The December edition of Current Crush comes to you on the last day of the year. Just a quick reminder that these “Current Crush” posts are here so I can share a few of my latest coups de cœur with you. Some of these spots may be new, some a bit more honed but they’re all fantastic and definitely worth a visit. Enjoy this edition and don’t forget to check out the October and November ones!
LE CAFÉ BLOOM
1940 rue Centre / 514 508 2313
Tuesday to Friday: 8am – 6pm / Saturday, Sunday: 9am – 5pm
Brunch at Café Bloom in Montreal’s Griffintown neighbourhood
There are some places that have a certain kind of intangible feeling that makes you feel comfortable and at home. Café Bloom is such a place. I stopped by there a few months ago for the first time on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The place was empty and as I lounged on one of the vintage sofas coffee in hand, admiring all the mismatched furniture and wall art, I felt this certain je-ne-sais-quoi. I went back a couple of weeks ago for brunch and this time around, the place was full, loud with animated discussions and children playing. The food is fresh, healthy and comforting and the ambiance makes you want to stick around for hours.
This address has been added to my map of Montreal’s best independent cafés. You can also follow my twitter list of Montreal independent cafés here.
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DELI VITO
7901 Henri-Julien Avenue / 514 507 8700
Monday to Sunday: 10am – 8pm
Delicious spaghetti with meat sauce at Deli Vito in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood
If you follow me on Instagram or on Twitter, or if you’ve ever consulted my Montreal coffee map, then you know that Cafe Vito is one of my favourites, serving up a fine cup of Italian-style caffè just a couple of blocks from where I live. Now Vito brings you deli Vito, a few blocks away from the café. The space is bigger, serves coffee of course but also panini, pastas, salads, soups, etc. I had a craving for spaghetti with meat sauce one night and the big bowl of toothy pasta with a rich meat sauce, meatball and sausage that Vito’s son cooked up for me hit the spot just right. The deli also sells a few Italian, as well as local products such as pannetone, sauces and chocolate spreads. But the best part of both of Vito’s businesses is the welcome you get every time you walk in, making you feel like you’re a part of la famiglia.
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ADD: THIS SPOT IS UNFORTUNATELY NOW CLOSED
LA RÉCRÉATION
378 St-Paul West / 514 507 5449
Monday to Friday: 11h30am – 2:30pm
Lunch for two at la récréation in Old Montreal
La récréation is a new lunch spot that just opened inside the gorgeous Maison Pépin, a furniture and home store in the heart of Old Montreal. La récréation is the latest venture from Chez Victoire’s restaurateur Edward Zaki, chef Alexandre Gosselin and sommelière Sindie Goineau. Gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads as well as some heartier daily dishes are offered with a special focus on using local and seasonal products. Fresh juices and smoothies are made to order and are guaranteed to chase the winter blues away! Don’t forget to end your meal on a sweet note with some of the city’s best brownies and pudding chômeur!
Please note that although la récréation is my client, this post has nothing to do with that and everything to do with the fact that they make delicious food 🙂
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CEVICHES
152 rue Napoleon / 514 419 6391
Monday to Wednesday: 10am – 8pm / Thursday, Friday: 10am – 9pm / Sunday: 12pm – 7pm
Delicious (and pretty!) white fish ceviche at Ceviches
I love ceviche! I was introduced to it years ago by a friend of mine and I never miss an opportunity to order some whenever I see it on a menu. Ceviches is the answer to any ceviche-lover’s prayer. The ceviches are fresh, made to order and affordable enough to eat every day! The space itself is divided equally between the restaurant and a Latino grocery store. The restaurant also makes paella, fried calamari and shrimp as well as daily specials all prepared by the lovely Maria and available to eat on the spot or to take home. The ceviches come in 4 sizes and a variety of flavours (tamarind, mango, coconut, etc.).
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ILS EN FUMENT DU BON
176 Jean-Talon East
Monday to Wednesday: 9am – 6pm / Thursday, Friday: 8am – 8pm / Saturday: 8am – 6pm / Sunday: 8:30am – 6pm
Ils en fument du bon’s delicious artisanal sausages
I have been saying it for a few months now, my friend Felipe St Laurent makes some of the best sausages in town! Artisanally-made, with big chunks of smoked meat, bacon, cheese and onion among other things, these sausages are not your average wieners. Although a company with a chuckle-worthy name, Ils en fument du bon (they’re smoking some good stuff) really is cooking up some great stuff, from sausages to salmon to terrines. The products are now available at Felipe’s newly-opened store at the Jean-Talon market, which he shares with the Canard du Lac Brome people and La Pourvoirie to make this a one stop shop for all your party needs. One word of advise, try the bacon and cheese curd sausage, one of the first ones Felipe created and still my favourite. You can also stock up on a few packs since they freeze amazingly well.
