All That Glitters Gala

A Night at the Museum

I recently attended the All that Glitters Gala at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The gala benefited Crohn's and Colitis Canada, a very important organization devoted to research and putting an end to the suffering caused by Crohn's and Colitis- for good. I was startled by the prominence of the disease in Canada. The following statistic really struck a chord: "1 in every 150 Canadians is living with Crohn's or Colitis- a rate that ranks in the highest worldwide" (Crohn's and Colitis Canada). Even more alarming, "the number of new cases of Crohn's disease in Canadian children has almost doubled since 1995" (Impact of IBD Report 2012, Crohn's and Colitis Canada). These statistics are eye opening and demonstrate the importance of searching for a cure to end Crohn's and Colitis for life.

The event was put together by an incredible team who gathered some of Montreal's finest restaurants and culinary talent! The food was impeccable and the generosity of the local restaurants in providing seafood, meat, salads, pastas, coffee, desserts, and more for a crowd of over 300 people, must be noted. Their devotion to our community and to this significant cause is remarkable.

Some of my favourite items from the night included Oysters provided by Joe Beef and served by Choice Harbour with a classic mignonette, apple mignonette, and Smoke Show hot sauce. Majestique was serving their famous giant hot dogs on buns by Hof Kelsten. Nora Gray brought their A-game with giant meatballs with tomato sauce and basil. Tavern on the Square impressed with homemade cavatelli with tomato sauce, mozzarella di bufala, and basil. Steve's Fish Store brought us the freshest fish. Succulent rack of lamb by Wolfe Montcalm. Ryu with their delicious sushi. Our beloved Moishes provided beef tartare and smoked salmon. La Sirène with their famous Lebanese salads, and Tuck Shop with the most adorable blinis topped with smoked salmon. For dessert, Boulangerie Le Fournil had a magnificent display of cake pops, trifles, and squares (a bakery in Westmount that I definitely plan on visiting in the near future!), and Cocoa Locale brought their sweet miniature cupcakes (my personal favs!). Caffeine-fix was brought to us by Tunnel Espresso Bar in the form of smooth and creamy lattes. As you can tell, this was definitely a "star"-studded event..a real culinary affair! I was so full, I didn't even get to try all of the delicious-looking food, so be sure to check out the full list of attendees below!

Majestique

Majestique - Hot Dogs

Tavern on the Square - Homemade Cavatelli

Smoked Salmon and Spinach Pie

Bagels on Greene - Bagels

Boulangerie Le Fournil - Strawberry Shortcake

Beaux Gateaux - Carrot Cake

Beaux Gateaux - Oreo Cake

Tunnel Espresso Bar - Latte

Boulangerie Le Fournil - Assorted Pastries and Desserts

Boulangerie Le Fournil - Cupcakes

The dinatoire (really more of a dinner after all the food I tasted!) was followed by a fundraiser, and finally a concert by Montreal-born Adam Cohen and his band. We all left with a cute parting gift complete with chocolates Galerie au Chocolat, David's Tea, and macarons by Dopo cena.

Please visit these restaurants who continue to support our community all year long, and definitely consider putting this event on your social calendar for next year! See the full list of restaurants who supported this cause below- all of them did such an amazing job, and if you haven't already, definitely check them out!

Restaurants, Caterers, and Bakeries

Bagels on Green

Beaux Gateaux

Beijing

Boulangerie Le Fournil 

Burger Bar

C&C Meat Packing

Caldwell

Chez Nino

Dopocena

Farines Etc. (Vegan Desserts)

Galerie au Chocolat

Grumman '78

Hof Kelsten

Honey Martin

Java U

J&R Butcher

Joe Beef served by Choice Harbour

Lucille's

Majestique

Moishes

New Victoria Fish Market

Nora Gray

Patisserie Cocoa Locale

Ryu

Steve's Fish Store

Tavern on the Square

Tuck Shop

La Sirene

Starbucks coffee

TCBY

Tunnel Espresso Bar

Traiteur LT

Wolfe Montcalm Catering

For more information on the cause, or to find out how you could get involved, visit the link below.

www.crohnsandcolitis.ca

And on behalf of the committee responsible for producing such a lovely evening:
"A special thank you to Java U catering for coordinating all of these delicious restaurants, and a shout out to Max Ruiz and Marley Sniatowsky from Choice Harbor for helping us solicit restaurants."


Mind, Taste, Love.

Juliette et Chocolat: Brunch Edition

Juliette's Brunch

377 Laurier Ouest, Montréal

I have great news for all CHOCOLATE and BRUNCH lovers. Juliette et Chocolat has finally emerged on the Montreal brunch scene. Already well-known for its desserts and chocolate delights, Juliette has decided it is time to tackle brunch. We were recently invited for brunch at the Laurier location (one of two locations that will offer brunch for now- the other being Laval). Brunch will eventually be rolled-out to other locations as well, so I will try to keep you posted.

On the brunch menu you will find some of Juliette's standard items: crepes (both sweet and savoury) and waffles. In addition to her classics, there are eggs, and french toast, all with a unique twist! Nutella-fans will flip for Juliette's French Toast stuffed with marshmallow and nutella, and finished off with some whipped cream.

We decided to order the French Toast with Caramelized Nuts (for a slightly less sweet alternative) and Juliette's Benedictine Waffle. The french toast was fluffy, topped with crunchy nuts and blueberries, and served with a side of English cream, syrup, and fruit. The other choice was savoury-  a buckwheat waffle with ham and cheese, topped with a sunny-side up egg, a side of hollandaise, a salad, and fruit. Definitely a wholesome breakfast. Of course we also got some mimosas, because it isn't really brunch without them.

French Toast with Caramelized Nuts

Buckwheat Waffle, Ham, Cheese, and a Sunny-Side Up Egg

We were lucky enough to sit down with Juliette herself. You could instantly sense her passion for what she does. She spoke to us about her restaurants, her family, and a bit about the creative process that went into designing the brunch menu. Her kindness and enthusiasm were so lovely and refreshing.

Stay tuned for other exciting news coming from Juliette et Chocolat just in time for summer-  we were told that there is a surprise in store, but that was all we could know for now!

We left full and with a lovely selection of chocolates to-go (speculoos, coconut, mojito, and passion fruit)- YUM. All in all, a solid brunch experience, especially for those of you with a sweet tooth.

Assorted Chocolates

Mind, Taste, Love.

Olives en Folies

Folle for Olive Oil!

386 av. Victoria, Westmount, QC, Canada H3Z 2N4

When I heard about the opening of Olives en Folie, a store dedicated solely to olive oils and vinegars located in the heart of Westmount, I knew I needed to stop by immediately. A trip to Greece last summer exposed me to some of the most robust and flavourful olive oils I have ever tasted. Restaurants served tomatoes from their backyards and homemade cheeses drizzled with the most perfect olive oil and no matter how simple it seems, it just cannot be matched.

I was so excited to visit the store and to see and taste firsthand their selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. First of all, the store itself is beautiful! But the real focus here is the product. The olive oils and balsamics are stored in large tins that seal their contents from any light or air. After one year, whatever is left in the tin is discarded in order to ensure ultimate freshness.

The tasting process went as follows: a small amount of olive oil was poured into a blue tinted glass (so that tasters are not influenced by the colour of the oil), cover the glass with your hand, swirl it around, uncover, and smell. After smelling the olive oil, take a little sip from the glass and take note of the flavours and sensations you experience. The lovely and knowledgeable store manager Joe, explained that olive oil tasting is a unique and subjective process designed to give tasters the ability to identify the peculiarities of each olive oil based on personal tastes and preferences.

 

There are over 60 types of olive oils and vinegars throughout the store. From Greek olive oils, to flavoured olive oils, these oils could be used to cook, in salad dressings, and even in your baked goods. They are really versatile. Some of my favourites were the white truffle, basil, and vanilla. Some of these are flavoured with natural flavouring, while others are infused. The balsamics were also a treat. Two of my personal favourites were the white maple balsamic and the 25-year aged Modena balsamic.

 

I urge you to pay the store a visit, and have a nice chat with the store's staff- they really know their olive oils! they will give you all kinds of great recommendations on recipes and how to use each oil and vinegar. The best part is that they fill up the bottle right there in front of you and offer different sizes. Weave through the store tasting as much as you'd like and leave with some of your favourites!

P.S. Near the cash they sell some awesome local products. I bought preserves by a Montreal company called The Preservation Society, and fell in love.

From left to right: Greek Olive Oil, Modena Balsamic, Basil Olive Oil, White Maple Balsamic

Mind, Taste, Love.

Jatoba

Ja-Ja-Ja-Toba

1184 Place Phillips Montréal, QC

Walking into Jatoba, you are struck by the beauty of the restaurant. From the intricate mouldings to the gorgeous marble-top bars, no detail was overlooked in the designing of this space. Downtown is finally getting back to being known as a destination for eating out in Montreal.

Of course we decided to sit at the bar, because in my opinion, that is the best way to really get to know a restaurant. Our sweet and friendly waitress guided us to our seats (equipped with purse hooks- woohoo!) where we began looking through the extensive menu. There is an interesting array of items- dumplings, tartare, tataki, fish, meats, and unique vegetarian dishes. We ordered a good mix of Tuna Tataki, Shrimp and Napa Cabbage Dumplings, Fried Tofu with Crushed Avocado and Cucumber, King Oyster Mushrooms, and of course Dessert (their famous Suki Sandwich Square). Next time I would try the Brussels Sprout Chips, the Jatoba Salad, and the Ginger Lobster. See the pictures and descriptions of what we ordered below!

Tuna Tataki with Jalapeno

King Oyster Mushrooms with a Sweet Miso Gratin

Wok Sautéed Crispy Tofu with Crushed Avocado and Cucumber

On recommendation, we ordered the "drink in a pineapple" (for lack of a better title), which arrived in a huge pineapple-shaped glass with sparklers (just for fun!). A couple of friendly people at the bar wished me happy birthday, and I then proceeded to sip on this eccentric and DELICIOUS drink that was unlike any I have had before. It had tons of fresh ginger, and a bunch of other tropical ingredients that were unidentifiable once mixed together. An interesting spice leaves a tingling at the back of the throat and intrigues you to keep on drinking. I would say it is the equivalent of 2 or 2 and 1/2 cocktails (priced @ $28 - not that bad considering specialty cocktails were mostly priced around $14), so maybe share it with a friend.............or don't...totally up to you (no judgment here!). 

The Suki Sandwich Square- toasted marshmallow, dulce de leche, and pecans sandwiched between two blondies and topped with French vanilla ice cream- can only be described as decadent. It is definitely sweet, so I recommend sharing, but it was absolutely delicious. Another option is their Chocolate Bomb- red velvet cheesecake enrobed in a chocolate sphere that "explodes" as the waiter pours hot chocolate sauce all over it. I will definitely try this on my next visit. 

Suki Sandwich Square

*IF YOU COULD ORDER JUST ONE: SHRIMP & NAPA CABBAGE DUMPLINGS*

Shrimp and Napa Cabbage Dumplings

 The dumpling wrappers are so delicate and fine, it makes you wonder how the filling manages to stay so perfectly wrapped inside. The light broth compliments the dumplings, while allowing the shrimp and napa cabbage filling to shine through. Highly recommended.


Overall I would recommend Jatoba for a night out of drinks and a couple of plates for sharing with friends, a solid date night spot, or for special occasions. The menu has something for everyone and the atmosphere and beautiful décor are incomparable to nearby restaurants.

Mind, Taste, Love.

Ceviches

Zomato Meet-up at Ceviches

152 Rue Napoléon Montreal, QC H2W1K8

Urbanspoon was recently acquired by Zomato, a restaurant review website and app with a large international presence. If you use(d) Urbanspoon as much as I do (did), then you may have just had a small panic attack. I felt exactly the same way: "HOW will I EVER survive without it?!!?" But after an AMAZING Zomato meet-up at the adorable plateau-gem Ceviches, my faith has been restored.

The app itself is much more user-friendly and all-encompassing than its predecessor. Zomato allows for a lot more user interaction. If you post a certain amount of reviews in a specific neighbourhood of your city, you will be dubbed an "expert", and post more photos to become a "connoisseur". The platform offers a sleeker look with a News Feed concept we have become accustomed to thanks to the likes of Facebook and Instagram. Get to know Zomato and all of its awesome features, because you will be addicted sooner than you know.

https://www.zomato.com

Our very first Zomato Meet-Up (a gathering of food bloggers from all over Montreal) took place at Ceviches. An authentic spot found on a cute corner of the plateau offering the freshest ceviches in the city. The chef and baker are the sweetest couple and their love for what they do shines through in each and every dish.

The Sweet Owners :)

Definitely go for their Ceviche as well as their Shrimp Tacos and then douse whatever you order in one of their amazing homemade sauces and dips. I have also heard great things about their Paella, which I will be back for! Tostones, or fried plantain slices are a delicious side that you could also use to scoop up your ceviche til' the very last bite.

Cod Cakes

Shrimp Tacos 

Ceviche 

Yuca Fries

For dessert, you NEED to try their Tres Léches- sweet, fluffy perfection. Though all three desserts I tried were splendid.

Tres Leches

Quesillo

For a casual night out in the plateau, this should be your new favourite spot.

Mind, Taste, Love.