Credit: La Banquise
While in Montreal, you will surely wonder where to eat a good poutine. The dish, an emblem of the city, is made up of fries, gravy and the famous cheese curds nicknamed ‘couic couic,’ in reference to the noise they make when chewed. To enjoy this comforting street food dish, Martel recommends La Banquise, a place offering 20 different recipes, from the most traditional to the most creative, as well as Gras Dur, a hidden corner in the Le Central food court in downtown Montreal. For a revised version, head to Au Pied de Cochon, which offers a poutine au foie gras "to die for" according to Martel, or the Bistrot Gaspésie, still within the Central, for lobster poutine.
Where to eat a great chômeur pudding
Another traditional dish from Quebec is pudding chômeur, a dessert dating from the economic crisis of 1929, also called the poor man's dessert, made with flour, butter, sugar and above all a lot of maple syrup. To discover a quality chômeur pudding, Martel suggests La Binerie near the Mont-Royal district. "It's a place where we serve typical Quebec grandmother's dishes," she says. Another good address is Bivouac, a restaurant nestled in the Double Tree Hilton hotel.
Where to discover the typical street food of Montreal
One shouldn’t leave Montreal without trying smoked meat (if a meat eater) and bagels, two emblematic specialities of local street food. To discover the famous smoked meat, head to Schwartz's to order a nice plate or an XXL sandwich (be careful, even the portions considered small are already huge!). This was Leonard Cohen's favourite place, which has become so popular over the years that Celine Dion and René Angelil bought it.
To devour a fresh bagel throughout the day, head to St-Viateur, on the street of the same name, a bakery known for its wide offering of this small bread with a hole, offered plain, with rum and cinnamon or even with cinnamon. To devour a savoury version, go instead to Café St-Viateur, which offers it garnished with pastrami and other delicacies, on-site or to take away.
Where to have breakfast in Montreal
To build up your energy before a long day of walking through the city, there are many options available to you. Among our favourites is La Finca, a coffee shop offering savoury and sweet breakfasts, hot drinks and homemade juices, all in a refined Scandinavian atmosphere. Another good plan: Olive et Gourmando, a small shop in Old Montreal. We love its ultra-generous cinnamon brioche, its homemade granola, its salty ricotta (pictured) but above all its hot sandwiches like the Cuban, to devour throughout the day.