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.

Le Bon Vivant

Saint-Henri Strikes Again

2705 Notre-Dame St W Montreal, QC H3J1N9

The neighbourhood of Saint-Henri is no longer "up and coming". I think it has reached a point where we could say it has arrived. Full of trendy cafés, bars, restaurants, this neighbourhood has established itself as one of the coolest in the city at this moment. People live in spacious lofts and spend their winter weekends hanging out at cafés, and during the summer, find them by the canal, or at the nearby Atwater market.

Le Bon Vivant fits the Saint-Henri mould perfectly. Cozy, trendy, and wholesome, the restaurant uses market fresh ingredients to craft meals that are (mostly) healthy and full of seasonal ingredients. The menu truly caters to everyone. Their seasonal "Farmer Bowl" for vegetarians, and plenty of meat and fish options too!

Farmer's Bowl

We started with the tacos of the day (shrimp) which were served on a grilled corn tortilla, topped with avocado and other fresh vegetables, and drizzled with a mildly spicy sauce. The char on the tortilla combined with the grilled shrimp worked perfectly. Order as a starter to share, or as a meal for yourself (they were that good!). Our other starters were the Kalbi Short-Ribs, fried cauliflower (with Brussel sprouts and Halloumi), and the farmers bowl (beats, squash, zucchini, onions and goats cheese). Equally fresh and delicious.

Shrimp Tacos

Kalbi Short Ribs

Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, and Fried Halloumi

For our mains we tried both the Tandoori Chicken for two and the Lamb Shank. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender and was served on a bed of Israeli cous cous and broccolini. The perfect winter dish. But the item I would definitely come back for- the Tandoori Chicken. The chicken was moist and served on a bed of quinoa and Mediterranean salad (more of a stew)- another dish to complement the cold weather we've been having, but I would truly eat this dish any time of year!

Chicken Tandoori for Two

Lamb Shank on Israeli Cous Cous and Broccolini

For dessert we ordered the "Rochers", which were kind of like coconut macaroons served with whipped cream. A sweet and light ending to an exquisite meal!

Rochers

If you are looking for a dinner spot where you could leave satisfied, but without feeling overstuffed, or greasy, this is definitely for you. They take reservations and the space is small, so reserve!

http://lebonvivantmtl.com/

Mind, Taste, Love.

Le Vin Papillon

Little Wine Bar in Little Burgundy

2519 Rue Notre-Dame O, Montréal, QC H3J 1N4

Joe Beef and Liverpool house need no introduction, so neither should the latest addition to the fam-  Le Vin Papillon.

I trust you don't need me to tell you that this little wine bar in Little Burgundy is worth a visit, but whatev, I will anyways.

No reservations, so go early if you are not ok with waiting. We got very lucky at around 9:30 on a Friday night and walked in right before the rush. We were sat down within minutes.

Narrow and dim, this tiny venue is the ultimate cozy spot for a glass of vino and some snacks to share. We went for a cheese plate and selected one hard, one medium, and one soft cheese served with nuts in their shell, and delicious and buttery brioche and some red wine (recommended by our server).

We then decided to go with their famous giant grilled cauliflower with lemon and capers- the perfect light snack for post-dinner drinks. There were so many other items that we wanted to order from the menu (which does change every so often), but unfortunately had already eaten dinner and had a bit of a sweet tooth. To fulfill our cravings, we ordered the homemade cheesecake topped with tangy berries. Overall, the wine, the cheese platter, and everything else that was ordered exceeded expectations. The service we experienced was not perfect and the space is definitely small, but it is more than compensated for by the food and wine selection, which did not disappoint.

Wine & Cheese

Grilled Cauliflower

Homemade Cheesecake

When I return, I will be sure to order their version of a 7-layer dip (each layer is made up of a different vegetable and it is served with homemade chips) as well as the chicken wings if they are still on the menu!

I love this little wine bar! Definitely worth a visit.


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.