Montreal - Where to Play

There was tons to do in Montreal! There were a couple of things we made sure to see/do, but we also wanted to make sure we had some time to casually walk around the city. Somehow we managed to do everything we sought out, plus some!

Biodome, Insectarium & Botanical Gardens:

Our first stop as soon as we got into Montreal was the Biodome. Originally constructed for the olympics in '76, the Biodome allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. Basically, it was a zoo that centered around environment and threw in some animals here and there. It was actually really cool! We walked through the the tropical forest, the laurentian (American) forest, the gulf of Saint Lawrence, and the arctic. The tropical forest and the gulf were definitely my favorites. The arctic was a bit disappointing.

We had purchased a 3-stop pass that included the Biodome, the Insectarium and the Botanical Gardens. I didn't take any photos in the Insectarium but it was very very cool. I had a few squeamish moments (there are lots of giant, live insects) but was overall happy we took the risk to go.

The botanical gardens were just gorgeous. It was very peaceful to just walk around the area and I especially enjoyed the lily garden. There was also a Japanese garden and large area that I loved  -- it was very photogenic!

Just for Laughs Festival:

Last that night, after dinner we decided to just walk around the city and see what we stumbled upon. I heard that there are TONS of festivals in Montreal and was sad to see that we had just missed the big jazz fest. I can't believe I didn't come across this in my research but we walked straight into the Just For Laughs Festival!

The festival is the largest in the world and was celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! The area looked amazing -- the streets were lined with lights and decorations. There were stages everywhere playing so many different types of music. I think there were a few comedic performances but unfortunately everything was in French so we couldn't understand :( It was such a cool environment though, so much different than anything I'd expect in Boston/NY/the Northeast. The crowd was so relaxed, you could drink on the streets but no one was very drunk, and everyone was jsut so nice and welcoming. I love Montreal!

Old Montreal:

On Sunday before we left we decided to take a walk over to Old Montreal. The are is the oldest part of Montreal, dating back to New France. With some of its buildings dating back to the 17th Century it's a huge tourist attraction. We started at the gorgeous Notre Dame de Bons Secours Chapel. It was just beautiful, inside and out.

Then we took a walk around the square. The French architecture and cobblestone streets keep the city looking just like it did centuries ago -- I absolutely loved it and unfortunately, the few photos I took don't do it justice. Shops, restaurants and art lined the narrow streets and there were tons of performers making music or painting.

Part of our route took us to Old Port where we walked along the water for a bit.

I really wish we had more time in Montreal. The city is so beautiful, unique and full of culture. The people we encountered were beyond friendly and welcoming -- we even had one guy thank us for visiting! You definitely don't find that in Boston. I really hope we go back soon!

Related Posts:
Montreal - Where to Stay
Montreal - Where to Eat

Montreal - Where to Eat

Eating is a big part of traveling for Tom and I. Before we left I did some research on the best places to eat in the city and we made sure to hit up a few of those spots. We were only there for 1.5 days so we couldn't eat TOO much, but I think we did a decent amount of damage.

Toque!

Our biggest food-related outing of the trip was dinner at Toque! This New York Times travel review drew me in:

"The standard-bearer for good restaurants in Montreal is this haute cuisine haven which moved in 2004 into a sleek new space outfitted with upholstered walls and hanging wine bottles. Popular dishes like the foie gras appetizer and lamb entree remain consistently superb."

and Frommer's review:

"Toque! is the gem that single-handedly raised the entire city's gastronomic expectations. A meal here has long been obligatory for anyone who admires superb, dazzlingly presented food."

Haute cuisine haven? Superb, dazzingly presented food? Seriously, how could we resist?

We were able to get a quick reservation for 6:30. The decor of the restaurant was actually a little bit odd, but I tend not to worry about the ambiance as long as the food is impressive. The waitstaff was dressed strangely, and the restaurant seemed to be split between two time periods -- with old school velvet walls and carpet, and the modern sleek bar and hanging wine bottles.

After perusing the menu for a few minutes we decided to go with the mysterious 7-course tasting. The menu gave no hint at to what ingredients would be included, expect that one course would feature foie gras. I wish I could always do tastings! It is really such a treat and gives you a broad idea of the talents and creativity of the chef.

Here's what we got:

Palette Cleanser

Amuse bouche - scallops with cream and raspberry sauce

Tomato water with seared tuna, berries, almonds and ginger -- one of my favorites of the night

Another favorite: foie gras with a flaky cornbread, peas, pea puree, berries and a pink salt and sugar mixture

Dirty martini

I ordered the drink special for the night...some fruity raspberry thing

The main dish: chicken, eel and mussels with mixed vegetables

I believe this was squab two ways (that's a filet on top) with corn, corn hair, a potato, asparagus puree, and mustard filled raspberries

Cheese course: parmesan, bleu and cheddar (I believe) + some jelly squares, a creme and caramel drizzle

Dessert -- can't remember what this was at all but it was really delicious.

Mini chocolate macaroons

Tom ordered an espresso that came in this tiny glass!

Everything was really spectacular. While the ambiance and general environment were a little off (there were children running around) I was definitely blown away by the food.

Paris Crepe:
I'm not the biggest fan of crepes, but when we passed this place last night we just had to go in. Tom really enjoys them so we ordered a nutella/banana crepe and I promised I'd try a bite. Well, I had more than a few bites. This thing was SO delicious. Stuffed with bananas and creamy nutella, the crepe basically just melted in your mouth.

Resto La Banquise:
We heard that this was THE place for poutine, and how could we go to Montreal without getting some?? We made some room in our schedule (and our stomachs) to fit in a stop at La Banquise before hitting the road back to Boston. The place was interesting -- extremely casual with a bunch of tables packed in. We were there around 3 o'clock on Sunday and didn't have to wait, but it was very crowded. The menu was in French so we weren't 100% positive of what to order so we took our best guess and went with La Trois Viandes and La Taquise.

La Trois viandes was topped with bacon, steak and pepperoni and La Taquise was topped with guacamole, sour cream and tomato salsa. Both were soooo good but I surprisingly preferred La Taquise. Tasted like nachos and french fries mixed together!

That was about it for our Montreal food adventures!

Oh yea, of course there was some ice cream :)

Related Posts:
Montreal - Where to Stay

Poisonous mushrooms

So I keep meaning to finish writing about my Montreal trip but run out of time whenever I sit down to do it! I promise to finish those up this week.

In the meantime, here's just a little photo update :)

Harbor cruise with my two BFFLs

Blurry skyline

Color Run (AKA the worst race I've ever ran...more on that another time)

Mini BLTs with chipotle mayo!

Up close and personal

Giant blueberries and amazing vanilla granola, courtesy of TKO

Huge scary (not poisonous) mushrooms that grew in our plant overnight! AHH!

The most delicious farmer's market raspberries. Mmm.