MONTRÉAL HIGH LIGHTS FESTIVAL AND FERREIRA CAFÉ

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Montreal is known for hosting a lot of festivals — there are over 85 different ones throughout the year! My personal favourite is the Montreal High Lights Festival, which showcases live performances, outdoor activities and fine dining. The featured country this year is Portugal, the city is New Orleans and the region is the Eastern Townships — all amazing places for high quality food and talented chefs.

In anticipation of my favourite festival of the year and drawing inspiration from the featured country Portugal, I decided to head downtown to Ferreira Café, one of the fixtures of Portuguese cuisine in Montreal.

Ever since it first opened its doors 14 years ago, the Ferreira Café has continued to serve unbelievably fresh fish, an incredible selection of wine — 90% from Portugal and it doesn’t stop there. Owner and founder, Carlos Ferreira, has just been given an award for ‘Innovative Entrepreneurship’ by the President Portugal, an honour bestowed on worthy candidates from the Portuguese Diaspora every year.

Eating at Ferreira Café is just like being parachuted into a trendy Lisbon restaurant. I had the excellent striped sea bass grilled with olive oil, served with squash purée, along with the octopus salad, which was equally devine! Fresh fish and seafood lovers will not be disappointed at Ferreira Café!

Getting back to the Montreal High Lights Festival, it will be taking place from February 18 to 28, 2009 at various venues around town. Since Portugal is the featured country this year, many famous Montreal restaurants will be opening their kitchens to 39 different chefs from Portugal. In addition, we’ll get a chance to sample some real New Orleans cuisine along with various culinary talents and products from the Eastern Townships. Over the years, festival-goers have had the opportunity to try the cuisine of some world famous chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Charlie Trotter and Daniel Boulud — right here in the Belle Ville!

Le Ferreira Café will be playing a special role during the High Lights Festival as they will host the Honorary President’s dinner. Every year, a special guest chef is chosen as the Honorary President of the festival and this year, it’s one of the finest chefs in Portugal, Fausto Airoldi and the Ferreira Cafe has been selected as the venue for one of the most important meals of the 10-day event.

Many other dinners, conferences and other activities are planned throughout the ten days of the festival. For more information on all the exciting eating and entertainment possibilities, check out the Montreal High Lights website

Ferreira Café
1446 Peel St.
Montreal, QC, H3A 1S8
514 848-0988

Open for lunch Monday to Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Reopens for dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Open Saturday and Sunday evening from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Dress code: casual chic
Reservations are highly recommended
Average bill (before tax, tip and alcohol): $60

Montreal High Lights Festival

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