Olives en Folies

Folle for Olive Oil!

386 av. Victoria, Westmount, QC, Canada H3Z 2N4

When I heard about the opening of Olives en Folie, a store dedicated solely to olive oils and vinegars located in the heart of Westmount, I knew I needed to stop by immediately. A trip to Greece last summer exposed me to some of the most robust and flavourful olive oils I have ever tasted. Restaurants served tomatoes from their backyards and homemade cheeses drizzled with the most perfect olive oil and no matter how simple it seems, it just cannot be matched.

I was so excited to visit the store and to see and taste firsthand their selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars. First of all, the store itself is beautiful! But the real focus here is the product. The olive oils and balsamics are stored in large tins that seal their contents from any light or air. After one year, whatever is left in the tin is discarded in order to ensure ultimate freshness.

The tasting process went as follows: a small amount of olive oil was poured into a blue tinted glass (so that tasters are not influenced by the colour of the oil), cover the glass with your hand, swirl it around, uncover, and smell. After smelling the olive oil, take a little sip from the glass and take note of the flavours and sensations you experience. The lovely and knowledgeable store manager Joe, explained that olive oil tasting is a unique and subjective process designed to give tasters the ability to identify the peculiarities of each olive oil based on personal tastes and preferences.

 

There are over 60 types of olive oils and vinegars throughout the store. From Greek olive oils, to flavoured olive oils, these oils could be used to cook, in salad dressings, and even in your baked goods. They are really versatile. Some of my favourites were the white truffle, basil, and vanilla. Some of these are flavoured with natural flavouring, while others are infused. The balsamics were also a treat. Two of my personal favourites were the white maple balsamic and the 25-year aged Modena balsamic.

 

I urge you to pay the store a visit, and have a nice chat with the store's staff- they really know their olive oils! they will give you all kinds of great recommendations on recipes and how to use each oil and vinegar. The best part is that they fill up the bottle right there in front of you and offer different sizes. Weave through the store tasting as much as you'd like and leave with some of your favourites!

P.S. Near the cash they sell some awesome local products. I bought preserves by a Montreal company called The Preservation Society, and fell in love.

From left to right: Greek Olive Oil, Modena Balsamic, Basil Olive Oil, White Maple Balsamic

Mind, Taste, Love.

Lavanderia

A Taste of Summer

374 Victoria, Westmount, Quebec, H3Z 2N4

 

Lavanderia was opened by THE chef Antonio Park just a few months ago-  a chef who has managed to create a name for himself in a city saturated with restaurants. Why all the hype? Because he knows how to bring a unique flare and story to the food served at his restaurants and you could literally taste his passion for what he does. Park, which has been visited by the likes of Katy Perry and Neil Patrick Harris, and where you could find P.K. Subban on just about any given day is located right next door- close enough so that Antonio Park could make his way between the restaurants within seconds!

The restaurant took a different route than most in terms of décor-  brightly lit and almost tropical feeling, rather than the usual dim and romantic. I loved it. The bar (where we sat) was set under a large tree, and menu items and art were hanging on the walls by clothes pins- a nice touch going along with the theme of the restaurant (Lavanderia translates to Laundromat from Spanish- Park grew up living in his family's Lavanderia in Argentina where they would prepare Argentinian specialties with ingredients from their yard). The walls are white, but the space still manages to feel warm. We ordered a Pineapple cocktail and a grapefruit and chili cocktail...at this point I was convinced it was summer in Montreal. Our seats at the bar gave us a direct view into the kitchen where we watched chefs grilling seafood and meat. A sweet escape from winter.

What We Ordered

A delicious and comforting muscle soup in a coconut broth with carrots, corn, and other vegetables. A great start to the meal!

The soup was followed by a tasty appetizer of Queso Fundido Chorizo- melted cheeses and chorizo served with flat corn bread.

Next up- a grilled calamari with capers, tangy peppers (I don't remember what they were called, but they were absolutely delicious), and sun dried tomatoes.

Finally, the fish of the day- a long and thin sardine-like fish, grilled whole and served with lemon. The fish was grilled to perfection. (Other options for the grill included lamb, chorizo, and several cuts of steak)

For dessert, a lemon curd cheesecake served with passion fruit sorbet and a chocolate coulis. Not too sweet, and a refreshing end to the gorgeous meal.

If you're looking for an escape from winter, or just for some damn good food- I highly recommend Lavanderia. Reserve, reserve, reserve!




Mind, Taste, Love.

Brasserie Central (Thursday Nights)

Oysters and Bubbly

4858 Sherbrooke St W Westmount, QC H3Z1H1

Having been to Brasserie Central before, I knew to set my standards high for their latest addition: Oyster Thursdays. The restaurant has a different feel at night than during the daytime. During the day the light shines in creating a bright and cheerful feel, while at night the space transforms into a quaint and cosy bistro. 

With oysters being ever so popular as of late, it was only fitting for Central to create a night centred around these simple pleasures. If you head to Central on a Thursday night, what can you expect to find? From 5 pm until closing you could order 12 oysters ($24), or half a dozen ($12), a suggested wine paring ($7), or a glass of bubbly ($8). I also highly recommend their Serrano platter served with honey truffle oil and parmesan cheese- so delicious. As for the oysters, they were served beautifully on a bed of ice with a classic mignonette as well as an exotic pineapple and champagne salsa.

Serrano Ham, Parmesan, and Honey Truffle Oil

We had a bit of an appetite and decided to order some other appetizers to go with our charcuterie, oysters, caesar, and wine. We decided upon a crab cake topped with an arugula, fennel, and orange salad, and a wasabi mayo and the octopus "a la plancha" with cherry tomatoes, potatoes, lima beans, capers, and chimichurri. Both hit the spot.

Crab Cake

Octopus "A la Plancha"

Finally, every meal must come to a decadent end, and this one exceeded expectations. We ordered the sticky toffee pudding. To describe this dessert as heavenly would even be an understatement. Just trust me and try it for yourself.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Next time you are looking for a 5 à 7 spot, dinner spot, or just a place to warm up with some bubbly in hand, definitely head to Brasserie Central.

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.

Restaurant Review: Pho Sho

Pho Sho

Pho-nomenal.

5175 Sherbrooke St W Montreal QC H4A1T4

UPDATE: Pho Sho has closed.

I usually head to the same two pho spots on Cote-des-Neiges- and for good reason. I crave their authentic pho creations that keep me coming back time and time again. But there's one thing they can't give me-  atmosphere. I wouldn't typically go to them on a date, or to catch up with friends- they are literally there just to curb my pho cravings.

SO I was really excited when a good friend of mine suggested a new pho spot on Sherbrooke in Westmount/NDG for our next girls night. I was shocked when she described it as "cute" and obviously had to try it out immediately.

Just 3 weeks old, Pho Sho may sound a little tacky, but it really is (as my friend put it best), cute! With high wooden tables and walls lined with chalkboards, this is definitely somewhere you could go with friends to catch up. It's by no means fancy, but it has what many other pho places in the city are lacking- some style and atmosphere. I'm not saying this is the place to be on a Saturday night, but it's designed to make you feel as if you could linger a little, instead of the typical "eat-and-run" places I'm used to.

I can't promise that this is the most authentic pho you will have (I'm not an expert), but I have made pho at a cooking class in Vietnam, and this was definitely right up there. My friends and I also shared the coconut chicken satay- delicious, and we each got a Vietnamese coffee on the house! I'm not sure how long this promotion is going to last, but I'd highly suggest ordering one anyways. 

Coconut Chicken Satay

Beef Pho

Chicken Pho

Vietnamese Coffee (drip-brew with a layer of condensed milk on the bottom)

Vietnames Coffee (poured over ice)

Next time you want to grab a quick bite and catch up with friends, you should "Pho Sho" check this place out (sorry, but I had to...)

Reservations: No need for reservations.
Date night: In my books, yes!
Attire: Pho-ncy (one too many pho puns? whoops.)

The damage: $
Bonus: Outdoor seating

Mind, Taste, Love.