Free cheese? Yes, ma'am. And it happens every year as part of the Montreal en Lumière Highlights Festival. It's called the Fête des Fromages d'Ici (or the Festival of Our Cheeses, for anglos), and I'll be talking about it on GlobalTV's morning show at 7:20am this Tuesday. So … [Read more...] about Award-Winning Free Cheese at Complexe Desjardins this Thursday to Saturday for Montreal en Lumière
Everything Else
Highlights of the Montreal Highlights Festival, Feb. 23-March 11, 2017
You might not think the middle of the winter is one of the best seasons to eat out in Montreal, but the annual Highlights Festival is doing its best to convince you by inviting chefs from around the world to partner with local restaurants for two weeks of fine dining. The … [Read more...] about Highlights of the Montreal Highlights Festival, Feb. 23-March 11, 2017
Fermented Probiotics and the Best Brand for Gut Health
Probioitics are about survival of the fittest. You can down as many pills with billions of bacteria or as many strains as you want, but if those weaklings all die in your gut, you've just wasted a ton of money. The best probiotics at my local health food stores sell for $30-$60 … [Read more...] about Fermented Probiotics and the Best Brand for Gut Health
$150 White Truffles That Make a $50 Steak Seem Like a Bargain
Let me preface this post by saying that I believe in spending a little more money on higher quality food. When the average American family and individual only spends 9.7% of their annual disposal income on food (down from 20% in the 50's), I get scared. That's an average. That … [Read more...] about $150 White Truffles That Make a $50 Steak Seem Like a Bargain
The Best of MTL à Table 2016
With MTL à Table in full swing, it's restaurant time again in Montreal! That means special prix fixe $21, $31 and $41 dinners (and late-night specials and $15 brunches) with a couple of choices each for appetizers, mains and desserts (or in the occasional case of tapas, … [Read more...] about The Best of MTL à Table 2016
Montreal Vegan Fest 2016 and a Recipe for Vegan Lasagna
Marché Bonsecours is hopping. This weekend it's hosting RASPIPAV, the private import wine salon (you can check out my recent appearance on Breakfast Television Montreal talking about this), and next weekend it's the Montreal Vegan Fest. It'll be my second time attending the … [Read more...] about Montreal Vegan Fest 2016 and a Recipe for Vegan Lasagna
Mission Possible 2016: An Annual Food Fundraiser for the Mile-End Community Mission
This isn't the first year that Marc Cohen, chef of Lawrence, has spearheaded Mission Possible, a fundraiser for the Mile End Community Mission. But it was the first time I went. The goal isn't to sing the praises of the amazing restaurants, cafés and wine agencies that donate … [Read more...] about Mission Possible 2016: An Annual Food Fundraiser for the Mile-End Community Mission
Chasing Matthew: Montreal to Aruba and back again
Most people go to tropical islands for vacation. I go for work, which admittedly makes me one of the luckiest people in the world. It's not all glamour, though; I often end up spending a lot of time in my room on my computer while real vacationers take advantage of the water and … [Read more...] about Chasing Matthew: Montreal to Aruba and back again
Don’t Have a Market, Have a Baby: Marche St-Jacques
Wait! That's not the series name! Haven't I spent the summer and fall extolling the value of markets over babies? Well, the world got a little turned upside down when I walked into the muzak-playing, sterilized air-pumping, Marche St-Jacques, and suddenly babies, by comparison, … [Read more...] about Don’t Have a Market, Have a Baby: Marche St-Jacques
Mail Order Gourmet: Yuzu Juice, Artichokes and Freeze-Dried Lychees
Have you ever heard of Qualifirst? I hadn't. But turns out the company's been around since the '80s, and before that it was a family-run import company called Far-Met, which brought some of the first foie gras, Burgundy snails, Portuguese sardines and Belgian legumes – basically … [Read more...] about Mail Order Gourmet: Yuzu Juice, Artichokes and Freeze-Dried Lychees