MONTREAL DESSERTS: RICE PUDDING!

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I admit I entered Riz en folie reluctantly. All my life, I’ve found the texture of rice pudding a bit of a turn-off. And to make matters worse, I often find it too sweet. 

Now, imagine my surprise when I found out that even the owner Nathalie Dubé started off as a rice pudding hater! “My brother and I both couldn’t stand rice pudding. But we went to a rice pudding specialty shop in New York and loved it. So we decided to go on a mission to convert others too!” Back in Montreal, they opened their rice pudding bar on MacKay Street, right in the heart of downtown.

So, just what made me change my mind about rice pudding?

• Only natural ingredients are used at Riz en folie. Their puddings are made from rice, milk, sugar and various natural flavourings, such as fresh fruit or ganache.

• They have 16 different flavours to choose from, making it hard not to find something that appeals. There’s the traditional “souvenir d’antan” (“memories of the olden days”). Then, for more adventurous palates there’s the “Rough & Tough,” which is 70% chocolate, pecans and marshmallows (all that totally makes you forget that you’re eating rice!)

• The Riz en folie locale is fabulous. It`s all white inside with designer decor.

• If your comfort food isn’t comforting enough, you can have it with homemade hot chocolate or one of their high quality teas.

• Finally, rice pudding is eaten around the world, from Asia to Scandinavian countries. In India, it`s called kheer and is made with pistachios and cardamom, in Latin America, it`s called arroz con leche and includes cinnamon and raisins, and the Lebanese version is called bi haleeb and is flavoured with a hint of rose water. Since everyone around the world seems to like rice pudding, I don`t know what took me so long to come around and finally give in to the temptation of rice pudding.

Insider tip: Show your student card and get 10% off the puddings and 25% off the coffee. They also have wireless Internet.

Riz en folie
2153 Mackay, Montreal, Qc, H3G 2J2
514-750-3415

Hours of operation
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 11 am to 7 pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11 am to 9 pm
Sunday: 12pm to 6 pm

8 oz. of rice pudding: $4

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