T&T Tacos et Tortas

No Excuse Necessary

51 Rue Rachel O, Montréal, QC H2W 1G2

In honour of yesterday's Cinco de Mayo celebrations, I decided I should tell you guys about T&T Tacos et Tortas, a cozy Mexican restaurant in the plateau. Their focus is on tacos (these need no introduction), and tortas (a Mexian style sandwich).

The place itself is quaint and pretty simple in terms of décor. The excitement and flavour definitely arrive when the plates and drinks are set-down on the table in front of you.

We started with a bowl of soup filled with avocado, tortilla chips, and cheese-  a meal in itself. We then got to sample a couple of different tacos. We chose the Pastor tacos (grilled pork, onion, grilled pineapple and cilantro), Cochinita (pulled pork, pickled red onions, and jalapenos), and Pescado (fish of the day breaded with panko, chipotle mayo, and cabbage salad). If I had to pick one I would go with the Cochinita. The tender meat and jalapeno pairing are unbeatable. All tacos are served with a trio of hot sauces: red salsa, green salsa, and habanero-  so the heat factor is left up to you!

Tortilla Soup

Pescado and Cochinita Taco

Pastor and Pescado Tacos

Chelada and Limonada

For dessert, DO NOT miss the churros. I pronounce these my favourite churros in the city (thus far) and urge you to go try them. They are warm and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and drizzled in a sauce of your choice (chocolate, dulce de leche, or strawberry). I would opt for the dulce de leche sauce, unless you're a big fan of dark chocolate.

Churros with Chocolate and Dulce de Leche Sauce

These are definitely not the cheapest tacos in the city, but if you're looking for a place where you could grab a cocktail, some tacos, and hang out with friends in a cool area of the city, this is definitely it!

I know Cinco de Mayo has come and gone, but who needs an excuse to go out for some quality tacos and margaritas on any given night? I know I don't!!


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.

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.

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: Le Passé Composé

Le Passé Composé

Montreal's Bistro Français de Quartier.

• 950, rue Roy E, Montréal QC, H2L 1E8

Located on a picturesque corner in the plateau is Bistro Le Passé Composé. The exterior of this bistro Français just begs for you to come in and stay a while. Once inside, you'll feel as if you have entered a warm home. Walls adorned with art (which you can purchase), people perusing the newspaper whilst sipping on a latté, and smiling waitresses greeting you.

I had heard about this place a while ago and decided to finally make my way over. The seasonal menu was intriguing, especially for a brunch place. I've grown accustomed to finding seasonal menus across Montreal, but not often enough for breakfast!

I urge you to try the panko french toast. It is heavenly. And their eggs benedict (all of them) are inventive and unique. They also seem to be known for their gourmet grilled cheeses, so I'll be back to try those! We ordered the "Oeuf Poché Champêtre"- poached eggs, mini shitake mushrooms, parsley, smoked pork shoulder, and porcini sauce all atop brioche bread. Both the french toast and poached eggs were served with fruit and an adorable smoothie shot.

The amazing food was tied together perfectly with a splendid latté served in a bowl the size of my head.

If you haven't yet, you need to head over to Le Passé Composé. Is there a better way to start your Sunday morning? In my opinion, no. But I'm always up for some healthy competition :). Send me your favourite MTL brunch spots! Comment below!

Reservations: We went pretty early for a Sunday and got seated right away, but there was a line-up when we left. It looks like they do take reservations on their facebook page though!
Date night: Morning date :)
What I wore: Chunky knit, leggings, scarf, and booties.

The damage: $$

Stay in the know: Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Mind, Taste, Love.