In that spirit, we headed out to a different neighbourhood – downtown – to eat somewhere I’d usually be less likely to try, seeing as I live here– a hotel restaurant. And we ate well! We elected to try the TASTE MTL set-menu at Le Montrealais Bistro-Bar, the casual resto in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel. The bistro is open late and has lot of space for families and large groups.

Because it’s a hotel restaurant, there’s this pleasant in-transit feeling, like maybe I’m eating there because I’m about to go on an exciting trip. The menu is a four-course set-menu, with two choices for each of the courses. Since there were two of us, we were able to try one of everything.

Our menu started off with two refined entrees: A white-tuna and arctic char carpaccio that looked like a mosaic (very pretty), and a duck foie-gras crème brulee flavoured with sortilege (a maple-flavoured, whiskey-like spirit.)

Then, we both had a saffron shellfish bisque with this little fella, a Quebec crawfish, perched on top.

The mains were both refined and simple: A rack of lamb with salted herbs from the lower St-Lawrence region, so tender I could cut it with a fork, and a filet of sweet-salty black cod with a tomato, olive and caper sauce.

The desserts were quite special, too: A chocolate/meringue fondant and pistachio macaroon sandwiches with raspberry sorbet filling.

And all this, for under $40 per person! TASTE MTL goes until November 11, check out all of the menus here.

The post TASTE MTL REVIEW: BISTRO LE MONTREALAIS appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

[dance] Innovative French choreographer Jean-Claude Gallotta finds inspiration in the witty, sexy songs of 70s-era Serge Gainsbourg, creating a work of contemporary dance that is accessible, entertaining and beautiful to watch. L’Homme à tête de chou (pictured above) makes its Canadian premier here in Montreal as part of the Danse Danse season, as 14 dancers evoke a poetic story of love and a familiar kind of tragedy, March 4–5 and 10–13 at Place des Arts.

[art attack] Some art is pure beauty, some strains our brains, and some is just bizarrely wonderful. Cree-Canadian artist Kent Monkman adds new perspective to key moments in Canadian history with his new multi-media project My Treaty Is with the Crown, at Concordia University’s Leonard & Bina Ellen Gallery, beginning March 3 at 4:30 pm with a performance and gallery tour by the artist as his alter-ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle. The strange truth is out there.

[world beats] Senegalese rock guitarist Habib Koité has been called the “African Clapton,” but his musical stylings are all his own – he joins Oliver Mutukudzi and Afel Bocoum for the mind-blowing Acoustic Africa tour at Club Soda, March 5. For the more percussively inclined, Japanese taiko drumming troupe Kodo shows us how serious synchronicity is done, at Place des Arts, March 4 & 5.

[sound art] Every month, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal invites some of the most exciting musicians in town to play the museum’s Friday Nocturne series. On March 4, Jimmy Hunt, former vocalist with the rock group Chocolat, blends folk and French pop in music that seems to take us on a cinematic trip. The modest ticket price also includes admission to the museum’s current exhibitions – a must see.

[merry marionettes] Timed perfectly with spring break, the 6th edition of Les Trois Jours de Casteliers, Montreal’s International Puppetry Festival provides plenty of entertainment for kids and a surprising variety of shows for adults too! Among the many shows, Quebec’s Théâtre Pupulus Mordicus also finds inspiration in Serge Gainsbourg in their irreverent take on the cabaret, Sweden’s Dockteaterverkstan puppet theatre workshop pulls off a circus populated by monkeys, and the Netherlands’ Stuffed Puppet Theatre takes us on a strange trip through Afghanistan. At Théâtre Outremont, March 3–6.

[crafty creations] Bring home a unique piece of hand-made Montreal at Puces Pop, an art and craft fair with a pop-culture twist – among the work from 80 artists, find jewelery, poster art, plush toys for the kids and more, in the Mile End neighbourhood at St Enfant de Jesus Church (5039 St-Dominique), March 5–6, 11 am to 6 pm.

[music memories] OMG it’s OMD. British electro-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark brings that signature 80s-synth sound back, plus a little something new, as they tour their new album, rolling into Le National (1220 Ste-Catherine E.), March 6. American folk songstress Lucy Kaplansky channels the peace-minded 60s by way of classic country and modern rock melodies, at La Sala Rossa (4848 St-Laurent), March 4. That same night, ska favourites The Planet Smashers get galactic at Club Soda. And Montreal’s Liederwolfe fuses opera, classical music and pop sensibilities, at Divan Orange, March 6.

Photo Credit: L’Homme à tête de chou- Guy Delahaye, Puces Pop- Richmond Lam

The post THIS WEEKEND IN MONTREAL (MARCH 3-6) appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

While in town, shop early for the whole family, for the office, for friends (and for yourself!) at the Salon des métiers d’arts du Québec. It is the most important professional exhibition-sale in the province.  The wonderful fair full of hand-made works has praise from all who visit.  It has been a go-to gift-buying place for locals for years, and visitors have quickly discovered it. You can choose from a vast array of made-with-love-and talent pieces. Art, beads and bracelets, decorative objects, ecological works, foie gras, jams, kids’ clothing, lamps, sculptures, wine..basically almost everything and anything one might need to wrap. Wait.  No need to wrap.  A booth at the Salon will do this for you…easy, peasy.

CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS . Nativity scenes from Montreal’s St. Joseph Oratory, created especially for the Salon. Different cultures from different eras interpret the birth of Christ in an individual way.

GREAT NEWS FOR PARENTS. Not only is there a little garderie (day care) staffed with professionals for children 3 years and less, but there are kid-friendly activities.

FOR CHILDREN.  Saturday December 11 from 1 – 4:30. There are stories, workshops, make-up booths, shows, fashions and events.

DETAILS

SALON DES MÉTIERS D’ART

Place Bonaventure
West Exhibition Hall
800 de la Gauchetière St. West
Montreal Quebec, Canada

December 3 – 22, 2010

Bonaventure metro station

Free entrance for all

The post LE SALON DES MÉTIERS D’ART: MONTREAL’S ONE-STOP SHOPPING SPOT FOR HOLIDAYS appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.

Pluriels. As the name suggests, this is a show of many that is a Great opportunity to see Quebec artistic talents! Artist and artisans have gotten together for a group show in a space on trendy St. Laurent, locally known as The Main. They are from a craft collective called MAM (Métiers d’Arts Métissés ) What a great idea!  You can buy that perfect gift for now, for later…for the holidays.  Choose from ceramics, knit stuff, toys, paintings.  All works are pretty reasonable, and who knows, you might make a ‘discovery’  – sell it 10 years from now on ebay and make a huge profit!  The show is at Galerie Espace, a space that is rented out to artists. On until August 24, but there is lots of fun stuff left.

Galerie Espace : 4844 St. Laurent

514-284-6720

www.galerie-espace.ca

Until August 24, 2010

WHILE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Wander up (It’s not far) to

Fairmont Bagel Bakery (world-renowned!)

74 Fairmont (corner-ish to St. Laurent)

514-272-0667 Métro:  Laurier

BEST PART ? Open daily, 24 hours, so go for your breakfast, brunch, or 3 am snack.

www.Fairmontbagel.com

Wine and / or dine at BU

One of the city’s greatest wine bars.  Over 500 wines. Great anti-pasti !

5246 St. Laurent, 514-276-0246, Métro:  Laurier

Open 7 days a week.  5 – 1 am

www.bu-mtl.com

The post A BETTER WAY TO GIFT/SOUVENIR SHOP appeared first on Tourisme Montréal Blog.