Destroyed by fire a year ago, this perennial local favourite resurrected from the ashes and reincarnated inside a new gorgeous and impressive, cavernous, bright and minimalistic-chic space, within walking distance from Montreal’s “ Place des Arts “.
A constant feature on the ‘100 Best Restaurant in Canada’ list, the food at this widely acclaimed, yet non-Michelin star establishment, is clearly star worthy! Offering modern eclectic cuisine with a French, Pan-Asian influence, our tasting menu was one of the most well-thought-out and well progressed meals we have encountered this year. Intensity and depth of the taste profile increases with each and every dish. A few bursting with surprisingly delicious, mind boggling taste sensation using only simple and ordinary ingredients like tomato, carrots and cucumbers! Although multiple taste and textural components were incorporated in most dishes, non-clashing and harmonious balance were achieved in all cases. A truly amazing feat by a talented kitchen led by a creative chef!
Our first meal on this abbreviated, ‘staycation’ culinary odyssey definitely started off on the right foot.
The flexible and diverse menu offered both ALC as well as a couple of multi-courses tasting menu options. Compared to similar outfits in Toronto, one definitely gets a bigger bang for the buck at this La Belle Province institution.
Our party of six famished foodies all settled for the 8 course tasting menu. The dishes are:
TUNA - tomato - peach - lavage
CARROT - apricot - dukkah - marjoram
DUCK( Tartar ) - horseradish - strawberries -foie gras
CHAWANMUSHI - lobster - guanciele - daikon
RAVIOLI - green peas - anchovies - pistachios - garlic scapes
QUAIL - endives - foie gras - hazelnuts
CUCUMBER - yogurt - lime - mint
CHOCOLATE - caramel - coffee - sesame
Stand out dishes include the Tuna, Carrot and Cucumber creations. All refreshing, complex, multi-layered and bursting with flavour. However, without question, the hands-down star of the meal has to be that amazing Chawanmushi. Simply out-of-this-world delish! The ultra-condensed, lobster and seafood flavour packed velvety cream was a taste of umami heaven in every spoon. Sooo good! Definitely a candidate for the ‘ best tasting dish ‘ of the year!
Lastly, if one has to be super-critical and picky, trying to squeeze out something negative from the meal, then, I have to say, maybe the superfluous hazelnut bits accompanying the quail. But then it’s almost like trying to pick a bone fragment from an egg dish……a preposterous scenario!
