The Chateau Ramezay Museum is a history museum, appropriately located in the heart of Old Montreal, in front of City Hall. You may ask, why is a foodie writing about history? Well, as soon as I heard they were having an exhibition called, Let’s eat! a retrospective on food and the eating habits of early Quebec settlers, I rushed to the Old Port to check it out.

The exhibition Let’s eat! looks at various aspects of the history of Quebec’s culinary culture over the past four centuries. Among other things, we learn that before heading into battle, French soldiers were fed onions and brandy. Not too sure if it was that effective, but their bad breath would certainly chase away any enemies!

Some things never change. They’re always there like landmarks in our lives, and it could be said that Moishes is certainly one of those gastronomic mainstays in Montreal. The same family has been running this steakhouse on St. Laurent Street for more than 70 years.

I must have passed by this famous, yet discretely located, second-floor restaurant a thousand times, but it was with great pleasure and curiosity that I finally went in for the first time last week. In fact, I didn’t just walk in, I was ushered in — Moishes is one few restaurants in Montreal with a doorman…

Uh oh. This could be dangerous. Fans of this sinfully sweet, creamy cocoa delight — you’ve been warned. In fact, to avoid tempting you further, perhaps I should just stop right here.

Oh well, too bad. I can’t resist sharing this with you. If you love chocolate, don’t miss out on this amazing epicurean food fair. It takes place the weekend of Nov. 20-22 in Old Montreal and it’s called, Le Salon passion chocolat & cie.

If you’re a well-prepared traveller, I’m sure you went out bought your Berlitz or Lonely Planet French Phrase book before coming to Montreal. But there are still a few important words and phrases to know that will help you enjoy your dining experience. Even when we order in English, we still often use some French terms like table d’hôte or plat du jour.

Don’t worry if these terms aren’t familiar, here’s my list of handy restaurant vocabulary so you can get what you want when eating out in Montreal.

Of all the elegant restaurants in Montreal, the XO restaurant is probably the most opulent and the most romantic. But it’s more than a beautifully appointed dining room — it also has some of the best cuisine in the city as well.

If you check out the slideshow, you can see how the luxurious ambiance would make the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or for an adventurous gastronomic experience.