Quebec – Rays Picks NYC

Restaurant Initiale

Restaurant Initiale
54 Rue Saint-Pierre
Quebec, QC G1K 3Z9
Canada
+1 418-694-1818
Official Site

In the French speaking Canadian province of Quebec, Montreal, their excellent restaurants from fine dining to casual bistro and talented chefs tend to get all the gastro praises. The province’s capital of Quebec City on the other hand, with its European charm, feels like a little brother that doesn’t get enough credit. The city has an outstanding gastronomic scene that is anchored by Restaurant Initiale. Guide books and food blogs recommend and also recognize this as the best restaurant in Quebec City. A member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux, one of only two restaurants here to be awarded the CAA/AAA five diamond and is considered amongst the top dining venues in all of Canada.

In charge of the kitchen is French born chef, Yvan Lebraun from Cancale, Brittany who moved to Quebec in 1986 while the dining room is handled by Rolande Leclerc. The co-owners worked together at Hilton Quebec prior to Restaurant Initiale. They first opened the restaurant in 1990 before relocating to its current location in 1998 below the old city and away from all the hordes of tourists. The building that the restaurant is housed in was once bank; it was then transformed with neutral tones designed with a contemporary elegant interior. Its dining room has large windows, brown carpet that covers the whole space, and tables with neatly pressed coverings are positioned with enough space from each other along with sizable cream leather seats. The dimmed lights with very soft music provide an intimate setting. A relaxing lounge upon entering is where pre and post drinks are held and is often used as additional seating on busy nights.

There are different set menu options for both lunch and dinner to go along with a la carte, but to get the full experience of Chef Lebrun the tasting menu was my choice. For aperitif, I was offered the “Initiale”, an in house concoction named after the restaurant made from bubbly wine with a slice of orange peel resembling a kir royal.

Degustation:

A light and refreshing amuse-bouche of chilled beet root, cantaloupe, and radish started the tasting. This was then followed by another amuse of mushrooms with quail eggs, salmon roe on top of potato almond cream which had a sensational earthiness. For the first course I was served scallops lamelles, oxalis and horse radish with marinated lobster, verjus and cameline, pousses de mme Allison. It had an enthralling floral essence and distinct notes that suited the sliced raw scallop. An added item on the plate was the chopped marinated lobster filling on half circled crispy rolls creating a superb first dish. Next was the dice of halibut and caviar de British Columbia with leeks and potato, dried yolk powder, and lemon confit. The delicate clean tasting piece of halibut was topped with caviar providing a touch of saltiness while the creamy sauce gave it some richness.

For the third course, I was served Royale d’ail nouveau and breast of pigeon-petits pois, concentrated juice buckwheat and galette. Flavorful tender pigeon breast meat with a vivid pink middle was intensified with the boldness of the buckwheat juice. While the heavy cream custard prevented the juice from overpowering the rest. An accompaniment on the side of the plate was a pastry rolled up with chopped pigeon meat stuffing, showing the versatility of the meat and the creativity of the chef.

Continuing on, a seared foie gras-cauliflower purée, blueberries, chanterelles and duck juice. The foie gras was seared perfectly giving the outer layer a beautiful seared texture while keeping the inside buttery. Complimenting this was creamy cauliflower puree and a strong duck juice sauce. The dish also had nice undertones of sour and sweet. Then came the veal loin -fried medaillon, roasted tomatoes and green olives condiments and almonds. An excellent course where the veal was impeccably prepared and succulent. As complex as this dish may seem with all of these elements on one plate the chef was able to make it work in harmony.

A cheese course of Tomme sheep de Kamouraska-vegetal tartare-fruits & vegetables, oil of anis-hysope and pourpier that is made locally from the region had a defined nuttiness. The toast with spread and tartare of fruits and vegetables supplemented the cheese and can be eaten together or individually.

Dessert courses began with the eggnog buttermilk and lemon thyme-Langue de chat and fleur de sel. The light eggnog with a pastry stick coated in chocolate and a sugary cookie at the bottom of the bowl was a beautiful combination of sweet and savory while also slowly acclimating the palate for a sweeter course. Gourmandise-entremet lemon and pistachios biscuit, raspberries and rose sorbet. It was more refreshing than sweet. A chilled sensation from the rose sorbet while also maintaining a citric fruitiness from the rest. Then finally the Mignardise, sweet pastry with blueberry adding saccharine richness ended the meal

At CAN 139 (at the time of my visit but has gone up to CAN 149) this was the most expensive tasting menu in Quebec, but with a strong US exchange rate this is a bargain and well worth it as I was treated with a fine multi-course meal by Chef Lebraun while showcasing the bounty of the region and its artisans. Most, if not all, of the ingredients were sourced locally and within Canada. He uses high quality ingredients prepared with meticulous and intricate combinations to create a contemporary French-Canadian cuisine. Each plate had multiple features that managed to complement one another to produce well balance flavors. There was a CAN 119 wine pairing arranged by Isabelle, the sommelier, that I opted out of and instead I gave her my price range that she was able to work with. It was a wonderful pairing that was spot on and interesting, especially when she paired one of the desserts with a sparkling rose that cut down the sweetness and gave it an additional taste.

Wine Pairing:

On the weekend evening of my visit the dining room was full of locals and tourists. Rolande assured that each guest was serviced to the utmost and that they were given a top notch dining experience. The staff was proficient, pleasant, and engaging. She visited every table often and even assisted in serving the food. Her hospitality from the time I spoke to her over the phone for my reservation and until my visit was unparalleled.

Restaurant Initiale is an outstanding restaurant, the cuisine identifies with Chef Lebrauns and the sublime hospitality by Rolande provided an unparalleled dining experience. It is the apex restaurant of Quebec City’s dining. And, just like every city in the world that has at least one or two restaurants that represent their city, Quebecers can proudly call Restaurant Initiale as their own.

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Bar et Boeuf

Bar et Boeuf
500, Rue McGill
Montreal, QC H2Y 2H6
(514) 866-3555
Official Site

*This venue is now closed.

Saturday night in Downtown Montreal Canada is an ideal spot for the typical male. It would seem that there are as many strip clubs as there are churches and restaurants in this beautiful city. Especially on St Catherine St. where there is a plethora of full contact strip joints. At least downtown where I was staying and I don’t mean that in a bad way.

On this particular evening I was in the mood for a fun restaurant with good food. After countless web browsing I came upon Bar et Beouf, a modern French restaurant in “Old Montreal”.

The atmosphere was what I expected when I arrived at around 9 pm. The place was dark, the music pumping but not overly loud giving it the feel of a club. Beautiful people packed the three-sided black glossy bar in the middle of this bi-level restaurant. The restaurants’ chic interior boasts high ceiling to floor glass windows and a portion of the white-washed walls are decorated with tribal art. There were uncovered tables with white leather Parson Chairs in the front while the booth section, located toward the back, had hard wood flooring throughout the space.

As I waited at the bar for my table I ordered a drink called Go Green! Made with Hypnotic vodka, jus d’ananas, and lime, this was the best concoction I’ve had in Montreal. It was fruity but not too sweet and had the perfect balance of liquor that went down smoothly with every sip.

I started my dinner with the Princess scallops and lobster for an appetizer. The scallops were chopped in cubes and served in the shell with lemon juice and parsley. They complimented each other very well. This dish had a civeche like style and texture. The lobster on the other hand was almost close to perfection. The lobster meat was cooked just right, while the daikon where the meat was placed on top provided a watery crunchy texture. The chive butter added a nice buttery taste to the dish.

I ordered two entrées that looked enticing in the menu, a cod dish and a hen. The cod was made with squash and chicken liver mousse. The fish was fried perfectly, crispy yet moist. The chicken liver mousse gave the dish another dimension in flavor. The hen on the other hand, cooked with a roasted cauliflower, was also very good but not as exciting as the cod dish. I did enjoy the burnt taste of the roasted cauliflower.

For dessert, apricot with sorbet was presented beautiful on a stone plate. It had a cool refreshing and fruity taste. This dessert was a great way to cap off a wonderful dinner.

Bar et Beouf’s seasonal menu provided an amazing dinner experience. They used fresh ingredients that could be tasted with each dish. The chefs creativity and artistry reminded me of Gastroarte restaurant here in New York. Every plate was striking and colorful.

It was a fun dinner and as the night went on, Bar et Beouf morphed into a Meatpacking style restaurant. The music got a little louder and the place became a bit dimmer, at least it seemed like it did, especially after a few more of those “Go Green’s”.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a treatment set to treat few ailments. What do you have to consider about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you should ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In complement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile dysfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other folk even if their state appears to be the same as yours.

Aix Cuisine du Terroir

AIX Cuisine du Terroir
711 cote de la Place d’Armes
Montréal, QC H2Y 1L2
(514) 904-1201
Official Site

*This venue is now closed.

Just like New York, Montreal is a city with an abundance of eateries that range from different prices as well as types of cuisine. And like New York there are restaurants at every corner. On my last day there I wanted to try a fine dining restaurant and Montreal had no shortage of such establishments. I also wanted to try Au Pied de Cochon (after seeing the restaurant on No Reservations) or any of the Chuck Hughes restaurants. Instead, I decided to dine at AIX Cuisine du Terrior.

I found this restaurant while walking on my way to the Basillica Of Notre Dame in Old Montreal. The food looked good from the menu that was posted outside the restaurant. I took a peek at the place and it seemed like such a nice setting that I saved the name on my phone.

When I arrived at the restaurant it was half empty, but then again it was a Sunday evening. The hostess greeted me with a welcoming attitude. I felt assured that I’d chosen the right place.

Located in the luxurious Le Place D’ Armes Hotel, Aix Cuisine du Terrior has an elegant setting. The dining room is dominated with tables covered in white cloth along with marble patterned upholstered chairs, and semi-circled banquet seats. Weathered wood flooring and a glossy black top bar opposite of the exposed brick wall in the middle of the space added a modern interior with a splash of classic. The low ceilings with wooden beams and circled light fixtures provided a serene ambiance. The volume of the music was perfect, giving the restaurant a sophisticated dining atmosphere.

The restaurant offers a seasonal menu that fuses Quebec and French cooking while focusing on using local ingredients the province has to offer. I began with an amuse-bouche, sautéed chopped duck meat served in a spoon used for wonton soup. This was a nice way to start the meal. For starter, I had the Albacore tuna tartar and deep-fried green tomatoes. Simple but tasty and the fried tomato was a nice compliment to the tuna. The grilled half lobster was perfect. The meat was so flavorful that melted butter was not required. Crispy veal sweetbreads with king oyster mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and mustard sauce was my least favorite dish of the whole meal. The veal was too fatty and I had to scrape it off to get to the little meat that it had. Once you got to the meat it was sublime. The meat was soft and just melted in my mouth.

For the entrée I had the Roasted Cornish Hen breast, braised thighs, foie gras, parsley root, and black garlic jus. The sauce had a nice flavor that went well with the poultry. The hen was cooked just right. My other entree I’d chosen was the duck magret from Québec, made with Fava beans, gizzards, ground cherries, and simple jus. I loved the texture of the duck, moist and easy to chew, while the gizzard added another dimension to the flavor of the dish. I ended the dinner with homemade sorbets and ice cream trilogy for dessert, the waiter’s recommendation. The choices that night were chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. That dessert was good. The meal was complimented with a nice bottle of a Red Bordeaux that went well with the entrée that I ordered.

The service was a lot better than some of the places that I visited during this trip. The hostess was welcoming, the server was engaging and provided hospitality that will make people like me return most likely.

I enjoyed my dinner at AIX Cuisine du Terrior, the food was very good and the ingredients were executed well. The service was hospitable and the setting was lovely. The prices were comparable with New York City. So when I left the restaurant I gave myself a pat on the back for choosing this place to have my last meal in Montreal.

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a medication prescribed to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you must ask your dispenser about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In supplement, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile malfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other folk even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Montreal, Canada Trip 2012

Being from New York City where different types of cuisine is available, it’s hard to satisfy a New York City diner. Yet, I’m always willing to try food from different parts of the globe. After my trip to Barcelona, Spain last April I wanted to go to Europe again before the summer was over, but decided to postpone till next year. A friend of mine recommended Montreal, Canada and since it is so close to New York City it was an ideal place to spend the weekend. So I did.

Montreal has a European feel, where the French accent is evident throughout the city. Though their cuisine dominates the gastronomic scene, it does make me wonder why the Michelin Guide was not published here. Who knows?

The weekend that I spent in Montreal I had some memorable dishes as well as some forgettable ones. There were some places that I would go back to and recommend, like AIX Du Cuisine Terrior. I enjoyed my fine dining experience here and also the great drinks and delicious food at the trendy Bar and Boeuf Bistro Gourmand.

I had my first ever escargot at Alexandere et Fils . The snails were cooked in garlic butter sauce and served without the shell. The snail has a calamari texture, rubbery but easy to break down. Combine that with the garlic butter it was very good. It took for me to go to Canada to try this dish when it is available here in NYC.

There was so much said about how good Montreal’s bagels were, better than New York City bagels! Being a New Yorker, our bagel is the best bagel in the world! A friend (who was born and raised in Montreal) recommended Fairmont bagel, but due to time constraints I never had a chance to go. Although it does seem like all the bagels are similar in taste and texture in this city. I had a bagel at Coin Delices Du Monde in Old Montreal. The bagels here were smaller and softer than in New York. It was good and tasty and I can’t really compare the two since I like them both. I’m just used to the good old NYC bagel. Their croissants were freshly baked straight out of the oven and every bite was tremendously amazing.

The rooftop lounge, Terrasse Nelligan at Hotel Nelligan, is a nice way to have a night cap or end the day after a long walk around Old Montreal. I enjoyed the view of the St. Lawrence River as well as the Basillica of Notre Dame while I consumed a bottle of MTL, a locally brewed beer. This light beer was perfect for a nice summer afternoon relaxation drink.

The “Chicken Lasagna” at Café Via Crescent in Downtown Montreal was another first. It caught my eyes while looking at their menu. The dish was creative, made with chicken, spinach and cheese layered with lasagna without tomato sauce but rather with chicken stock. It was tasty and had a similar texture and taste to chicken noodle soup but better. They also served Olive oil with Jalapenos with their bread. That’s another first and it has a lot of kick to it, perfect for lovers of spicy food.

You can’t visit Montreal and not have their national food, “The Poutine”. I asked the staff at the hotel where I was staying, “Where can I find the best poutine in the city?”. I was surprised by his answer, that I can have it anywhere throughout the city. When he says anywhere, he means it. Even Dairy Queen had it on their menu. So I stopped by La Belle Province on Peel St. in downtown, the first place I saw that serves the dish. Poutine consists of French fries, gravy and cheese curds, it’s basically a heart attack on a plate! The saltiness of the gravy, combined with the grease from the fries and richness of the cheese makes poutine and ideal drunk food. Even better than pizza.

The dining atmosphere in Montreal is also different from the US. The service and hospitality that I experienced was subpar and consistent to all the establishments that I visited. It was lacking the warmth that I was accustomed to in New York City restaurants. The 15% percent gratuity is somewhat required at the end of every meal and the servers will let you know that service was not included on the bill.

Montreal possessed some very good restaurants and exceptional dishes that tourists can enjoy while visiting this beautiful city. It’s a certified foodie town.

Alexandre et Fils, 1454 Peel Street Montreal, QC H3A 1T5, Canada (514) 288-5105

Coin Delices Du Monde, 109-111 de la Commune West, Montreal, QC H2X 2C7 Canada (514) 995 1312

Terrasse Nelligan (Hotel Nelligan), 106 Rue Saint Paul Ouest Montreal, QC H2Y 1Z3, Canada (514) 788-2040

Cafe Via Crescent, 1418 Crescent Street Montreal, QC H3G 2B6, Canada (514) 843-3896

La Belle Province, 1216 rue Peel, Montréal, QC H3B 2T6 Canada Phone: 514-878-8020

For individuals who are ordering medicines online, there are several significant factors that must be considered. Internet is an ideal practice to get medicaments. Several medicaments are antifungal medicines. There are at least some medicaments for each sicknesses. Levitra is a medication preassigned to treat few ailments. What do you have to view about cialis vs viagra? When you buy remedies like Levitra you should ask your pharmacist about viagra vs cialis. Many drugstores describe it as viagra or cialis. Many probably sure the forcefulness of Levitra is well documented. In addition, there are some of explanations and pharmacists are ordinarily able to pinpoint your problem through biological tests. Ordinarily the treatment options may turn on erectile malfunction medicaments or counseling. Your generic is for you only. Never give your drugs to other men even if their status appears to be the same as yours.