Trip: Montreal - Food

Last time, I talked about the transit system of Montreal, the Metro and trashed talk did a comparison with Toronto's TTC. Shifting gears this time, though with no ill feelings towards anything: This post will cover my favorite topic about Montreal.

Food.

And damn, was it good.

The very first meal I had while I was in Montreal was at none other than Schwartz's. Luckily, by the time I was there, I had beaten the rush line up, as the whole place was just filled with people (like most of the time). The food, especially, the smoked meat sandwich (with cherry cola on the side) is simply that good. So good, that there's a film based on Schwartz's.

The concept of smoked meat sandwich is simple. Meat, bread, some more meat, topped with some mustard. But when you first take a bite... It's... almost as if you found something that's been missing in your life. I may be hyping this up more it should be, but you'll know when you try it. You just gotta try it. The taste. The texture. The sensation. It's like a smoked-meat-gasm in your mouth.

And of course, trying a "real" poutine in Montreal was quite an eye opener as well. Most places you go for food in Montreal, normally has a menu section dedicated to types of poutines you can order. For the poutine, I was at Brisket Montreal. A little bit pricy compared to some other places I ate at, but overall, very much worth the price. I really wish I could go on and actually talk about both the smoked meat sandwich and the poutine in more detail, but there just isn't a single word that could describe how awesome they are. My only concern is getting used to food back here in Toronto. I said there will be ill feelings towards anything earlier this post, but I haven't been able to find food that could top the ones I had in Montreal, which is very sad and even making me hungry as I'm writing up this post. Needless to say, food is probably what I miss the most about Montreal. I mean, you just take a bite of the smoked meat sandwich and you get the "This is it" moment.

The Warmth You Can Eat

Remember my last post? Yeah, I went out and got some. It turns out these Taiyaki/Bungeoppang aren't that common in this city, but I managed to hunt some places down that did have them.

Taiyaki, a snack with origins of Japan made the leap to Korea in the 1930's while Korea was pretty much oppressed by Japan. Since then, it has never left (South) Korea. Taiyaki, that is (The Japanese people left by 1945). Only now it is called Bungeoppang in Korea. They're both sold in vendors outside usually famous in the winter time. I suppose you can rate it on the same level of hotdog vendors here. Except the food is less crappy and possibly safer to eat. Oh, who am I trying to kid? Anything is safer than to eat those damn hotdogs!

Anywho, back in Toronto, current time. My most convenient choice was a place called "BnC Bakery" on Bloor. St, in between Christie and Bathurst. Where I got to see the lady working there, make them from scratch. She was even kind enough to let me briefly photograph the process as long as it would leave her out of the photos since she isn't photo-genic at all.

The process itself is not rocket science. You just need the right equipment. Notably, the fish-shaped waffle maker.

First thing that goes in is the batter.

Followed by some red bean paste, which is the filling.

And then you simply close the fish shaped waffle maker into one and wait a few minutes. Then it should look something like this.

Okay, so I made it sound much easier than how it really is. However, believe me when I say the taste was spot on. I'm sure the ones in Korea or Japan do taste better or at least more authentic, but I can't exactly get a plane ticket every time I get a craving. Although, the ones at BnC Bakery are great and I have a feeling I'll be going back there many times before the spring pops up this year. And until then, I do have my hand warmer to keep me warm on every trip to BnC Bakery.