OYSTERMANIA

I had my first OYSTERMANIA experience on Friday night at Vertigo STK + Bar and highly recommend you opt for a night of oysters and alcohol at such an affordable price, while you still can!

There are 10 participating Montreal restaurants who are all offering 12 oysters and an alcoholic beverage for $10 until April 16th. Don't miss out! If you don't buy your tickets in advance, you are still able to take advantage of the deal at the restaurant, but the drink will not be included. You can use the ticket starting at 5:00 pm, a GREAT 5 à 7 idea for you and your office pals. Buy your tickets at the link below:

http://www.restomania.ca/toutes-les-offres/oystermania-huitres-10-au-16-avril/


Mind, Taste, Love.

Montreal Events: Vicolo Restaurant & Bar Opening Event

Vicolo Restaurant & Bar Grand Launch Event

Though trendy restaurants line the streets of the Plateau and Old Montreal, they are harder to come by in the heart of downtown Montreal. Not to say there are not tons of delicious places to pick-up food, or grab a bite downtown, but it is difficult to find a place with both delicious food AND atmosphere.

Enter Vicolo.

Situated smack in the middle of downtown, right near the Bell Center, Vicolo Restaurant & Bar is here to cater to our need for a chic restaurant that also delivers in the food department. "Vicolo" literally translates to "Back Alley", and has done a good job at creating a space that transports you right to modern Italy.

The launch party was really well organized and showcased all this place has to offer-  from the food and the cocktails, to the young and trendy vibe. The night started off with a spread of cheeses, dried fruits, nuts, charcuterie, olives, and bread (made even more perfect with a glass of wine in hand). Mini prosciutto and mushroom risottos were passed around along with some burrata crostini, duck confit ravioli, and fried calamari. Later on we also got to savour their pizza and succulent meat.

With DJ Abeille playing the perfect tunes, cocktails, food, and wine galore, and a good-looking group of Montrealers in attendance, I'd say this was a successful night. I will definitely be back to try some of Vicolo's menu staples such as their Roasted Cornish Hen, and Linguine Alla Vongole.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown and step into this cool urban back alley.

Best of luck to the Vicolo team and thank you for having us! What a great event!

Mind, Taste, Love.

Montreal Events: Kyozon Official Launch

Kyozon

A Kaiten on Crescent.

1458 Rue Crescent. Montréal, QC H3G

I'm all about restaurants experimenting with new concepts and aiming to set themselves apart from the pack. The launch of Kyozon last week demonstrated the restaurants first strides towards becoming Montreal's latest trend-setter, and I liked what I saw!

Kyozon Exterior

The official launch party at Kyozon's seriously impressive Crescent location was a blast! Sushi circulated on their unique Kaiten (conveyor belt), attendees sipped on original cocktails, and the media buzzed about this booming new restaurant and bar. Everyone was having a great time, and although the restaurant is two floors and very spacious, it was packed the entire night!

Sushi Kaiten

Shojo Sour

Sushi

I didn't stray too far from the Kaiten and grabbed plenty of sushi before it whizzed by, while sipping my Shojo Sour (a striking green cocktail crafted with Bombay Sapphire, Midori, fresh lime, simple syrup, sesame oil, and egg white). Other snacks were passed around including their popcorn shrimp with sriracha cream, salt and pepper fried calamari, and the cutest and most delicious little desserts- mini passion fruit panna cottas.

Popcorn Shrimp with Sriracha Cream

The restaurant is changing the game a little. A HUGE bar is the main feature you will notice upon entrance, though the entire space is visually stunning. The décor feels traditional and rooted in Asian culture, but still exudes modern and trendy vibes all around. Above the bar, canisters with Japanese symbols line the walls all the way to the ceiling and directly opposite lies the DJ booth. From the second floor, you could look straight-down onto the bar and admire the bartenders shaking up one of their many delicious creations. The second floor is also where you will find the Kaiten (extremely popular all over Japan and beginning to pop-up in the UK and other parts of the world), an all new concept in the Montreal restaurant landscape! A fun way to eat "tapas-style" and try a little bit of everything.

The rest of the menu mimics the décor: the items are based on traditional Asian street-food, but most have a modern twist.

Overall, the night was fun and delicious, but I was mainly struck by Kyozon's gorgeous design and the fact that no detail was overlooked in the planning of its (definitely) GRAND opening.

Best of luck to the Kyozon team, and congratulations on the launch of a cool new MTL spot!

Mind, Taste, Love.

Montreal Events: Grand Prix Weekend / Resto Review: Slang LabOManger

Grand Prix Weekend

The usual and the unexpected.

Olympic Stadium, Crescent, and Monkland

The Usual - Food Truck Frenzy.

Though not technically associated with the Grand Prix at all, the Food Truck festival at the Olympic Stadium just happened to fall during this action-packed weekend, and it was just that- PACKED. Some friends and I arrived early, so we were able to overindulge in some of the innovative and delicious food truck grub (without the crazy lines). Others who arrived later were not as lucky. The huge Olympic Stadium field became cramped and over-crowded, and the line-ups were about 30 minutes long. This event, which happens the first Friday of each month, is really worth a try, but I HIGHLY recommend you arrive early. Check out the yummy pictures below!

Food Trucks @ Olympic Stadium	Pas de Cochon dans mon Salon	Boston Cream & Caramel Dougnuts
Lucille's Lobster Roll	Flavour-infused Beers	Gluten-Free Food Truck!
Nutella Waffle	Gluten-Free Arancini Perfection	Apple Crumble Grilled Cheese (Gargantua)

The Usual - Crescent Street Festival.

Another annual happening is the Crescent Street Festival. The street was booming (as always), but nothing new or exciting was going on. The atmosphere is always a fun one, and walking up and down crescent, or grabbing a seat on one of the many terraces to listen to the live music are both good options. However, I recall doing the same exact thing last year. Though we had a good time, there was nothing novel about our time on Crescent. Montreal signed a contract guaranteeing the Grand Prix will be held in our city for the next 10 years, so Crescent has plenty of time to redeem itself!

Crescent Street

The Unexpected - A Local Affair.

Final stop for Grand Prix weekend was my dear old Monkland Village. Monkland is a quaint street in NDG with a couple of restaurants, cafés, and some neighbourhood bars. This weekend, the street was transformed into the unexpected backdrop for a Grand Prix Weekend street fair. There were activities for kids, so families weren't alienated, but there were also DJs, food trucks, and terraces for an older crowd. There really was something for everyone.

I also checked out Monkland's latest addition, Slang LabOmanger. The restaurant has a terrace overlooking the charming street, but take a step inside and you won't believe you are on Monkland. Adorned with retro light-fixtures, and exposed-brick walls, the place has a really trendy, industrial feel. Knowing that this used to be a video rental store deems the design even more impressive. In tandem with its laboratory theme, tables are set with beakers as both candle holders, and water pitchers, and small details throughout the menu contribute to the feel as well. A brightly-lit, white open-kitchen is the focal point of the restaurant, contrasting the rest of the dimly-lit interior.

The menu is creative with items including grilled octopus with lemon pop rocks, onion soup dumplings, and bacon wrapped matzoh balls. The drink menu also aims to please with a bacon caesar (YES...I said bacon) and a mojito served as a slushie. This is definitely a welcomed-addition to Monkland Ave. and will give young NDG locals the nearby hotspot they've been waiting for. See what we ordered below!

Reservations: Yes! But they don't take reservations for the terrace as of now (first come, first serve)
Date night: Definitely. It has an intimate atmosphere and unique drink menu. Sure to please!
Attire: We're still on Monkland, so no need to get TOO fancy. Trendy/sophisticated and you're set.

The damage: $$$ (definitely more expensive than the typical neighbourhood restaurant, but there's a price to pay for style and atmosphere)
Bonus: Cute terrace.

Where did you hang out this Grand Prix Weekend? Any new hot spots, or the same old?

Slang Lab	Cocktail Menu	Starters
Bacon Caesar	Slushie Mojito	Grilled Octopus w/ Pop Rocks
Onion Soup Dumplings	Lobster Pad Thai	Interior Design

Mind, Taste, Love.

Montreal Events: All That Glitters Gala 2014

A night at the museum.

Crohn's and Colitis Canada

Musee de Beaux Arts 

Last night I attended the annual All That Glitters Gala to raise funds for Crohn's and Colitis Canada. The evening was beautifully put together at an impressive venue. The calm before the storm. F1 weekend being the storm (a fun and action-packed storm), and last night being the classy cocktail party for an amazing cause. 

This is an event that is hosted every year by a talented committee and it is definitely one that you should put on your social calendars next year. Awareness needs to be raised for this cause, and the event does a great job at that.

The evening was appropriately themed around its venue, with clowns, jugglers, unicyclers, and dancers creating a whimsical, art-inspired feel. The Glass Atrium was a stunning backdrop that allowed for guests to admire downtown Montreal as the sun set. Eventure catered the event with just the right amount of hors d'oeuvres to fill you up and kept the wine and champagne flowing. Entertainment included a band, a ballroom dance performance by dancers from Arthur Murray, and an incredible routine by two extremely talented contortionists from École de Cirque de Verdun (seriously impressive).

The night was capped off with a live auction that included roundtrip first class flights to the US and Europe, foodie packages to some of Montreal's top restaurants, a one-night stay at the Ritz with brunch or dinner at Maison Boulud, and race track laps at Circuit Mont Tremblant. I won the latter for my dad for Father's Day-  a great gift idea for car enthusiasts! Finally, there was a raffle with some great prizes. It was my lucky night, as my raffle ticket was called and I got to take home a lovely David's Tea basket including their new Spring collection and a tea-steeping mug (loveeeeee!). All in all, everyone enjoyed themselves and left with a rose, some homemade biscotti, and with better awareness of the needs of crohn's and colitis patients. I don't know the exact number, but the gala raised a significant amount of funds for this cause and they must be commended for their amazing efforts and for organizing a magical evening.

Keep your eye on this fundraiser and foundation in the future- great cause and great event!

With the weekend coming up, I will likely be headed to Monkand Village to experience their first-ever F1 Street Festival. Where will you be this Grand Prix weekend?!

Check out some pics from the event below!

Mind, Taste, Love.