Le Cochon Caché: Porchetta

Simplicity at its Finest

7901 Avenue Henri Julien, Montreal, Quebec H2R 2B9

3 ingredients: Porchetta, Rapini, and Potatoes. That is what you will find on the menu (in several variations) at Le Cochon Caché in Villeray. And 3 is all they need. Have your Porchetta on a plate, in a sandwich, on a pizza, or atop an out-of-this-world poutine.

Marco Barone, the passionate chef behind the small joint in Villeray, has cooked at some of Montreal's finest restaurants. But in a time when restaurants try to wow with gimmicks, I can really appreciate when a restaurant decides to take things back to basics. At Le Cochon Caché there are no fireworks, no gimmicks, just two guys behind a counter serving up food that stands on its own based on quality ingredients.

The small orange space is easily identifiable from the outside-  a quaint round window emblazoned with a pig that reads "Porchetta" will greet you on this fairly deserted side street. Enter and the aroma of rosemary, and roasted Porchetta will get your stomach grumbling (and also probably entice you to order way more than you can handle...I'm speaking from experience here). The chalkboard menu lists their short selection. All you have to do is order, and watch chef Marco work his magic.

The poutine can only be summed up as an Italian/Quebec Thanksgiving meal. Instead of french fries, they use roasted potatoes, and the gravy is also homemade. The rosemary used in their spice rub (which you could buy on-site) adds a certain warmth and "cooked by nonna" feel to the dish. Don't miss it.

Porchetta Poutine

Porchetta Poutine

The sandwich, also filled with sliced Porchetta, packs tons of flavour and crunch. I got mine with a side of rapini, one of my absolute favourite vegetables. If you're unfamiliar with rapini, it is a bitter green vegetable, that when cooked right makes the perfect side-dish! Next time I stop by, I will be sure to try their pizza topped with...take a wild guess......PORCHETTA and rapini!

Porchetta Sandwich

Porchetta Sandwich with a side of Rapini

Porchetta Pizza

Porchetta Pizza & Pizza with Tomato Sauce

Pull up a stool, or grab your porchetta to-go, but don't miss out on the deliciousness that is Le Cochon Caché.

They also cater, so definitely reach out to them for your next event. And no, surprisingly, the catering business is not limited to just Porchetta!

Mind, Taste, Love.

Chef on Call

Indulge for a Good Cause

Anyone who has been a student in Montreal, or who has lived Downtown at some point, has heard of Chef on Call. Whether to fulfill those late night cravings, or to keep you awake during exam cram sessions, Chef on Call has been there. As if that wasn't enough, they have now decided to team up with local charities around the city by introducing the Donator Burger. The burger and charity will change each month to benefit both our appetites and different causes.

Chef on Call is a very community-oriented business that has become well-established and loved in the city. It is only fitting that they have decided to give back to the community that means so much to them.

In February they will be teaming up with Dans la Rue, which provides assistance to homeless youth and youth at risk. $1 of each Donator Burger will be donated to the cause. Order yours with an Oreo milkshake. Trust me. You need it to focus.

So in support of late night cravings and study grub, let's all indulge in a Donator Burger for a good cause! Who knew a burger could feel so guilt-free?

Oh So Crispy Burger **FEBRUARY DONATOR BURGER**

The Basic Burger

Mind, Taste, Love.

Restaurant Review: La Belle et La Boeuf

La Belle et La Boeuf (+ Putting Edge)

A night out in........Laval?

Centropolis

I don't typically venture out to Laval, but recently I heard about La Belle et La Boeuf and their burger with a "mac and cheese" bun. I must admit, I was intrigued. They also have a location downtown, but I figured I would try the one in Laval where parking is in abundance (plus its really not as far as we think it is).

I was so impressed with Centropolis. It has been built-up so much in the past few years and boasts an impressive number of restaurants and activities- one of them being Putting Edge. So we decided to have a pre-dinner game of glow-in-the-dark mini-golf to start our night right! Give me a pink golf ball and glow-in-the-dark bracelet and I'm good to go! I am quite easy to please. I could, however, get a little competitive. All I wanted was to beat the boys, and I did. So, mission accomplished.

Putting Edge

Next up- BURGERS and these are not your ordinary burgers. With an inventive menu full of unique and eccentric toppings, choosing a burger at La Belle et La Boeuf is a challenge. One is topped with peanut butter and banana, one with fried mac and cheese as the bun, and some other more conventional options (but still creative nonetheless). If that's not decadent enough, try their mac and cheese, or why not a poutine? CLEARLY not the place to go on a diet. We got a pitcher of sangria and iced tea, and were there on a game night! Lots of fun. Highly recommended.

I ordered the "Mad Greek"- a burger with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, onion, red pepper, olives, feta cheese, tzatziki, and best of all, watermelon. We also ordered "The Beauty", which comes with arugula, brie cheese, fig jam, and caramelized onions. Others ordered some pretty wild meals including the "Pac Mac" (burger with a mac and cheese bun), and the "Mac Buffalo Chicken" (mac and cheese with buffalo chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and toasted Ringolos (YUP...). Check out the pictures below!

Poutine

Pac Mac

Pac Mac

Pac Mac

Mac Buffalo Chicken

Mad Greek

For those looking for a healthier alternative, you could choose to order your burger in lettuce, a multigrain bun, or on gluten free bread!

To sum it up- Centropolis had lots in store for us! From a game of mini-golf, to watching the game accompanied by some crazy burgers, poutines, and mac and cheese. If this sounds like your kind of night, make your way to Putting Edge, and to one of La Belle et La Boeuf's locations! I love hearing from you guys, so comment below!

Reservations: Definitely. The place was packed.
Date night: If you like your dates loud, calorific, and messy.
What I wore: Leggings, loose tee with an unbuttoned jean shirt, long chain, and booties

The damage: $$
Stay in the know: The restaurant is 18+.
Bonus: Good place to watch a hockey game!

Mind, Taste, Love.