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.

Gryphon D'Or Tea Room

Tea for Two!

5968 Ave De Monkland Montréal, QC H4A2L2

I live around NDG, so I often visit Monkland for a coffee, a trip to Lucille's Oyster Dive, or for some froyo. This time, I ventured onto one of my favourite avenues for an afternoon tea at the cozy Gryphon D'Or Tea Room with some of my favourite girls!

Gryphon D'Or Tea Room is quaint and homey. Take a seat on a wooden bench and ask to look through their selection of loose-leaf teas. Decide whether you will have a full afternoon tea served with scones, sandwiches, a pot of tea and desserts, or just a Dessert Tea, which is served with scones, a pot of tea, and desserts. You could also choose to order brunch, dessert, or any of their daily specials on their own.

Loose-Leaf Teas

We arrived later in the day and had already eaten lunch, so we decided to go with the Dessert Tea. First, a basket of warm scones arrived with butter, lemon curd, homemade jam, and heavy cream. I could have eaten the entire basket myself. My pot of vanilla-orange tea went perfectly with the citrusy lemon curd. Next, a two-tiered display of desserts was set down in front of us. Slightly unsure of how to tackle this extensive dessert tray, we decided just to dig in. There were assorted tea squares, shortbread cookies, chocolate mocha cake, strawberry shortcake, and mini apple crumbles.

Vanilla-Orange Loose-Leaf Tea

Scones with Lemon Curd, Cream, Butter, and Homemade Jam

Desserts

Everything was delicious and I could not think of a better way to spend my Sunday afternoon than by sipping on warm tea, enjoying freshly baked desserts, and catching up with friends. Not to mention, the entire dessert tea is under $15!

FYI, all baked goods are made on the premises, they offer Saturday and Sunday brunch, and dessert tea is offered 7-days a week after 3pm. I can't wait to return for brunch sometime soon!

Check out their website and definitely visit The Gryphon D'or Tea Room!

http://www.gryphondor.com

Mind, Taste, Love.

Duc de Lorraine

Oui, Oui, Paris.

5002 Chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal, QC H3V 1G6 

If you have ever been to Paris, you know that you could walk into just about any bakery off the street to discover the sweet scent of homemade pastries, buttery croissants, and café au lait. There is nothing better than sipping a coffee, and biting into flaky pastry, while sitting at a tiny round table in a quaint café. Don't book that flight to Paris just yet! We have a delicious, charming, and warm spot just as I described right here in Montreal-  Duc de Lorraine.

This is by no means a new spot. In fact, Duc's doors opened in 1952. Set on Cote-des-Neiges adjacent to Mont-Royal with the picturesque St-Joseph's Oratory in the background, this place has remained a classic for good reason. Walk in to smell the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods and either grab some to go, or take a seat in the naturally-lit dining area. Both the atmosphere and staff are warm and welcoming and you will immediately feel transported to a café in Paris.

We ordered café au laits, some mimosas, and a basket of viennoiseries to start. The pastries were buttery, flaky, and sweet, as they should be. The mimosas were refreshing and they definitely did not skimp on the champagne, and the café au laits were creamy, strong, and just what we needed to start our day.

The sweet start was followed by a savoury onion soup (au gratin) served piping hot and by a (generous) slice of leek quiche. Both were impressive and could have been flown-in directly from France! 

On our way out, we couldn't help but pick out some croissants and fine pastries to take home! There are also an array of beautiful cakes for any occasion. Duc de Lorraine has been around for a long time, and it is time for a new generation to experience its lovely atmosphere, service, and food. To those who have not yet been, it is definitely an experience that needs to be had in our city and I HIGHLY recommend a trip for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or simply to pick up some pastries and desserts to go!

Mind, Taste, Love.

VORO

Sweet & Savoury

275 Fairmount, Ouest, Montréal, Quebec, H2A 0A1

VORO has been at the top of my list for a while now, so I decided to stop by for brunch on a Sunday. 

Tons of sunlight enters through the floor-to-ceiling windows and makes dining here in the daytime ever so pleasant and cheerful. The ceilings are high and the space is large and industrial feeling. 

The menu is not too large (and differs slightly from what is shown on their website), but has plenty of sweet, savoury, and sweet AND savoury options to choose from. We went with a simple poached egg on focaccia with portobello mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, goat's cheese and arugula as well as a more eccentric panko-crusted french toast with porchetta, poached eggs, and a MAPLE béchamel. Both dishes were exquisitely presented and tasted incredible. The star was the sweet and savoury french toast, which was unlike anything I have ever had before.

Portobello mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, goat's cheese, arugula, and a poached egg on focaccia

Panko-crusted french toast with porchetta, poached eggs, and a maple béchamel

Sit by the window and order a latté. It's easy to spend an entire Sunday afternoon at this spacious and inviting location. Highly recommended for brunch (their lunch dishes sounded great too!) I will definitely be back to try their biscuits and homemade blueberry jam with truffle honey butter! Yum!

Mind, Taste, Love.

Arts Café

A Fairmount Find.

201 Avenue Fairmount Ouest Montreal, QC H2T 2M8

On a mild Winter Sunday morning/afternoon, nothing beats brunching and catching up with good friends, but the brunch experience was recently taken to the next level at Arts Café. 

Windows are dressed with hanging light bulbs adding to the eccentric feel, while wooden floors and walls help keep the small space warm. Mismatched chairs and different-sized tables give the café a vintage vibe. The décor may be busy, but it works. Grab a latte (or a mimosa) and a seat by the window if you can for some natural sunlight and a view of this adorable plateau street. 

Brunch itself is delicious. The menu is not overwhelming, but still has enough choice that you will need a few minutes to decide on your target. Highlights included the breakfast poutine, sweet & savoury french toast, and the delicious coffee. See what else we ordered below!

Latté

Grapefruit Mimosa

French Toast with Apple Cardamom Chutney, Cheddar, Almonds, and McMillan Farm Maple Syrup

Breakfast Poutine: Duck Confit, Sarladaises Potatoes, Cipollini, Cheese Curds,  Poached Egg, and Hollandaise

A Fairmount Bagel with Salmon Gravlax, Organic Tomato, Arugula, Herb Cream Cheese, Fried Capers, and a Baked Potato with Crème Fraîche 

All I can say is GO (but go early because there is bound to be a wait and they don't take reservations).

Mind, Taste, Love.

Restaurant Review: Brasserie Central (Brunch Edition)

Brasserie Central

Not just another brunch post.

4858 Sherbrooke St W Westmount, QC H3Z1H1


Westmount's Brasserie Central has decided to take on Saturday and Sunday brunch. And they're taking it seriously. They only began serving Sunday brunch a week and a half ago-  and we're thankful they did. From the set-up of the restaurant to the gourmet menu, Brasserie Central is ready to cater to Westmount's every brunching need.

The space feels sophisticated, industrial, and chic all at once. The ceiling and walls are adorned with beautiful lighting fixtures, brick walls are painted white and black, and there's lots of eccentric art. A table in the center of the restaurant is set with champagne flutes, freshly squeezed OJ, and champagne, so that your mimosas are ready on-demand. Charcuterie platters are also prepared right in front of you.

First-off our lattés were delicious and presented beautifully and the freshly squeezed OJ was perfectly tangy. As for the food-  each plate was better than the next. Scroll down to see what we ordered and be prepared to wish it was next Sunday.

Lobster Eggs Benedict
Buttery brioche topped with lobster, poached eggs, and hollandaise

Poached Eggs on Crab Cake
Poached eggs served atop a light and crisp crab cake finished with hollandaise

Coconut-Crusted Raisin Brioche French Toast
Raisin brioche french toast covered in a crunchy coconut coating with a coconut milk crème anglaise and mixed berries

For a classy and sophisticated Sunday brunch, make your way over to Brasserie Central on Sherbrooke! I guarantee you will love it!

Reservations: It's a small place, it would probably be a good idea.
Date night: --
What I wore: Jeans, sweater with chiffon under-layer, and booties

The damage: $$
Stay in the know: Opened Sat and Sun for brunch and opened for lunch and dinner every day aside from Sunday.

Mind, Taste, Love.