I spent Sunday morning getting in as much walking as I could…which was a very good thing after my very rich meal at Au Pied de Cochon the night before. I explored the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, took in the views of the river and walked up Boulevard St. Laurent. It is amazing to see how much diversity there is on just this one ‘main’ street. It gave me a good sense of what Montreal’s culture and vibe are like, from the little shops in Chinatown to bagel shops and smoked meat (think NYC pastrami) delis to Plateau Mont-Royals chic boutiques, french bakeries and cafes. (more…)
It sounds cliche to say, but there truly is a sense of ‘joie de vivre’ here. I am a firm believer in the power of the little, everyday moments to transform us and too often life gets to busy to enjoy them. It is refreshing to see people enjoying their cup of coffee at one of the many outside cafes lining Rue St. Denis instead of getting their ‘grande latte’ to go. It is equally refreshing to not see people chatting on cell-phones in every restaurant or cafe. Maybe it is the beautiful weather this weekend after a long winter, but everyone seems to be out and about enjoying life. (more…)
I arrived in Montreal on Thursday for a long weekend of exploring the city’s food scene and international vibe. The unique French-Canadian culture of Quebec has always fascinated me and I was looking forward to learning more. One of my first stops when I explore a new city is to check out the local markets. This particular market was near Montreal’s Little Italy, meaning that a quick stop off at Caffe Italia for an espresso was in order. It is a small, very old-school kind of caffe filled with old men playing cards and young families with strollers getting their morning cappuccinos. I liked the sense of community and history and the mix of French and Italian that everyone was speaking. (more…)
