méchant boeuf for a night out and a burger
A couple of weeks ago, hubby and I had dinner at Méchant Boeuf, the lively bar-restaurant in Vieux Montreal.
Tall windows define the front of the restaurant, the tiled back wall streams with water. The bar, suffused in red light, runs from front to back. The place is packed with square tables, leather-backed chairs, and, on that Friday night, the nervous energy of young, well-dressed urbanites.
The air throbbed as the DJ, wearing a tuque, goggles and tattoos, cued up the Rolling Stones, followed by the Tragically Hip. Waiting for our table, I smelled oysters.
The food at Méchant Boeuf is French brasserie fare - raw bar, hanger steak, grilled salmon - with a nod to pub food, including burgers and a poutine made with braised pork and Canadian Migneron cheese.
My salad of arugula and goat cheese was decidedly French: half inch slabs of creamy chèvre stacked between rounds of yellow and red beet made a delightful and delicious sculpture.
Eating required deconstruction; in the process I slathered cheese on slices of fresh crusty baguette. The loose pile of peppery greens with grape tomatoes and grated carrot, paired with a glass of Chilean cab, left me satiated, and full.
The burgers at Méchant Boeuf are said to be the best in town, and Ken couldn’t resist. The half pound of charbroiled beef arrived nicely pink at the center (even though our server told us they’re not technically allowed to serve beef rare).
The juicy meat was covered with blue cheese, gruyère, caramelized onion, and two substantial slices of bacon. A warm onion roll contained the dense, smokey concoction. An English pint of Tetley’s cream ale, with notes of caramel and a hoppy finish, was exemplary at its side.
Good as it was, the search for the city’s best burger continues…
Do you have a favorite? Let us know!
orchestre philharmonia mundi de montréal holds benefit concert
I love not-for-profits, where folks are bound by a common interest, complementary skills, and an itch to make the world a better place.
The Orchestre Philharmonia Mundi de Montréal, incorporated a year ago - a whirling dervish of energy, talent and good intentions - is a great example.
By day, 50 dedicated musicians, ranging in age from 20 to 81, work as hair stylists, doctors, lawyers, students and chefs.
They share their passion for classical music at weekly rehearsals, and perform winter and spring symphony concerts under the direction of Jean-Pascal Hamelin - who also serves as principal conductor of Orchestre Symphonique des Jeunes de Sherbrooke, and is a co-founder and artistic director of the recording label PALEXA.
This Saturday, Aug 29, OPMM is holding a summer benefit concert at The Playhouse, in Mile End.
“All members pay fees in order to participate in the orchestra, but this is not enough to pay for our conductor, our practice space, or our sheet music,” says violinist Andrea Feder, a twenty-something producer within Montreal’s indy film scene.
“An orchestra is not cheap to keep up. All the work is done by a volunteer committee, but there are still hard costs to manage, and dreams of buying our own percussion equipment.”
This weekend’s concert is an addition to the orchestra’s regular program. It’s also a way to experience the talented group on more intimate terms.
Small ensembles will play chamber music, including violin solos and wind quintets - as well as Scottish traditional music, Tango (a contribution from the orchestra’s Argentinean players), and even an excerpt from Fiddler on the Roof.
“It’s our way of keeping in shape for the season to come,” says Feder.
And about making the world a better place?
Aside from the benefits of beautiful music, the group subscribes to the “one person at a time” theory. Among the musicians is an oncologist who uses the orchestra as therapy for a stressful job; a retired ballet dancer, who took up the violin later in life; a school teacher who recently arrived in Canada to live with her mother; an engineer who moved to Montreal to work on the Olympic stadium and decided to stay.
And one more note: The Playhouse is known for booking bands before anyone has heard of them. Support the orchestra now, and you’ll not only be part of the In crowd - years from now, you can say you knew them when…
Have you seen OPMM perform? Do you know someone in the orchestra? Let us know what you think!
If you go: OPMM at The Playhouse, 5656 ave du Parc, Saturday, August 29, 2009, 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Tickets are $8.
fantasme fashion event
In my work, I experience 99% of the addresses, activities, events and products I recommend. Experience is key. It sets me apart.
I get lost, eat bad food, and make mistakes so my clients don’t have to.
The upside is reliability, and information designed for use. And I love sharing what’s great about Montreal.
The downside is that I can’t be everywhere, do everything.
So I need your help: I just received information about Fantasme. The one-night fashion event brings together Montreal-based art gallery the Darling Foundry, and designers Andrew Ly and Melissa Matos in an outdoor fashion show, fashion film screening and afterparty.
It’s just the kind of thing I like to cover on this blog. It takes place Thursday, Aug 20…and I can’t go!
Dear readers, would you attend, and report back?
Give us a few details about something you loved or hated. Tell us if it worked, and why (or why not).
The event is open to the public and free to attend. Read the overview and see a video at http://www.fantasme-event.blogspot.com/
Please rsvp to FANTASMESEVENT@GMAIL.COM
I look forward to hearing from you on the 21st!
Photograph courtesy Melissa Matos.
summer festivals celebrate jazz, fashion, comedy, cycling
Get out your calendar, and start planning your summer weekends now. Jazz, fashion, comedy and cycling festivals are all on the horizon. Here is a primer, so you’ll know what to expect and how to learn more.
MONTREAL BIKE FEST, May 31 to June 7, 2009. Montreal celebrates the bicycle for eight days, in the best cycling city in North America, according to Bicycling Magazine.
The festival kicks off with a group ride along the Châteauguay River. The Metropolitan Challenge, Sun May 31, has 75, 100, 125 and 150 km options.
Operation Bike to Work takes place June 1-5, offering workshops on and incentives for commuting by bike.
A fun way to see Montreal under the lights is Un Tour La Nuit - Fri June 5. Twenty thousand participants will ride 20km of trails, leaving from Blvd St Joseph at 8:30pm.
Join the Tour de I’lle as it celebrates its 25th anniversary on June 7, 2009. This family-oriented event is a great way to explore the city’s neighborhoods. Cirque de Soleil participates in the send-off, which takes place on Ave du Parc at 9:15am.
The Bike Fest has extra support from the city’s new green initiative, BIXI. This hop-on-hop-off bike rental program, inspired by the popular Paris Vélib, makes 3,000 bikes available at 300 stations in areas of the city served by bike lanes. Once you’re registered, you can take a bike, pedal free for the first half hour, and return it to any station. Bikes are available May - Nov (stations are removed for the winter.) Starts May 12.
Fashionistas flock to Montreal for events like the Festival de la Mode, with street activities and special
presentations that pay tribute to fashion and design, with special focus on Quebec designers. June 17 to 20, McGill College Avenue
Not sure if it’s for you? Watch a video.
June 13 kicks off the 25th anniversary of the L’International des Feux Loto-Québec - international fireworks festival. The schedule consists of ten Saturday night performances, each featuring 30 minute fireworks shows, with talent from a dozen countries - including Canada on July 25.
You’ll need tickets to watch from amusement park La Ronde, where the fireworks are launched and set to music. Or watch for free on the Jacques Cartier bridge. Festival runs through the grande finale on Aug 15.
Festival International de Jazz de Montreal – the largest jazz festival in the world - takes place July 1 to 12 at Place des Arts. There will be over 500 shows, including 350 free outdoor concerts. The program of ticketed concerts will be unveiled Tuesday, May 5th, at 11am, with the full program of free concerts to be unveiled June 8.
Just for Laughs Festival is a premier comedy event featuring gala performances, theater, club acts and outdoor shows, with galas hosted by John Cleese and Whoopi Goldberg. July 3 to 26, 2009 Quartier Latin.
Hope to see you on the streets of Montreal!
