Inexpensive Brunches around Montreal

I've been thinking of reactivating my blog recently, and my sister provided the perfect opportunity to do so 3 weeks ago. I guess I decided to be basic and write my first post on brunches that I've eaten in and around Montreal during the last month or so.

Le Pot Masson:
3141 rue Masson , Montréal 

She invited me to one of her favourite brunch in the city, Le Pot Masson in HoMa, right next to a school she used to attend. She's been raving for months about how great this place is, however, the line always super long so we never went there. The other day she ambushed me before my morning coffee and ask me to go with her. The wait wasn't that bad (we sent her friend to wait in line for 1h30 tho). The food, on the other hand, was lit AF.

Look at this fuccboi strolling through the menu.

The coffee and the daily smoothie. Which was a Berries based concoction. My sister like those and she believes this was a particularly good version, I rather not have fruit juice or smoothie in the morning, so I'll trust her judgement on this. The coffee was a made from well-roasted beans.

I ordered their version of eggs bennies with an extra side of bacon, which cost in total 7$. The bacon was a thick cut, smokey, deliciousness. Some of my favourite breakfast bacon I've had in Montreal. The hollandaise was a tangy and creamy, and at the perfect temperature. The base for it was not a traditional English muffin, nor was it the baguette variation, which is popular in Montreal. The base was a delicious French Toast, known in french as a pain perdu or a pain dorée. The Potatoes could have been work with, but it was still a solid breakfast, especially for 7$.

Le Vieux Vélo:

59 Rue Beaubien E, Montréal

So, my friend Pierre was visiting from the United States, Shoutout to our Ivy league prodigy, and of course, he wanted to hit up a brunch place. We hit up a spot in the Mile-Ex, le Vieux Vélo. While the plateau and the Mile-end started to become more and more expensive, the upper limit of what's a cool neighborhood, the Mile-Ex and Villeray, are still relatively affordable. Which causes a boom in third wave coffee shops, artisanal clothing shops, and brunch places. We headed to le Vieux Vélo, which was a solid choice. They had Siracha with the usual ketchup as a condiment, and the coffee is dope, my friend thought the coffee was so amazing that he asked what were the beans. The eggs benedict, a great concoction of Bacon, Avocado, and Brie cheese, over medium poached eggs and a delicious hollandaise. This is one of my favourite brunch in the city, hands down, albeit I would have preferred a tad crispier.

Café Replika:Café Replika, 252 Rachel Est

Turkish coffee is a thing of beauty. The bitterness, the almost spicy aftertaste that matches so well with the bitter and slightly piney flavour of the mastic. The Café replika truly makes a very good one. The dishes used was also very aesthetically pleasing. 

börek, one of my favourite pastries ever. Not only it is absolutely amazing, I have very fond memories of böreks. During my university years, a few of my friends came to visit my ratty apartment in Ottawa, and one of them, Ozgur for those who's wondering, brought with the delicious böreks. For this reason, böreks always reminds me of a great time with friends. This version of it contains spinach, feta and is crispy and delicious. It is not a traditional brunch per say, but it is truly bomb.

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Michelin Star Noodle in Toronto: Jim Chai Kee.

Hi ya'll! It's been a while since my last post! Iv'e been extremely busy. Sorry for the delay.

As some of you may know, a few Michelin star places in Asia have a second outpost in the GTA. Jim Chai Kee is kind of an enigma to me. The outpost in Hong kong has a Star, but the place looks like a hole in the wall.

However, the food, is great. Some of the best noodles you can get. The wonton are big, shrimpy, personally, I would prefer them a little bit smaller. The Fish balls in my lo mien was full of texture and life, and the veggies were fresh. The soup was amazingly complex. Oh and a bowl of Wonton is 5$.

Lgros Brunch At Lgros Luxe

Well, as some of you may know, I'm not really a fan of brunches. Mostly because egg, potatoes and bacon becomes kinda boring after a while, and I can make it at home. However, I enjoy eating at places which reinterpret brunches differently, at this place is one of them.

Berryjito? A drink that my SO ordered, Berry of the day, muddle with rum and mint. If this is your thing, its pretty good.

 What is the national alcoholic brevage of Canada? There is no definitive answer to this question, but I would argue that the Bloody Caesar is a good contender. Delicious, salty, tomatoey, a bit briny (from the seafood), with a good amount of spice. Delicious.

 Avocado Fries, a delicious, creamy concoction.

 Vegetarian burger+bacon. Really good, surprisingly enough, I was expecting a boring falafel-like patty, it was surprisingly nutty, crunchy, not full of grease, and delicious. Amazing burger.

Has browns with curried cauliflowers and eggs. Yup, delicious, reminiscent of Aloo Goobi, but crunchier. Fun dish, delicious and cheap too. This is actually a better price value and way tastier than the boring breakfast joint that is omnipresent in Quebec. 

This was an almost vegetarian meal, and it was delicious, would gladly return there.

Not a fan of the name tho, I guess we can't have everything in life.

Coffee Indie Passport: Soviet coffee and Russian doughnut at Chez Boris

Soviet Coffee:

Just like in other Communist country, milk and sugar was a rationed good, so people had to find substitute, condensed milk was usually what was used. The coffee here is a great, subtle coffee, with a hint of sweetness. Solid coffee.

Russian Doughnuts! Not as sweet as their american counterpart, they are freshly fried. They might be the best doughnuts in town. 

Iced tea, a cold, thirst quenching fruity tea.  

Would glady return for some tea and doughnuts ;)

Indie Coffee Passport: Cafe Fixe

Second Visit of the Coffee indie passport! Located in Saint-hubert, near the Jean-Talon Market.

Solid Cappuccino 

Earl Grey Cold Iced Tea

Cookie.

The heart and soul of Montreal: The Jean-Talon Market

The Market places in Montreal are some of the best in the world.This is the beating heart of most culinarians, from the hipsters in the Mile-end to the families in Ahuntsic, everybody shops there. This post is not about the best spot in the market, which are plenty, but about the spots I frequent more or less frequently.

Day Drink and Brunch, le Pourvoyeur

This is the local watering hole in the market. Right on Jean-talon, it has a beautiful patio.

Pint of Mystique

Spanish Gin and artisanal tonic, this was amazing.

Creton and toast. This was brunch right:)

El Rey Del Taco: solid taco in the market

It usually comes with 3 salsa, the salsa verde is mind-blowing delicious by the way, and the Horchata is a sweet delicious concoction. Cinnamon, milky goodness. 

Cheese and Nopales with tortillas. Wouldn't order again, but they are tasty.

Taco Al Pastor, Chorizo Taco, I Forgot what was the last one but they were all delicious.

La Boite au Huitres, great seafood, from the cheap clams to great amazing oysters.

Poutine Centrale

Stewed maple beef ragu in maple syrup poutine

bacon, mushroom onion poutine

Havre des glaces, amazing ice cream

La Carreta for homie Salvadorean food, pupusas and tamales.

You should visit, go look around, follow your nose, buy some produce, try the small local producers, because it's a great marketplace, with awesome people and great food.

Indie Coffee Passport: Cafe Replika

Future blogpost may be posted with pictures from potato phone because my camera was stolen. Derp

I just bought one of those coffee passport that gives me 25ish coffee at 25 different spots! This was one of them. The coffee shop is located on Rachel, near many other really good coffee places, and some very good Portuguese joint. 

The interior is drop dead gorgeous. Full of old pictures, solid art work representation and a beautiful coffee machine.

A great Turkish  coffee, smooth, aromatic.

 Since this is a third wave Turkish Place, I ordered a Berek with Spinash and cheese. It was good.

On a side note, look at the China. You don't see this everyday in a coffee shop. They are beautiful.

Will return even without the coffee passport.