Where to go in Chinatown (Part 2)

Finally, the sequel to my previous Chinatown article! Here are a few more places that are definitely worth a visit when you are in the area... 

Peking Duck:
Peking duck is a very special dish in Chinese cooking. It consists of a roasted duck that is especially praised for the golden crispiness of the skin and the juiciness of the meat. In fact, in order to achieve this especially crispy skin, it must be loosened from the duck before cooking, in some cases with an air pump. The preparation of Peking duck is a laborious process, and therefore must be ordered in advance in most restaurants. It also normally entails a high price tag because of this.


Generally, having Peking Duck involves eating several dishes made with the different parts of the bird. The most sought after is the dish with the skin and outer duck meat served with steamed pancakes. These Chinese-style tortillas are assembled by placing the duck meat on a pancake with hoisin sauce, green scallions and some pickled vegetables or cucumbers. Once all wrapped up, all these flavors blended together create this perfectly balanced sweet, sour, and salty crisp bite. It is absolutely delicious! The rest of the duck meat is carved off of the duck and usually served in a stir-fry. Finally the carcass is used to make a flavorful soup.

Peking duck with pancakes

Mon-Nan is a great restaurant in Chinatown to try this dish because they actually make it everyday, no pre-ordering required! You can order either a half-duck or a full duck for approximately 30 $. The cost includes three courses. The first is a simple but very tasty soup, the second is the Peking duck with the pancakes, and the final dish is a nice duck stir-fry with vegetables. All in all, it is a delicious meal!


Average cost for two people: 45 $


Mon-Nan Village (make sure to go to the upstairs Mon-Nan, not the one on the ground floor)
1098, Clark street
Montreal, H2Z 1K2


Noodles and dumplings:
I'm a huge fan of fried noodles, and Noodle Factory in Chinatown is my favorite spot. It is a small, extremely affordable restaurant where noodles and dumplings are made fresh everyday. The chef actually rolls out the dough on a widowed counter allowing the customers to watch and admire his skill and speed. The shrimp fried noodles are so good with large juicy shrimp cooked to perfection. The noodles themselves are so tender and fresh, you can really tell that they were just made.

Noodle Factory

Their menu is small but everything I've tried is good. The spring rolls, the shallot pancakes, and of course, the noodle soups. Their dumplings are also excellent. This place is a must!!

Average cost for two people: 20 $


Noodle Factory
1018 St-Urbain


Pastries:
Harmonie Bakery is a wonderful little bakery located diagonally from the Noodle Factory, at the corner of St-Urbain and de la Gauchetière, and this is another fun place in Chinatown. As you walk by, the wonderful aromas emanating from the bakery fill the air and lure you in. Their top seller seems to be the egg custard tarts, but they make a variety of sweet and savory items. Their raisin twists, coconut custard buns, and chocolate shortbread cookies are just a few of my favorites. Again the prices here can't be beaten, most of them being between 1 and 3 $.

                                           

Egg custard tarts (or Dan ta)

Pâtisserie Harmonie
85 Rue de la Gauchetiere Ouest

Montreal, QC H2Z 1C2

Bubble Tea:
Finally, for anyone curious about the Taiwanese drink called bubble tea (warning: it is addictive!) L2 is the place to go. L2 was the first location to serve bubble tea in Chinatown many years ago, and if you don't go for the drink, go to gawk at the youth of today. If I was younger I would have loved to hang out at this place! There are loads of tables, board games, a jukebox and a section of computers available to play online games at an affordable price. The place is always packed with young teenagers.


Bubble tea is basically iced tea made with or without milk, according to your order, in which small chewy tapioca balls are added. These sink to the bottom of your glass and with the extra large straw that you are given, you can have fun slurping them up and chewing on them. The tea can be made in a variety of flavors with all types of fruits, and with either black or green tea. I personally love the passion fruit black tea, but my husband swears by the coffee taste of the taro milk tea. Either way, they make drinks to suit any palate, and they also makes delicious smoothies. Also, in case you are not feeling too adventurous, you can always have the tea without the bubbles as well!

 Bubble tea

Average cost for two people: 10 $

L2
71A Rue de la Gauchetiere Ouest
Montreal, QC H2Z 1C2

Tip: The many uses of yogurt

In the last couple of years, I have grown to really enjoy plain low-fat yogurt in the morning mixed with granola and fruit. Not only is it filling, but it's a nutritional breakfast that is low in fat and filled with protein. Recently, I attempted to use plain yogurt in other ways and I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

I first used it as a base in salad dressings replacing mayonnaise, such as in the case for coleslaws and creamy dressings for greens, and it worked wonderfully. I then decided to expand its use in dips. I'm a huge fan of onion dip with potato chips and I was very pleased when I realized that yogurt could easily replace most of the sour cream, if not all, in my dips. I was amazed that yogurt could actually turn my guilty pleasure into something that is actually nutritious - if you ignore the potato chips of course....

Finally, I discovered yogurt cheese, or what is referred to as labneh in the Middle East. Yogurt cheese is extremely versatile and easy to make. All you need to do is place a large sieve over a bowl, into which you place either cheese cloth or a large paper coffee filter. Next, you fill the filter with yogurt, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.

The yogurt will drain off all its moisture and what will be left behind is a very thick and creamy yogurt that rivals cream cheese! You can then mix in all types of herbs or seasonings to add flavor. I used dried Herbes de Provence for one batch, and garlic and herbs for another. Both spreads were delicious on crackers and bagels. After reading a little more about it, it even seems that yogurt cheese can also be used in low fat desserts as a substitute for cream cheese, such as in light cheesecake recipes.

So to sum up, yogurt can easily replace mayonnaise, sour cream and cream cheese, while being more nutritious, higher in protein and lower in fat. I recommend it's many uses to anyone... whether you are on a diet or not!

Review: La Fabrique

There was a lot of hype surrounding the relatively new restaurant La Fabrique on St-Denis street, but after seeing it appear on a list of not-to-miss restaurants in Montreal published by La Presse, I finally decided it was time to leave my young baby with my mother and try it out....and I was not disappointed!


What I immediately loved about La Fabrique was the concept: a low-key, casual atmosphere with upscale creative food. The decor is casual and playful, with many tables lining the walls with swivel plastic chairs (that are surprisingly comfortable!) The walls are covered with wood paneling that the waiters make use of by hanging your menus and bread baskets from. The best part of La Fabrique though is the fact that the small kitchen is centered in the middle of the restaurant, wide open on every side, allowing patrons to watch with fascination as the chefs prepare their dishes. It's so much fun to watch the chefs at work, you feel like you are witnessing an Iron Chef episode right in front of your eyes! This openness definitely reveals the chefs' confidence in their abilities, and the pride they have in their use of  fresh ingredients.

The food was simply excellent. I would describe it, like many restaurants in the Plateau, as french cuisine with a Quebec twist. After ordering, you are given complementary homemade pickles with a dill flavored cream and bread. The pickles were so fresh, crisp and tangy, and the bread was soft on the inside with a crispy crust. Their menu included a large selection of terrines, so as an appetizer, we ordered a cod terrine. It was delicate and creamy, and served with bread and spinach toasted in brown butter. The terrine was so light, and it had a wonderful fresh, and not overpowering, cod flavor. As we watched the chefs at work during our meal, we noticed an appetizer that was constantly being ordered. We were later told that it was the beef tartar appetizer and according to the waiter, it is hugely popular. Definitely something to try next time!

 Pickles and cod terrine platter

The main courses we ordered were a veal mille-feuille and the fois gras platter with canard confit. The veal mille-feuille was so tender and succulent, and it was served with shrimp stuffed arancini. In italian cooking, arancini are cheesy rice balls, and my italian husband gave these his enthusiastic approval. The large variety of vegetables served on the platter were cooked and seasoned to perfection in the meat's cooking juices.

Veal mille-feuille with shrimp stuffed arancini

The fois gras platter was also outstanding. I love when salty fois gras or duck are served with sweet enhancements, and this platter delivered just that. The sides included sucre à la crême flavored mashed celeri root, caramelized onions and sauteed parsnips and small potatoes - all delicious. The fois gras portion was extremely generous and had a melt-in-your mouth texture. 

Fois gras and canard confit

For dessert we ordered the chocolate pogo with pear soup, which was good, but other desserts might have impressed more. We also had cafe lattes, which were great.


With the meal, we ordered a half bottle of one of the most affordable red wines that was recommended by our waiter, and it was excellent. Overall the bill including a half bottle of wine, a shared appetizer, two main courses, a shared dessert and two lattes came up to 100 $ including taxes, which we found was more than acceptable considering the quality. I'm told that the menu changes frequently and according to their website, they serve brunch, so this place has definite re-visit value.


La Presse was definitely right...this place is a must-see!


Approximate price for two people: 100 $
http://www.bistrotlafabrique.com/

Tip: How to soften brown sugar

There's nothing more aggravating than getting ready to bake and realizing that your brown sugar has hardened and it's filled with hard clumps. As you scrape at it, some of it ends up flying everywhere and you regret ever having started this project in the first place. The next time this happens to you, try this neat trick. Simply pop your brown sugar container into the microwave and heat it up for about 30 seconds on High. The heat will cause the molasses in the brown sugar to soften, which will in turn make the brown sugar smooth again! It's fast and it works every time!

Where to go in Chinatown? (Part 1)

People often ask me for suggestions as to where to go in Chinatown because of my heritage. I never know where to begin because depending on what you feel like doing or eating there are many places to visit. In this first entry, I've compiled a list of some of my favorite spots in Chinatown...with more to come in subsequent postings! 

Dim Sum: 
Dim Sum is a Cantonese style brunch in which dishes are presented to you in little carts pushed by the waiters. It's basically the equivalent of a buffet because you can see the food before you choose it, but in this case, the buffet is brought to you! Each table has a card and as you order your dishes, the waiter marks the cost of your choice on your tab. At the end, the tab is added up to calculate your bill. The dishes consist mainly of different bite-sized foods, such as dumplings and rolls, and each portion serves approximately four people. 

Kam Fung on St-Urbain street is definitely the place to go for Dim Sum, and it serves it everyday of the week until 3 pm. On any day, expect a lot of people if you arrive around noon; the best time to arrive is around 11:30 am, or perhaps around 1:30 pm. Seafood is prominent during dim sum, especially shrimps, so be prepared to find them in many dishes.

I highly recommend many dishes at Kam Fung including the broad rice noodles with shrimp, the spring rolls, the soya sauce sesame noodles, the fried shrimp dumplings, the seafood rolls...The list just keeps going! Here are two examples of great dishes:

Steamed shrimp dumplings (called Ha gao):

Ha gao are steamed shrimp dumplings with a see-through dough. Traditionally, ha gao is considered to be the dish that is representative of the dim sum chef's skills. The shrimp should be plump and juicy and the wrapping tender. Ha gao can be eaten alone, but I usually like them with a little dip in sauce - worchestershire or soya.   

Eggplant stuffed with shrimp, or green pepper stuffed with shrimp in black bean sauce:

This is another one of my favorite dishes. When done successfully, the eggplant should be juicy, yet sweet and the shrimps flavorful.

For dessert, many sweets are available, but my all time favorites are the custard egg tarts (called Dan Ta). They have a flaky crust and a creamy sweet filling. They truly are the perfect end to the meal.
 
Finally, as a side note, I highly recommend drinking tea during the meal (and during all Chinese meals for that matter). Keep in mind that the meals were designed with tea as a beverage, and therefore the drinking of tea really complements the dishes, and will help your digestion.

Approximate cost for two people: $30
http://www.restaurantlamaisonkamfung.com/


Chinese meal:
Another one of my favorite places to go in Chinatown is Hong Kong restaurant on St-Laurent boulevard.  Many of their dishes are incredible here. The dishes I regularly order are:

- Shrimp wonton soup: Delicious cantonese style wonton, with a thin skin and a really flavorful broth.

- Barbecue pork and roast duck appetizer platter: Hong Kong specializes in Chinese barbecue style roasting, and on their left hand side entrance, you can see the meats hanging in the window. The Chinese style barbecue pork (called Char Siu, pronounced Tsa Siu) is really their trademark and I highly recommend it. On the appetizer platter, I also like the roast duck, as well as the pickled vegetables which really accompany the meats perfectly with their sweet-sour flavor.

- Salt and pepper squid, shrimps or pork chops : "Salt and pepper" dishes all consist of some meat or seafood battered and fried in the same spicy seasoning. It's crunchy, it's spicy and it's delicious! Don't forget to eat the spicy red and green peppers and onions in the dish.

- General Tao chicken (or Ginger chicken) : They make an excellent General Tao chicken here. The sauce is perfectly sweet and the chicken pieces are juicy and crunchy.

- House special fried rice: Their fried rice is the best in town. The rice itself is so tasty, and all the ingredients - shrimps, pork, peas and carrots - are cooked to perfection.  A must order!

Approximate cost for two people (with leftovers): $40

Restaurant Hong Kong
1023 St Laurent
Montreal, QC H2Z 1J4

The Best Pad Thaï

With the recent spread of Thaï Express all over the city, it's easy to forget that Pad Thaï is not supposed to be an overly sweet ketchuppy mess of noodles dolloped onto a plate. If you're looking for a dish that offers a mountain of noodles with fresh crunchy toppings, as well as a sauce that is a nice balance of sweet, salty and spicy, look no further than Cuisine Bangkok at the Faubourg. The dishes really taste like home cooking, and the chefs take the time to make each one right. Not only is the Pad Thaï delicious, but it's really affordable too. Don't be surprised if there is a lineup during meal hours, this place is not to be missed!

Approximate cost for two people: $20

Review: L'Entrecôte St-Jean

When you walk into L'Entrecôte St-Jean you feel like you are in a Parisien bistro. The lighting, the mirrored walls, and the music all transport you to the magical city and make you forget that you on Peel street. L'Entrecôte has a very unusual concept, it offers a very limited menu with only one option as a main course: a sirloin steak. It is considered their house specialty, and their accompanying creamy mustard sauce is really what makes it stand out. This restricted menu has allowed them to perfect the dish, and to offer a table d'hôte that is well worth the price. For around 25 $, the table d'hôte includes a cream vegetable soup, a green salad with walnuts, followed by a steak platter that comes with awesome thinly cut french fries (''pommes allumettes'). The meal also includes vanilla ice cream profiteroles with hot chocolate sauce! Every course is good and the service is very efficient. I definitely recommend a visit!

Approximate cost for two people: $60 
http://www.lentrecotestjean.com/index_en.html

Tip: How to clean your microwave in minutes!

I recently learned an amazing trick to clean your microwave oven really quickly, and I just had to share it. You simply have to begin by putting a bowl of water in your microwave and then heating it on high for a few minutes until the water is steaming. When you take the bowl out, you'll notice that all the hardened bits of food that are stuck everywhere will have softened because of the steam, and can then be wiped off really easily. No scrubbing, no strong products required...it works like a charm!

Top Ceasar Salads

Who doesn't love a good ceasar salad? The dressing is creamy, the croutons add crunch, and very often it has bacon in it! Sounds like a formula for success....Sadly you'd be surprised how often restaurants miss the mark. My main complaint with Ceasar salads is that the dressing is often way too rich or too salty. In my experience, the best dressings are the ones that have lemon in them because I believe the acidity of the lemon balances out the heaviness of the cream, which is basic. Another problem is that Ceasar salad is really fattening - nutritional studies have shown it to have as much fat as a hamburger - so I rarely allow myself this indulgence, especially if I'm not sure whether or not the salad that I will be getting will be worth the calories. Below is a list of the top three places where the Ceasar salads are definitely worth it!

1. La Maison de Calico: This small restaurant, hidden away behind a quilting store in the Pointe-Claire village makes my favorite Ceasar salad. Funny thing is, their basic salad is super simple with only croutons and parmesan cheese as  toppings, but the dressing is really what makes it special. The dressing has a definite lemon flavor, without being too acidic. It is not too rich and heavy either, just a perfect balance. The price is a little high though, around 7 $ for the small (and it is quite small), but every now and then it is worth it.

http://www.maisondecalico.com/

2. Pizzadélic: I like this salad because it comes with all the traditionnal trimmings: capers, anchovies and bacon. A crisp flatbread also accompanies the salad and kind of replaces the need for croutons. A lemon wedge is often included (ask for one if it is not) and a slight squeeze of it brightens up the salad. The cost of the salad is around 5 or 6 $ for the appetizer size.

3. Elixor: Elixor claims to make their dressings from scratch and I find it shows with their Ceasar salad. Their dressing distinguishes itself by having a stronger garlic flavor, which is another way to cut down on the heaviness. The salad comes with real bacon pieces and chunky croutons. The price is great considering the size, $6  for a big appetizer size, but what's even better is that with certain meals it is often possible to add the salad for only 3$, which is totally worth it.

http://www.elixor.com/

Review: Wisushi

Tonight my husband and I went for a nice sushi dinner at one of our old haunts, the Japanese restaurant Wisushi in the West island, and we were not disappointed. The food was excellent, the fish was very fresh and we were pleased to discover that Wisushi has finally expanded its location, adding a new section which can now accommodate up to 50 people. As an appetizer, we decided to try the seared tuna sashimi plate despite its high 16$ price tag. For a fish lover, this platter is a must. The tuna was just slightly seared on the outside, but still had a melt-in-your-mouth buttery texture. The miso sauce that it was served with, as well as the fried green onion bits were nice accompaniments. Wisushi makes the best California roll in my view, it is fresh and crisp. Another specialty is the Spicy Scallop roll, which includes tempura and baby onion sprigs which give the maki a unique flavor. Finally the salmon and yellowtail tuna nigiris were fresh and satisfying.

Approximate cost for two people: $60

http://www.wisushi.com/

Review: La Louisianne

La Lousianne is one of my most favorite restaurants. I love the atmosphere at this place, complete with a jazz inspired decor, dim lighting and great music. After ordering, warm baguette bread is brought to the table, along with deliciously spicy corn bread mini-muffins. Most of the appetizers are very good - the coconut beer shrimp and the crab cakes are the best - but the small portions make these a special occasion treat considering the price. Despite having tried many of their meals, the Shrimp Magnolia pasta dish remains my favorite and consists of penne pasta with a cajun flavored tomato, cream, and white wine sauce. The pasta is also topped with their special Creole shrimp which are incredibly tender and flavorful. The table d'hôte, although a little more pricey (approximately 30 $ per person) includes a soup or salad, a main course and coffee, and offers wonderful dishes with fresh ingredients. I also highly recommend the dessert of the day as it is the perfect end to the meal!

Approximate cost for two people: $60
http://www.lalouisiane.ca/main.htm