Category Archives: Food

The July 2015 Montreal Restaurant List

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Montreal Restaurants
Montreal Restaurants

Wow, it was a slow spring, only one restaurant made it onto the done and worth going back side, Dinette Industrielle. Five didn’t make the cut.

As usual, the Zeke’s July 2015 Montreal Restaurant List can be found in the upper left hand corner and here.

The April 2015 Montreal Restaurant List

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Montreal Restaurant Image Search
Montreal Restaurant Image Search

Only two made it to the “Done and Worth Going Back” side of the page. Les 400 Coups and The Balsam Inn (in the Good Places to Drink section). I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which four did not make the cut.

As usual, the Zeke’s April 2015 Montreal Restaurant List can be found in the upper left hand corner and here.

The Late February 2015 Montreal Restaurant List

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Montreal Restaurant Image Search
Montreal Restaurant Image Search

Only three made it to the “Done and worth going back” side of the page. Cirkus, Ma’tine, and Notkins Oyster Bar. Surprisingly seven did not make it. Then finally there were two that I was undecided about and left on the to try (again) side.

As usual, the Zeke’s Late February 2015 Montreal Restaurant List can be found in the upper left hand corner and here.

Blu Restaurant Italien, Pasta School

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Assorted Pastas by Adam Piperni at Blu Scuola di Cucina
Assorted Pastas by Adam Piperni at Blu Scuola di Cucina

A couple of weeks ago I participated in something called “Blu Scuola di Cucina.” I’d heard about participating in a cooking class before. You know the place where you cough up your cash, and someone leads you through something approaching a meal, which after you are finished making it, you eat it. Kind of like saving the place money on staffing, while still paying for your meal, all the while in a place with as much atmosphere as a hot air balloon.

Blu isn’t like that. Not in the least. While we were offered the opportunity to get our hands messy, as all eight of us were sitting behind the bar, no one really felt like getting up from their seats. And while we were served six courses, it did not feel like a meal. it truly was a classroom where not only were we taught how to make about a dozen different types of pasta, but also the history, geography, philosophy and manual gymnastics behind them.

Adam Piperni and Maurizio Terrazzano were the instructors. By day, they both teach at St. Pius X Adult Education & Culinary Institute, and it shows. Chef Piperni did the pastas and Chef Terrazzano did the sauces. Both were thorough to a fault (or as thorough as one can be in a three hour introductory setting). They not only demonstrated the various techniques of making pasta, but went into detail when necessary and graciously answered all questions.

Teaching cooking is not an easy thing to do. As most dishes and techniques are more craft than art, and as a consequence require lots of practice and repetition to master. Chef Piperni and Chef Terrazzano, while not quite at the same level of experience as your stereotypical Italian grandmother working from her home or in a pasta laboratorio, have been making pasta and sauces for far longer than I will ever be able to do, even if I were to get reincarnated and come back as an Italian grandmother.

Add to that their cultural background and the fact that they actually are related to real Italian grandmothers, and you can understand that they not only know what they are talking about, but also how to pass that knowledge along.

Blu restaurant italien is an upscale, modern restaurant right next door to Hôtel Le Cantlie Suites at 1112 Sherbrooke O. Sleekly designed with an emphasis on teak (or at least what I think looked like teak) and mirrors.

Interior view of Blu restaurant italien
Interior view of Blu restaurant italien

It’s a little bit angular, and in general evokes a stylish turn-of-the-century business casual feel.

Interior view of the bar at Blu restaurant italien
Interior view of the bar at Blu restaurant italien

Along with a touch of whimsy (or psychedelia).

The chandelier at Blu restaurant italien
The chandelier at Blu restaurant italien

I arrived at about 10 o’clock (although I have been told that future Blu Scuola di Cucinas will be happening in the afternoons, around 3 o’clock) and was promptly offered my choice of caffè. I was introduced to the seven other participants (whose names I promptly forgot, apologies) and after a little bit, Chef Piperni started into explaining how easy and simple it is to make pasta. In short, flour and water is all you need to make fresh pasta. However, if you want to make it fancier, you can make fresh pasta with flour, water and eggs.

If you do a search on Google there are almost 2 million videos that promise to show you how to make fresh pasta. Videos are fine and dandy, but being able to learn from a live and in your face Italian chef. it’s kind of tough to ask questions of a video. It’s even tougher to taste and/or touch the fresh pasta while watching a video.

Chef Piperni and Chef Terrazzano not only took advantage of the differences between video training and in person training but also went above and beyond when they responded to everybody’s questions individually. There’s a reason why schools still exist in this day and age. Learning live from another person is, to me, by far and away the most best (bestest, if you will) method of passing on skills. I’m a little bit disappointed in myself that I did not take advantage of the situation to do any actual “hands on” training (the peer pressure and bar were just a little bit too much that early in the morning). But I also realize that it is next to impossible to learn everything about making fresh pasta in one class, so if I view it as my “Introduction to Making Fresh Pasta” I come out ok, and don’t look, or sound like such a doofus for missing such an opportunity.

If you didn’t know already, Italian cuisine is some weird concept that depending on how much you are paying and the time of day can vary from “authentic” to “greasy and filling.” For the most part the more you pay, the closer you approach the concept of authenticity. However it is completely and utterly impossible to cook (or eat) authentic Italian cuisine, unless you are in Italy and have an ItaLian grandmother cooking for you.

The idea of someone spending a large chunk of their life making cavatelli (or any other type of pasta) is in line with just about any other craft. Do something for a long time, and you end up doing something very good. it can be Japanese knives, Swiss watches or any other craft you can think of. You do it for 40 odd years, everyone is going to acclaim you as a master. The tough part is doing the same darn thing for 40 odd years. In the same way that you become proficient at lacemaking or shooting free throws in basketball, making pasta involves an awful lot of muscle memory. If you need to think about where to fold, twist or cut the pasta while making it, you are likely going to turn your Torchio into Macaroni.

Wikipedia lists 186 different types of pastas, and I am certain if I put my thinking cap on I could easily come up with at least another 14 to make it an even 200. And in reality I’m positive that there are thousands of different types, once you start including the variations. Most of the pasta policing revolves around matching the sauce to the pasta.

Contrary to your local “Italian” restaurant that delivers, not every sauce is appropriate for every different type of pasta. The longer and skinnier your pasta is, the more fluid and saucier your sauce should be. Pasta with texture (like farfalle or rigatoni) should go with sauces with texture (like meatballs or Bolognese) stuffed pasta should go with light and delicate sauces (butter cheese and/or oil) and those tiny shapes (like orzo or tripolini) are most appropriate in soups. Chef Terrazzano made a ravioli with butter sauce, a farfalle with smoked salmon and peas, cavatelli with rapini and sausage and a pappardelle with a meat sauce. All of which were appropriate as to sauce and pasta combinations.

The next “Introduction to pasta at the Blu Scuola di Cucina” is this Sunday, the 21st of December at 3 o’clock. Reservations can be made by calling (514) 282-1975.

The December 2014 Montreal Restaurant List

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Montreal Restaurants
Montreal Restaurants

Four establishments made it to the “Done and worth going back” side of the page. (Actually three, with one making it to the Good Places to Drink list.) Pizzeria Gema, Nouilles de Lan Zhou, Le North End and Le Slang. Only four did not make it, two of them because they closed before I got to try their food.

As usual, the Zeke’s December 2014 Montreal Restaurant List can be found in the upper left hand corner and here.

The September 2014 Montreal Restaurant List

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[Image via eater.com]
[Image via eater.com]

It’s been a slow month. Only one restaurant made it to the “Done and worth going back” side of the page. Jacquie & France. I’ll leave it to you to discover the eight that did not.

As usual, the Zeke’s September 2014 Montreal Restaurant List can be found in the upper left hand corner and here.

The August 2014 Montreal Restaurant List

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Montreal Restaurants
Montreal Restaurants

To repeat myself quoting Sly Stone, “Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back.

It’s been a while since I released a new list of Montreal Restaurants. Apologies

For those of you that are interested the previous versions of the list have been downloaded more than 11,000 times since 2012.

The changes since the previous one: Beaufort Café, Chez Bouffe, Ellada, Impasto, Cafe Milano, Pizza Nino, Café Renan, Le Serpent and Tripolis made the move to the Done and Worth Going Back side.

The January 2014 Montreal Restaurant List

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To quote Sly Stone, “Heard Ya Missed Me, Well I’m Back.

Montreal Restaurant Collage
Montreal Restaurant Collage

Let’s start the year off slow and easy with yet another new list of Montreal Restaurants. As per normal, one side is the tried and true establishments, worthy of multiple visits. The flip side is my list of places that have caught my eye for whatever reason, and that I’ve noted in order to not forget to try them out.

As a special added bonus, there are smaller “sub” lists of great terraces, awesome places to have a drink, where to eat when you’re underground, and some stores that are particularly noteworthy due to the type of food they sell.

For those of you that are interested the previous versions of the list have been downloaded more than 8,700 times since 2012.

And finally, Elatos, Moonshine BBQ, and Scarpetta were the restaurants that graduated from the To Try side to the Done and Worth Going back side.

Almost October 2013 Montreal Restaurant List

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Montreal Restaurants Image Search
Montreal Restaurants Image Search

Jumping the gun slightly, I’ve uploaded a new Montreal Restaurant List calling it the October version, when in fact it really is the late September version. Sorry for not paying closer attention to the calendar. In six and a half months Maison Boulud, Bruno Brothers, Jah B and Pasta A GoGo were the restaurants that made the flip from the To Try side to the Done & Worth Going Back side. That’s less than one per month, and only one in the core of the city. I’m not quite certain what to make of that.

I’ve also added (once again, because there is a surfeit of space) a list of places that are not restaurants but that sell food and food related products. As per normal, a simple comparison to the previous list will let you know which restaurants didn’t make the cut. For those interested in statistics, it has been downloaded more than 6,600 times. Don’t forget to print it up double-sided and keep it in your wallet so that you have it with you at all times when it might prove useful – that or download it to your phone. As per usual if you have any comments, suggestions or ideas, please feel free to email me at zeke@zeke.com.

The Tour de Ville Restaurant at the Delta Centre-Ville

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I made this time lapse video during a visit to The Tour de Ville Restaurant at the Delta Centre-Ville.