O'burger

Last Tuesday, Monsieur and I ventured to the hip club-music-playing burger spot O'burger located in the heart of Downtown Montreal. We both went for the 100% Angus beef O'burger burger : swiss cheese, crisp bacon, balsamic glazed onions, sautéed mushrooms and O'sauce, with tomatoes, lettuce, pickles and onion on the side. I was frightened at first that aside from a couple in the corner, the somewhat (for Downtown Montreal) huge restaurant was empty, but Monsieur swore that during lunch-hour it's ultra-packed (we came on a January-freezing Tuesday night). The modern-50s décor was amusing and I can only imagine how fun this place becomes once it's full. My burger was very filling and I'm eyeing a chicken on ciabatta bread burger with roasted peppers and Tzatziki for next time... perhaps on a hot July evening on the terrace...

Maison Bulgogi

On a -30℃ day like two Sundays ago, I love to find myself at Maison Bulgogi for a hot bowl of soup.

I discovered the location with a Chinese friend a year ago. I had the recommended Beef Soup and my companion had a Black Goat Soup. This time, I was determined to try their namesake, the Bulgogi. As it turns out, Bulgogi means barbecue in Korean.

Kim-chi (spicy pickled cabbage), soft potatoes, seaweed salad and bean sprouts are served before your meal, along with some tea. I am a fan of none of these things but my parents and sister attacked them delightfully.

My chicken Bulgogi came first (I also ordered shrimp, you need a minimum of two to cook it at your table). The waiter turned on the cooker under the table and we began to stir-fry the chicken. With the stir-fry you get lettuce leaves (to wrap your BBQ inside) (still today this seems to me as a genius idea)(will replicate at home). The marinate was very sweet, maybe too sweet, but it didn't stop us from finishing the plate in minutes. The shrimp Bulgogi was very good but what I really enjoy here is the Beef soup #8, especially on a cold day like that Sunday.

kimchi

seaweed salad

soft potatoes

bean sprouts

marinated Chicken Bulgogi

Black Goat Soup

Beef and Octopus Soup

#8 Beef Soup

marinated Shrimp Bulgogi

Mojito Clothing

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to what I wear. As consumers, every time we purchase we make a choice, a statement. And it's truly gratifying to wear something you know more about than the name of the label.

One brand that I'm greatly fond of (I wear it on a daily basis) is Mojito Clothing. It's locally designed and produced, here in Montreal, and the designer, the talented Elena Diatlova, whom I first met over a year ago, is such a sweetheart. With over twenty years of experience under her belt, she truly knows what she's doing and when you talk to her about the brand, it instantly shows there's nothing else she'd rather be doing.
Mojito is a line of quality jersey pieces : tops, dresses, cardigans, leggings... All the garments are comfortable every-day wear that could easily be transformed into evening-wear with a change of accessories. It's comfortable and the designs are a little bit sexy, a little bit classy and all very cool.

Some time before my trip to Mexico I've been invited to their showroom and their atelier. Here are some pictures I took that I've been meaning to share with you:

And you? What brands are you passionate about?

Juliette & Chocolat

Juliette & Chocolat is sweet. Literally.

Every friend of mine has been there, or so it seems. I discovered the St-Laurent location a month ago, during my birthday celebrations, and was really glad to be back. This time it was T.K.'s birthday and as a group of 6, we ordered 3 Double Duo Chocolate Fondues. And Savvy had extra profiteroles. And I'm crying now because I didn't try them. See picture below.

Everything here leaves you wanting for more, more, more... And when you order a second time (convinced you didn't have enough) all you want is more... water. Because Juliette & Chocolat is the real deal. Their hot chocolate is the Mayan kind (I made this up- the Mexican Riviera must be still in my mind) is the traditional, rich, European kind (there's a whole menu to it- with alcohol or without- the chocolate comes from all over the world). Last time I tried a Fondant au chocolat nappé et au caramel salé : whatever it was it melted my heart. They also have non-sweet crêpes for the boyfriends who tag along lunch, or supper. The St-Laurent location is very big/ ideal for groups but maybe the Laurier & St-Denis ones offer more privacy? Can I scream VALENTINE'S DAYYY!!!

 Chocolate Fondue comes in bitter/semi-sweet/milk and white chocolate

 Pineapple, black berries, apples, pears, bananas, oranges, kiwi... but (this I don't get) no strawberries

 Profiteroles... so. regretting. of. not. stealing. a. bite.

Birthday boy

So, see you there on Valentine's? I'll be in the corner finishing my seconds, asking for more water

Chez Rayan

Before I begin- one thing must be said: my Mom is a zealous seafood lover. And that's how on the day of my parent's anniversary, I found myself with them at Poissonerie Chez Rayan (the food blogger in me had to tag along).

Chez Rayan is an Egyptian fish market. With fishing nets on the ceiling, there is no menu, and as you enter you proceed to the back where the freshest fish and seafood of the day are displayed laid out on ice. You order everything by weight, ask the chef how you want it cooked (fried or grilled or in a BBQ or garlic sauce depending on your sea animal of choice) and take a seat. We ordered bass, tilapia, calamari, shrimp, scallops, octopus, salad and rice.

The salad had lots of vinegar in it, but I was too hungry for the main dish to arrive. First, we were served the calamari and the fish. Everything was cooked to perfection but had too much salt for my taste (coming from the girl who only salts her water when boiling pasta and if not never). The disappointment only surged once: I was expecting marinara sauce with the calamari but got fish sauce and ketchup instead. Then the deliciousness arrived: the grilled octopus. May I emphasize that previous to this day, every octopus I tried tasted like unflavoured chewing gum. At Chez Rayan however, grilled octopus was heavenly... it had flavour and texture to it, bite after bite, it spoke to me. I'm absolutely coming back for more octopus.

At last, we were served the giant shrimp and the scallops in garlic sauce. In my mother's opinion, the shrimp were over-cooked but I didn't find them dry, they bathed in garlic sauce. Sprinkled in lemon juice, everything was mouth-watering. Seafood lovers: you must go!

My Dad and Mom and I left decided: next time we'll order lobster, mussels and a big, whole bass cooked  juuuuuuuuust right... 

 fishing nets on the ceiling

 tilapia, bass and calamari

 grilled octopus 

 fried calamari

giant shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce