TASTE MTL, aka MTL à TABLE, aka Montreal’s first ever Restaurant Week, is all wrapped up and it was, by all accounts, a great success. From Europea to Laloux (check out all of the coverage in the Montreal Buzz gastronomy section), we did our best to show you how Montreal restaurants let you take a culinary trip around the world. We hope you enjoyed it, and judging from the 10 Best Instagram photos from Taste MTL it sure seems like you did. See you all next year!

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Sea bass carpaccio with ouzo pearls and beets. Taken at Chez L’Epicier (311 Rue Saint Paul East) by @mocali.

A venison tartare with foie gras and a pumpkin dressing. Taken at La Chronique (99 Avenue Laurier Ouest) by @mayssamaha.

In the words of the Instagramer: “Parmesan-crusted goat cheese lollipops, pancetta on a mini clothesline, lobster bisque cappuccino, and cheese sticks served to us in a cigar box (photo N/A). This restaurant is definitely amusing my bouche so far.” Taken at Europea (1227 Rue De La Montagne) by @midami.

Quail appetizer at the award-winning Toque! (900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle) taken by @eatinq.

A birthday girl celebrates with her friends. Taken at Baxo (343 Saint-Paul West) by @stephsophmtl. P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Just before the dinning experience outside Barroco (312 Rue Saint Paul West). Taken by @carolynwheatley.

Dubbed “the finale: scallop sashimi, cucumber, green apple and fir powder.” Taken at Restaurant Laloux (250 Avenue des Pins West) by @thebuttermelts.

This one is a doozy: “Slow-roasted cod, forbidden rice, escabeche of mussels, peppers, & chorizo, cod brandade cromesqui and poulette sauce with saffron.” Taken at Auberge Saint-Gabriel (426 Rue Saint Gabriel) by @tastymontreal.

What’s that main dish? Skate fish. Taken at Brasserie T! (1425 Rue Jeanne-Mance) by @lalaladyc.

The lobster bisque cappuccino. Take a moment to let that one sink in. Taken at Europea (1227 Rue De La Montagne) by @lolotaj.

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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.

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Joining the league of extraordinary North American cities like New York, San Francisco and Vancouver who also host respective restaurant weeks, it came as no surprise when Montreal announced one of our own. For 11 days, November 1-11, TASTE MTL becomes Montreal’s inaugural restaurant week. Close to 100 restaurants scattered around the city are offering table d’hôte menus at $19, $29 or $39, showcasing Montreal’s finest talent, luring local foodies and visiting epicurean enthusiasts.

I visited Ferreira Café in the Downtown core – a popular upscale Portuguese restaurant.  Serving inspired and refined Portuguese cuisine; their “ocean-fresh” ideology resonates through all their signature dishes. If you’ve ever seen a restaurant menu that you’ve wanted one of everything, go with a friend and you’ll be able to tackle Ferreira Café’s Restaurant Week menu. Chef Tavares and team are offering a choice of two appetizers and two main courses as a part of their 11-day showcase.

Warm mushroom salad, truffle oil and Parmesan tuile. Served on a square of puff pastry, this dish is earthy and aromatic.  Toothsome bites of warm sautéed cremini and oyster mushrooms in a simple pan sauce. The mysterious notes of truffle linger long enough to be highlighted by the sharp Parmesan chip and its crunch.

Cured Mediterranean sea bass, yuzu and fresh coriander – thin slices of fresh sea bass topped with strips of next-to-candied yuzu.  The Japanese citrus awakens your palate as it intermingles with the bitters of diced radish and shaved celery tops.  The fish was sweet standing alone – a true testament to the quality and freshness of the fish.

Ferreira Café’s famous pork and clams. Slow-roasted and seared, the pork was fork tender and delicate as you make your way through the slightly crisp pan-sear. Briny little morsels of clams took on the richness of the braising liquid as did the potatoes did the rosemary from the roasted pork.

Pan seared fresh cod, “new potatoes”, roasted red pepper marmalade and a bouillabaisse broth. A thick cut steak of cod, the meat was supple and sweet. The savory marmalade balanced the broth whose spicy notes were reminiscent of Portuguese piri piri sauce. You could smell this dish coming.

For dessert, caramel and Ferreira white port flan.  The tartness of the berries were able to take away what we thought was an overly sweet flan.  However a great way to round out the back and end a great meal.

The Montreal Restaurant week – Taste MTL initiative is an amazing opportunity to explore Montreal’s culinary landscape featuring some of our city’s finest and most talented chefs and Ferreira Café’s refined menu is no doubt a great way to start a week of culinary hedonism.

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Montreal is known for its food diversity and my ideal line-up for TASTE MTL would be to go international with my restaurant choices. You can now consult each participating restaurant’s menu online, which makes it just a little bit easier to decide. Suffice it to say that I already know what I would order if I were to dine at these restaurants.

Spanish > Tapeo: Tapeo (pictured above) is the most famous tapas bar in Montreal and one I’ve been going to for years for a little taste of Spain and sunshine. The tapas are authentic, creative and seasonal and will transport you to the Iberian Peninsula the minute you take your first bite.

I would order:

Spanish tortilla
Vine tomates
Patatas bravas
Churros con chocolate

Portugal > Ferreira: Ferreira Café is the spot to savour some of the best Portuguese cuisine in town in a chic and warm decor right in the heart of downtown Montreal. Pick from a great list of Portuguese wines to accompany you on your culinary journey.

I would order:

Cured Mediterranean sea bass, yuzu and fresh coriander
Pan seared fresh cod steak, new potatoes, roasted pepper marmelade and bouillabaise, broth
Caramel and Ferreira white port flan

French > Auberge Saint-Gabriel: The centuries-old walls of this “oldest inn in North America” contrast with the modern, funky décor touches to create a unique space in which one of the most talented chefs in Montreal serves fine French cuisine that is as beautiful to admire as it is delicious.

I would order:

Québec beets in varied flavours and textures, fennel goat milk yogurt, blackberries, some pecans, bitter orange marmalade.
Slow-roasted cod, black rice, escabeche of mussels/peppers/chorizo, cod brandade kromesky, poulette/safran sauce
The Auberge’s own Floating Islands, vanilla/praline/caramel

Latin > Raza: Raza has earned a great reputation as one of the best fine dining restaurants in Montreal and one of the only restaurants serving modern Latin food in Canada. Located on posh Laurier Street, this tiny restaurant serves a unique tasting menu using fresh South American ingredients.

I would order:

Scallop ceviche, hibiscus jelly, avocado
Poached cod, Peruvian bouillabaisse sauce, Yukon gold potatoes, Quinoa and fresh Andes cheese
Caramalized banana, honey crisps, dried fruits

Turkish > Restaurant Su: Turkish food is one of the most flavourful in the world and Su is a great ambassador showcasing the divine complexity and delicate aromas of this exotic cuisine.

I would order:

Anything that is on Su’s menu that night will be delicious

Check out the complete list of restaurants here. You can consult each restaurant’s menu by clicking on its name in the list.

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We want all you foodie photogs, amateur and professional, to share your great Instagram restaurant photos with us as Montreal prepares for TASTE MTL, which takes place November 1-11, 2012. Our “Share. Eat. Win.” contest has 2 fun and easy phases:

1) Between October 25-29, tag any Montreal restaurant Instagram photos you have with #MTLaTABLE and/or #TASTEMTL. Anything “Restaurant in Montreal” related is acceptable and you can tag as many photos as you’d like. The 10 best pictures (selected by the blog’s bloggers and editor) will win a dinner for 2 people during Restaurant Week.

2) During TASTE MTL, continue to tag your photos with #TASTEMTL and/or #MTLATABLE. We will be monitoring all of the best Instagram pics and on November 8 we will select our 2 favourite TASTE MTL photographs to win a very special meal for 2 on November 11.

Check out the full contest rules and regulations and, if you have questions, please leave them in the comment section of this post. And please follow us on Instagram – we can’t wait to see your mouth-watering photography!

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The Top 10 list, which appears each November in the Air Canada inflight magazine’s yearly food issue, is considered the most prestigious popular restaurant list in the country. Food writer Sarah Musgrave, armed with recommendations from a panel of influential foodie types in each major Canadian city, traveled coast-to-coast eating her heart out in order to compile and narrow down this list of the country’s best new restaurants. Like last year’s Top 10, Montreal has a few prestigious places on the list…

Pastaga is the new Little Italy restaurant by Martin Juneau of La Montée de lait fame. Juneau’s new place, with beautiful hewn-wood tables and a big red-tiled kitchen, features new-style Terroir on cute small plates, at reasonable prices.

Nora Gray is a small, chic Italian eatery in Saint-Henri. The kitchen and front-of-house are run and owned by alumni of Liverpool House, the little-version of Montreal’s most lauded resto, Joe Beef; the food at Nora Gray is refined and well-executed by chef Emma Cardarelli.

The full article will be available November 1 in enRoute magazine or right now at www.enroute.aircanada.com. Give them a follow them on Twitter at @enroutemag.

Photos courtesy of enRoute

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From November 1 to 11, TASTE MTL presented by the SAQ takes over some of Montreal’s best tables (and wine glasses). From Europea to Chez L’Épicier, from Le Grain de Sel to any one of the over 100 Montreal restaurants taking part, this will be an event the likes of which this city’s stomachs have never seen! Make your reservation now!

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It’s not news to anyone – especially Montrealers – that our city was recently named one of the top 10 food cities to eat outside by Frommers. Still, we’re constantly finding new ways to get our eat on and TASTE MTL is just another stroke of genius in this regard. With 96 restaurants participating, it won’t be hard for every palate – and pocketbook – to find a pleasing plate at Taste Montreal – or “Montreal à table”, as it’s called in French.

Get your prix-fixe: Restaurant Week is a popular event in many other cities – including New York, Chicago and San Francisco in the U.S., and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. The idea is to expand patronage of restaurants in a traditionally quiet time of year, by offering fixed-price menus at reasonable rates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oURkiYEbbC0

For instance, Montreal’s event, which will occur November 1-11, will have menu prices at $19, $29 and $39. Among the establishments on the list are some of Montreal’s top restaurants   – including Toque!, Europea, Ferreira Café, Van Horne, and Chez l’Ėpicier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WONKyTXCxfo

Food in the ‘hood: What’s also interesting is that diners – both Montrealers and tourists – will have a chance to discover eating establishments in parts of town not traditionally associated with the restaurant scene downtown and in the Plateau/Mile End– they’ll have a chance to dine in Ahuntsic at A Table, in Villeray at Tapéo, in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve at Le Valois, and at Bistro Le Répertoire in Rosemont, as well as in Griffintown, the Village. There is also a long list of restos in Old Montreal and the Old Port to choose from – anyone who’s been itching to try Les 400 Coups or Barroco, now’s your chance!

The merchants’ association of Avenue du Mont-Royal will be hosting candlelight dinners in six establishments along their storied road, as well as a 500-candle installation in the square opposite Mont-Royal metro.

Another great way to explore the city with your taste buds in tow is by participating in one of the neighbourhood Happy Hour guided walks organized by the City – whether you want to see what’s new to eat in the Quartier des spectacles, or you want to walk around the Mile End and absorb its “culinary diversity”, or feel like rediscovering the treats of the Old Port, here’s your chance to see  – and eat – it all.

THE DETAILS

Taste Montreal – Restaurant Week, November 1-11, 2012

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Laurent Godbout, chef and owner of Chez L’Épicier, talked to us about about his restaurant’s casual elegance while preparing a Surf and Turf his way: a potato salad with grilled octopus and crispy pork belly. See for yourself during Taste MTL – Montreal’s Restaurant Week, November 1-11, 2012.

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