A city that has over 120 cultural communities from five continents and a population that is over 56% bilingual, it is fair to say Montreal is one of the most diverse cities in the world. There is no better way to understand this than through the common love of food, so LLM travel and food enthusiast Baldwin Ho headed to Quebec’s largest city to find out more.
Food tours
‘Round Table Tours is the best way to start your foodie adventures. Their signature tours such as Under the Surface: Montreal’s Chinatown and Iconic Dishes: Jewish Montreal, The Original Tour! delve into the underbelly of these vital communities.
With the latter, you will discover why smoked meats and bagels are an essential part of Montreal. They are derivatives of traditional Ashkenazi food. You’ll meet the faces behind iconic institutions, like Bill Berenholc who is the owner of Lester’s Deli, a Montreal staple for smoked meats for over 70 years and you’ll be able to skip the queue for many in-demand outlets like Schwartz’s Deli.
Québécois haute cuisine
Nowhere else in Canada does haute cuisine quite like Montreal due to the longstanding French influence.
At the apex of fine dining establishments is Restaurant Toqué, where tasting menus from celebrated chef Normand Laprise and exquisite wines make for a showstopping experience. You get the best of both worlds when dining at Toqué – exquisite French precision and flair with the kitchen techniques, but also world-class produce from North America.
The tenderest of duck magret is paired with a sea buckthorn sauce that offers a fresh, fruity, tart taste to slice through any heaviness from the meat. Foie gras is a religion in Montreal but you can choose to have a tasting menu with or without the delicacy at Toqué. They also offer a delectable vegetarian tasting menu available on request.
Bistronomy: A culinary revolution
If you are looking for relaxed dining with quality cuisine, make sure you book the buffet brunch at Rosélys on Sundays. Situated at the iconic Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, their Sunday brunch offering is a well-known institution in Montreal.
The plethora of cuisines on offer is a testament to the diversity of the city. You have everything from Korean fried chicken to sushi and sashimi platters to hearty Montreal spiced beef strip loin. They have everything from the healthiest of salad bars to the most indulgent of dessert counter and candy bars. The restaurant has gorgeous views of serene Dorchester Square and is an idyllic way to spend your Sunday afternoon.
MTLàTABLE, Montreal’s restaurant week
If you are around town in the autumn, make sure you check if it coincides with MTLàTABLE. Montreal’s restaurant week is the best way to check out the various communities in the city at very affordable prices.
During our visit, we checked out Caribou Gourmand in the hip Mile End district of the city, which was voted one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. It is all about supporting local produce in a welcoming, friendly environment. Here, you can savour fall vegetable fritters with super sweet Quebec tomatoes and they’ll serve up cod gravlax flavoured with beets and Quebec Gin. Their cheese platter will proudly display Quebec cheeses, as the region is the cheese-making capital of Canada.
Authentic comfort food
The Italian community is the third largest ethnic group in Montreal after French and English so, unsurprisingly, Italian restaurants are hugely popular in the city.
The authentic comfort food served up at Jacopo is the perfect antidote to the chilly nights Montreal serves up on occasion. The décor is all cosy brickwork and dark wood offering a rustic European feel to the restaurant. Pasta dishes are freshly prepared by the kitchen including gluten-free options. Their creations are often not your run-of-the-mill offerings and include a delectable squid ink mafaldine with a burst of umami richness from the calamari and scallops. Dishes like the fried risotto stuffed with mozzarella and pomodoro sauce ooze warmth and comfort.
The restaurant is situated in Old Montreal filled with narrow cobblestone streets and independent boutique shops and makes for an ideal half-day excursion.
Labo culinaire – Foodlab
Montreal is very much a forward-thinking city and that is exemplified by a visit to Foodlab at the Society for Arts and Technology.
They work closely with local producers to offer an authentic farm-to-fork experience. Their wine list is fully natural and bio-dynamic with a focus on returning forgotten grape varieties to the fore once again. Seasonality is essential for Foodlab so expect to see plenty of Jerusalem artichoke in the autumn season such as Jerusalem artichoke gnocchi with fermented cabbage. They are immensely proud of their toasted sourdough bread served with apple butter and salted sunflower seed praline. Don’t be surprised if you see it served up as a main course.
Talking of the future, the insectarium in Montreal has launched a gourmet insect sampling box from chef Daniel Vézina. The EntomoMiam box contains delicacies such as seaweed chips with mealworms and roasted almonds with grasshopper-lime salt. Expect to see plenty more of these dishes popping up on menus soon as we opt for a more sustainable source of proteins.
Factbox
For more information on Montreal’s culinary scene visit mtl.org
