Reuben's Delicatessen

On our first walk around Montreal, Stephen, Bobby and I found ourselves with a pocketful of Canadian money and hungry stomachs. We were on Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, a busy street full of stores and restaurants and had passed by Reuben's and it just so happened to be recommended by my aunt. It is a meatlover's heaven... which is 'funny' because Stephen is a vegetarian but the three of us went inside. It's a large bustling restaurant, totally the epitome of a delicatessen.

Again, lucky for the guys, a very cute hostess was working that day and sat us at a booth by the window. Also lucky, they had a few vegetarian dishes on the menu.

I ordered their French Onion Soup which was really delectable. I remember my mom always ordering it whenever it was offered, and I couldn't understand the appeal of onions in broth. But as I've gotten older and wiser, I know the reason why it, when made right, can be the perfect thing to satiate your hunger. The cheese was gooey, and the crouton was still crispy even submerged in the soup. I got a side order of their Poutine (also recommended by my aunt). When it came out, I fully regretted it. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious, but the french fries were laden with shredded meat, gravy and cheese; I couldn't finish the whole thing. Aside from traveling with a vegetarian. I was also with a lactose-free eater (Practically everything I ordered this past weekend, unconsciously, was for me and me alone). Bobby got the beef teriyaki salad: and Stephen a good-lookin' eggplant, pepper and whathaveyou sandwich. He generously gave me his cole slaw which was a nice balance to the salty and heavy Poutine. Next time I go there, I'm getting the onion rings which come with a side of Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce (Because I heard good things... and come on, how does that not sound amazing to you??)


Bobby and his impressive Beef Teriyaki Salad


Steph's sandwich


my soupe de l'oignon

I'd post a picture of my Poutine, but when Stephen saw it, he said "That looks really disgusting". and he's right...

Une Grenouille Dans La Théière (A Frog in the Teapot)

Our Friday in Montreal consisted of "getting lost" and getting food, which I think is a wonderful way to explore a city, as experienced a couple of weekends ago with Mike and Saela. Another way I like to see a new city (with public transportation), is to pick a stop on a transit map, go there and look around. It worked quite well in Vienna and I got a really good sense of 'Wein' in the day and a half I was there.

So in Montreal, Stephen, Bobby and I rode the Metro and chose Jean-Talon, a random spot north of where we were. It was also a station where you could transfer to another line, which made me think it might be a busy part of town, albeit less-touristy. Where we ended up was more like Steinway St in Queens, and less like Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. However, there was a silver lining:

Une Grenouille dans la Théière (or Salon de Thé, if you will) is a calm albeit adorable little shop, that is serious about tea. The menu book is about 8 pages long (not one word in English) that list various types of tea (astray from the usual Earl Grey or Oolong, but they are included as well).

menu book, actually bound like a book

Stephen, Bobby and I were thankful for this little shop on rue Saint-Hubert because we had just walked down blocks and blocks of clothing stores- the kind you may find in Chelsea, or the garment district of NY, but with no way out. If we were looking for wedding dresses or cheap bags, then this may have been a goldmine, however neither of us are brides-to-be. Nevertheless, the Salon de Thé was quiet and cozy. We had a very pretty server/cashier who spoke some English. I ordered a Chai, though I wish I ordered a thé blanc (white tea) because then I would've gotten a little teapot of my own (which they sold in dozens of colors, and I was tempted to get.) They also sold tea leaves/blooms, jam, books and gorgeous ceramics.



We also got scones. I ordered un scone de fromage (cheese scone, which was like a rich man's version of Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits), Steph- a scone de canneberge (cranberry) and Bobby- a scone aux épices (Spice). Luckily for us, we went at the right time because there is apparently a tea & scone special for $6.50 from 4-6:30pm -which we only found out when we paid our l'additions (checks).

scone de fromage

Then Steph broke the bathroom sink and we jetted out of that place faster than you can say Bon Appétit.

Doughnut Plant

Everything you knew about doughnuts before this post was a lie, unless of course, you have had a delectable yeast doughnut from the Doughnut Plant. I know there are some pretty loyal Krispy Kreme fans out there, or dare I say, Dunkin Donuts, but these little beauts are just about the best and worst thing you could down with a cup of joe or tea. I haven't looked at the nutritional facts, and I want to keep it that way.
It all started on one Halloween day, 2008, when 2 large white boxes of doughnuts were brought into the office by Tim, a very generous coworker who would change my life forever.




The wonderful thing about the coconut creme is that the filling isn't very sweet at all. In fact it's very light and very reminiscent of the filling in a Beard Papa cream puff. The con to this donut is that it is nearly impossible to eat one on the street without making a huge mess. I tried to rip off a piece but they are so tender and chewy and glaze got all over my hands and face. I'm sure I looked pretty ridiculous (and maybe homeless) carrying around my huge backpacker backpack, balancing a totebag all while scoffing down a donut.

I really don't want to overhype these because I would feel awful if you trekked in the deep dark depths of the lower east side/chinatown for nothing. I actually walked about 15 minutes from the Canal St Station (The Essex/Delancey is closer) to get them for a bus ride up to New Paltz last Thursday. However, I am confident that you will find at least one doughnut here to your liking. I personally like the coconut creme and jelly-filled square (both pictured). Also, the plain glazed (Stephen's doughnut of choice) is just as satisfying.

One will run you about $2.75- trust me, it's worth every bite.

Why Go South of the Border When You're in the North?

I met Travis at Stephen's birthday party about a month ago. I saw him again at their office when I met Steph to go up to Montreal last Thursday. I asked what his plans were for the weekend, and he said he was going to a Tortilla Soup party. I was intrigued. I don't think I had ever had Tortilla soup, nor have I been to a soup party. "Does everyone bring in their own soup?" Nope, just one big pot. I half-jokingly asked if he wanted to be a guest writer for my blog and asked him to take pictures. While he did not bring a camera, he did write a lovely story which I share with you today.
-n

***

/How Danny's friends assisted the pirate to keep a vow, and how as a reward for merit the pirate's dogs saw a holy vision.///
by Travis Donia

Tortilla Soup, Vegetarian Chili, Sweet Corn Bread, Prunes + Mascarpone, & a splash of Sugar Hill

It’s hard to write a compelling story without drama. No mystery, no conflict – no interest. Boring. Entirely predictable. Like soup on rainy day. All creative arcs aside though, we’re talking about some damn fine soup.

Tortilla soup, like Tortilla Flat, tells the tale of warm home shared among friends that will surely end in flames. Cheese, sour cream & spicy. Add chicken, tortilla chips, beans & peppers. Make thick. Serve hot. Be sure the cheese melts commensurate to the soggy of the chips, then use the sour cream to cool everything down & make creamy. And don’t forget there’s cornbread. Not just any cornbread – like a double date with your parents, this bread’s a corny sort of sweet & crumbly, destined to end up in the soup. Unlike a double date with your parents, this cornbread will never ask you if you wouldn’t mind trading dates, muttering something about her pirate’s eyes. That’s some powerful magic. As the first coma sets in, be glad it’s only raining outside the apartment. Buck up, soldier, that bowl isn’t going to fill itself. By god, there’s Vegetable Chili to be had– who can say no to mighty chunks of peppers, tomatoes & beans, smoked out in a fetching chipotle broth? Wash it all down with a nice cold Sugar Hill – a golden ale that pairs perfectly with most things spicy.

Lions visit from the internet while the cats chase bottle caps down the hall. There are tears & laughter & that inevitable regret that can only come after 3 large bowls of soup. Delicious, defiant. – regret not that you ate too much soup but that your stomach was too small for more.

Tortilla Flat, in case you’re not familiar, is a book by John Steinbeck about the things Wikipedia says it’s about. Mostly. Wikipedia fails to elaborate on the nature of the pirate’s dogs’ vision. It certainly wasn’t a vision of sugar plums that startled them on that foggy night. Nor us on this rainy night. Rather, there were prunes long simmered to syrup in a red wine sauce with cinnamon, for the startling. This strange brew was poured like sainthood onto Mascarpone, a triple (count em’ 3) cream cheese more commonly found in tiramisu. The results? I don’t know. Blacked out from the awesome. There may have been zombies, but my 5^th amendment rights prevent me from going into greater detail. Just know that the victims settled out of court & that the recipe became public record during trial.

The moral of the story? Soup’s a virtue among friends but she who wields the biggest spoon serves the most leftovers. And there’s much to be said for hot soup on a cold night.

Thanks to Claire & Liza for that great food. Thanks to Miles & Kilo for the entertainment.

***

Thanks, Travis! It sounded so enticing that I ended up ordering from La Esquina for lunch today specifically to try their Tortilla Soup (chicken, tomato broth, ancho and cotija cheese), along with a Cochinita Pibil Taco (pulled pork, shredded cabbage, habanero pickled onions jalapeno). Again, no pictures, but they were absolutely delicious. My only complaint is their soft tortillas that are very dry and fragile. (If you've ever been to Snack Dragon Taco Shack, you'd know what I mean, however La Esquina's are 10x better) They use two for a reason, but it still broke apart. They need to take a tip from the Taco Shack in New Paltz- a tiny unflashy storefront which sells cheap tacos (beef, lettuce and cheese in a hard shell is $1.09, 50cents more for soft tortilla). While it is really nothing fancy or worth a trip to New Paltz for, it was definitely a welcomed snack after being on the road for so long from Montreal. Should I ever find myself there again, I'm getting the "bag of tacos" -- 10 plain crunchy tacos with a drink for $9.99.

Maison

Yesterday, my very generous Aunt Bicky took me out to brunch with her and Miranda at Maison, an incredibly cute French restaurant in Midtown.

She ordered an Asparagus, Swiss Cheese and Egg crepe:


Miranda, the Chicken Ceasar Salad:


and I was going to get the Croque Madame, but they told me to order something I wouldn't normally make so I ordered the Smoked Ham, Gruyere Cheese and Egg crepe.


Everything was delicious, I just wish mine were fuller; but I shall return here to try the other dishes on the menu.

Holy Jalapenos!

I found a new addiction. Kashi's Autumn Shredded Wheat Cereal in milk. It's lightly sweetened, and it absorbs the milk beautifully. I added sliced bananas to it this morning.

Of course, I ruined a healthy breakfast by indulging at lunch. I had to make returns with Will L., a guy I PAed with on the film shoot I was on the past few days. After the last return in Long Island City, we stopped in The Creek because we were starving. It's not a place I would ever try as it is right by the entrance of the Pulaski Bridge. Luckily he is the adventurous type.

He ordered a tofu burrito, and I? a Veracruz burger. For whatever reason, I thought it was just cheese, red onion, lettuce and tomato and a special sauce, but when it arrived, I saw it was decked out in jalapeno pepper slices. How did I miss that on the menu?? I was skeptical at first, but it was actually a really great addition to the burger. I downed it with a bottle of Gus' Dry Cranberry Lime (GUS stands for Grown Up Soda) The Creek also serves complimentary tortilla chips with salsa. Yummy. If you ever find yourself hungry on your way in or out of Greenpoint, try this place out... but maybe you should take the subway because parking is a bitch in that area.

A Nice Little Sunday

What's the best way to spend a Sunday? Apparently, meeting up with some good friends for Brunch and scouring the East Village, West Village and Lower East Side for cafes, restaurants and bars over the course of 10 hours...

Saela called me up and invited me out to brunch at Life Cafe (On 10th St & Ave B) with Mike M. and Mike R. I originally wasn't going to eat, but I have zero willpower, so I ordered French Toast. I was REALLY sad to see they took their Kentucky Hot Brown off their Brunch Menu as it was the heartiest and least-healthy dish.


I'm pretty sure someone had a crush on me (or knew of my blog?) because my plate was the only one decorated all pretty-like! However, I did have 3 complaints.
1) it was cold-ish.
2) the promised cinnamon cream was non-existent
3) I had to get up to ask for maple syrup.

That aside, it was quite good and our waiter, Jake, was entertaining ;)

Also good, but not as pretty? Mike R's breakfast burrito and tempeh bacon.


Saela, Mike R. an I also hit up Dante's Cafe, (MacDougal between Bleecker and Houston St) to get some cappucinos. Mike got profiteroles. Service is notoriously bad, and the atmosphere may make you lethargic. But one thing is for sure... they know how to make coffee and desserts (including gelato!)

Cream Puffs with a chocolate mousse filling, smothered in a light white glaze (?) that almost resembles marshmallow fluff.

Also got seasoned french fries (that come in a cone!) at Mason Dixon (Essex between Stanton and Rivington). Unfortunately we did not try to Mechanical Bull. Next time, for sure.


Then got pizza at Two Boots (Ave A and 3rd St).

Normally I get a slice of the Tony Clifton which consists of onions, mushrooms with red pepper pesto:

(Photo from Seamless Web)
However, I decided to try something new and got The Earth Mother: vegan pizza with spinach, onions, peppers, artichokes and mushrooms).

(Photo from flickr)

All in all, a nice little Sunday.


***
Other food/drink establishments visited:
-A cute little Cafe, (albeit a little too quiet aka "intellectual" for our taste) on Ave A.
-Think Coffee on Mercer St. (too crowded)
-Esperanto Cafe on MacDougal (too crowded)
-Puck Fair on Lafayette and Houston (nice bar, but no one interesting to talk to on a Sunday night)
-Eastern Bloc (a gay bar clearly anti-straight people)
-Hi-Life Bar (clearly anti-fun! Do NOT go to this bar if you hate obnoxious bartenders)