Is your 2017 resolution about eating healthy and adopting a greener life? That is basically my life philosophy (but I have to be honest that I get off track sometimes… I’m guilty of over indulgence). But indulgence can be green and healthy too!
Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert is the perfect place to be. It will be a great motivator to keep that resolution strong or simply collect more knowledge on healthy eating habits. There will be over 280 exhibitors on healthy foods, ecology and global health. I’m all about discovering new food items and preserving our planet. And to keep the expo exciting and interesting, there will be 3 stages for presentations about trending topics.
I’m especially excited on the competition for the best artisan baker using certified organic products! There will be baking actions all performed live! The contestants are great renowned bakers in Montreal. I can’t wait to see who is the master of boulangerie!
Like many consumers, I sometimes wonder if organic foods are better. Do they make a difference? Organic food usually is more expensive. Is it worth it? There is a presentation on Saturday that will perhaps demystify the confusion about this trend.
There are many more fascinating and educative presentations. More details on the program visit: expomangersante.com
I am attending and can’t wait to treat myself with colorful and nutritious food!
Cafe Melbourne serves brunch as if you are in Australia! But be careful, they don’t serve brunch every weekend and only serve a limited quantity! Be there early or you would end up disappointed. Not to mention, there is a line up even on super cold days! Check their instagram to stay informed with their brunch availability.
What to expect in Cafe Melbourne? Colorful dishes with names inspired from Australian celebrities. It is simple, but it adds more fun factor in the whole experience.
The best way I could describe the menu is adjustive to attribute to people. Some dishes are like your girl next door, plain, simple but still great. Some were diva, over the top presentation. Some were quirky, with unique attributes. I’ll let you be the judge to determine which dish fits which description!
Cafe Melbourne is the ideal place for a sweet date brunch, or just a quiet brunch with your friends or even a weekend meet up with your parents. I do not suggest this place for family gathering nor any big group meet up. The restaurant is small. It is more like a cafe turned into a temporary restaurant with a rudimentary kitchen.
I loved my experience at Cafe Melbourne. The menu was fun, retaining most brunch characteristics but with some twist in the ingredients.
The beautiful spread of the food
Matcha latte
Paul Hogan
Aubergine puree topped with soft boiled eggs, herbed labneh, za’atar, chili oil, sumac with toasted pullman bread
Nicole Kidman
Smoked salmon on poppy seed bagel with wasabi cream cheese, yuzu tahini, watercress, edamame and soft-boiled egg
Elle Macpherson
Smashed avocado on toasted sourdough bread, grilled halloumi, macadamia dukkah, roasted tomatoes, topped with soft-boiled egg
It’s Britney B*tch
Red velvet hotcake topped with maple mascarpone, Lucky Charms and chocolate dipped bacon, cheese Doritos, texture of berries and fairy floss
Michael Hutchence
Brioche bun loaded with sriracha mac and cheese, avocado, bacon, fried egg, melted swiss cheese, tomato jam and miso mayonnaise.
Kinoya Izakaya stands out with its concave and convex walls. It is the closest thing to eat in a cave with rock climbing walls, except we just need to install hand holds.
Other than the intricate structure of the walls, Kinoya is fairly similar to other Izakayas in Montreal. Maybe their greeting is significantly less obnoxious and almost non-existent. If that is one of the experience you love about Izakaya, this one will disappoint.
The menu is divided by sections of raw, fried, noodle/rice. The dishes are nothing new. Like any tapa style restaurant, price per dish is in the pricier side and the quantity of food for some dishes is in the lower end. Most dishes were good, but not delicious.
When it comes to ramen, Kinoya can’t compete with what’s available in Montreal. The ramen noodle was on the harder side, missing a hint of elasticity. The chosen broth was pork bone, but it tasted more like chicken. The broth made me incredibly thirsty for the rest of the night even billions of cups of water did not help. The BBQ pork was good, tender – although not the melting kind. The ramen is fine, but I would not go to Kinoya simply for their ramen.
Kinoya is a great place for groups sharing conversation and food. If it purely for food, I would go somewhere else.
Zuuchini
One of my favorite destination for brunch is Regine Cafe. I know this is only my second time coming here, but my first experience was quite memorable.
Nothing has changed. There is still a waiting line at 1pm during winter times. But I was prepared and dressed warmly! A nice cinnamon bun was served for our poor soul waiting in the cold! We waited for about 40 minutes and we had a table. We finished eating around 2:30pm, and there was still a waiting line. Quite unbelievable!
The menu remains mostly unchanged. There is a plate suitable for each person. The service stays impeccable as well. The staff was so attentive and always around to meet any needs. A nice little green shooter was treated too at the beginning of the meal! Price and quality of Regine Cafe still is one of the best in Montreal. Here are the food we had!
Un peut de tout – which consists of a variety of pastries served on a three tiered platter. This is enough to filled 2 people, or to be shared with 3 people (which is what we did), and then order 2 additional meals.
Chic croissant – if you feel like having a croissant with meat
Champi – if you love buttery mushrooms served on a nice rustic bread. I forgot to opt for the scotch egg. It is a must!
For 2016 Montreal a Table, we dined at Au petit extra, a French restaurant with more than 30 years of history. It is rare to come across a restaurant with so many years of operations still holding Montreal’s competitive environment. Au petit extra must be serving something special to keep customers coming.
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