n'est-ce pas?. And, if it's junk you're craving, I know a place. Recently opened, the restaurant Plaisirs Coupables was named after the cooking book of cuisine cochonne published by owner Jean-François Plante. They revisit traditional Québécoise recipes, the poutine de foie gras can easily help you gain like 5pds but it's almost worth it, the MAC&Cheese with truffle oil too, even the salads aren't eligible diet-wise! The desserts are so hearty you might want to advise the waitress on any diabetic issue. Don't feel guitly to please your pleasures once in a while and let your bon vivant out!
•Plaisirs Coupables, the book

Out of time? Nana's on it

2010-11-25T12:44:00.001-08:00

L'Assommoir Bernard had alot to celebrate lately; its 6th bday, the first anniversary of baby bro on Notre-Dame - btw the party tout en shooters was a success- and the official opening of the trendy Boutique - Bistro Nana Traiteur next door! The new concept will surely suits your event planning without crisis of case of forces majeures because; why doing it when someone else does it so well, for you?! Catering is the option to go! Nana's decor is as sophisticated as its menu. Take out or delivery.

•Nana Traiteur facebook page

Ça brasse chez les Enfants Terribles!

2010-11-25T10:04:00.000-08:00

As you doubtless already know, the Brasserie les Enfants Terribles is a real catch. Decor's got style and a big-ass terrace to greet up like 70 people, starring at the eclectic Bernard avenue. The place gets busy everynight of the week during the hot season. The Sueurs froides drink is so refreshing and avec les doigts menu totally in for apero time. The Brasserie displays a large variety of imported wines and beers, and holds Unibroue's products. You can walk in late and enjoy the Night owls menu or try the fine weekend brunches. My heart goes to the waiter's tee: "je suis un enfant terrible".

Greasy Spoon is no back-street café

2010-11-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Lots of people may disagree et puis après! I have found THE best poutine of the city at Greasy Spoon -I dare you to proof me wrong, I'll be waiting with my greasy fork. Greedy like hell, reinvented with fried pdt balls and smoked meat as for topping, it's to die for! Too, the ribs are quite inviting to get dirty and during the CH games very hard to resist, the bloodies are red hot spicy, petit moins; the beef tartare hotdogs was way too much for me. Summertime lets the huge terrace get crowded and you can swap the long island for a watermelon mojito. It's not a cantine but go for snacks!

From drugstore to Barmacie

2010-11-25T07:39:00.001-08:00

A visit to Baldwin Barmacie is a désyntox de stress. A mix of young professionals and Outremont students flocks to the bar from happy hours to early hours. The ordonnances menu has a little thematic, serving drinks in old medical jars. A nice concept mainly inspired by Mrs Baldwin herself, who once ran a drugstore into the same space. The design is enjoybale with its wide vintage chairs, white walls and tulip-shaped lights. My heart goes to their Lemon martinis but the Mademoiselle sparkles well. Just what the Doctor ordered.

Not grunge; GRANGE!

2010-11-25T07:39:00.000-08:00

Weather's starting to chill but yet 5@7 season is all year long and GRANGE vin + bouffe has a warm feel with its wooden and cozy style. There's like 50 wines à la carte and like half of them available au verre. Its comfort food that comes in tiny doses. The mousse de foie de canard et pistaches is to droll over. The menu varies from summer to winter time, tho there's always the raw-bar for oyster fans like me, and cheese platters are first-class!

•Montreal.tv video of lancement "MIAM"