On the recommended list in Montreal for drinks is a place called Buvette chez Simone on Avenue du Parc. I had this crazy idea that we’d go by bike at close to midnight since it was open until 3 am, which became even crazier when I realized we had to cycle up a hill through a dark park with very few lights. Worth the effort and the wait however as I was surprised when “trendy old world French style bistro” meets a “hip urban bar” greeted us at the door, a place that plays rap music one minute and a tune from Jesus Christ Superstar the next.
Another oddity is Avenue du Parc itself which takes you past a petrol station, a dress boutique that sells wedding dresses and a Syranese food shop all on the same block. WTF?
My colleague didn’t feel the old world atmosphere the way I did, but it was the brick and the community-like bar that drew me into old world, not to mention the oh so old style French wines and the long list of charcuteries, fromage, rotisserie, antipasto and poissons on the menu. While designed to be more of a bar than a traditional restaurant, it’s the sort of place you should go, sit at the bar and just order half portions in that “tasting frenzy” kind of way. Foodies will love the small portions so they can sample more off the menu without over-indulging.
My suggestion: order three glasses of red one right after each other, starting with the Chinon 2009 Domaine Fabrice Gasnier, Les Graves (Cabernet Franc), then move onto the Loire Valley Vin de France (Olivier Lemasson, Poivre el Sel – not a fabulous wine but the body is just right for so many of the dishes) and then dive into the Spanish Manchuela 2010: Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce Clos Lojen. I had to go taste quite a few before the blend was just right with what I was about to order…
While the wines sit and open up before you, tell the waiter to bring the plates out as they’re ready…
Start with the terrine paysanne (my favorite) followed by the rillettes de canard maison (my second favorite and a traditional classic in Montreal as I discovered in many of the restaurants and bistros around the city). Depending on how hungry you are, I’d also get a half portion of the Mousse de foie, the prociutto, a cheese sampler (bouton de culotte, caprice des cantons, laliberte, terra promise, fourme d’Ambert) and a side salad. (they have greek, green beans and veggies, mushrooms and nectarines with lettuce).
You can also get a quarter or half Rotissorie although I’d recommend the sampler route since they do a great job with their charcuteries at this lovely Avenue du Parc find. I’d suggest walking there though and cabbing it home :-)
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
