Fun Things I did in Montreal and Ottawa
The fun about going home for a short period of time is that you get to do everything that is fun in a fairly condensed timeframe without having to excuse or explain yourself.
So here, without further ado, is my list of fun stuff to do when in Montréal for a weekend:
→ Lunch at Café Santropol on Saint Urbain at Duluth. For those who are not acquainted, Santropol defies explanation (sorry!). It is a Montréal institution which serves ginormous sandwiches on thick brown bread (as well as soups and other delectables) replete with yummy ingredients. Personal favourites are the Killer Tomato, Sweet Root, and the Santropol sandwiches. You can stay for a half an hour and have a quick bowl of soup or for three hours sipping on cup after cup of Curiosi-tea. Check out the website, there are some pretty cool before and after pictures on the building of Santropol.
→ Bagel shopping at Fairmount. There is a serious bagel war going on in Montréal. On opposing sides are those who swear by Fairmount Bagels and those who espouse St. Viateur Bagels. Personally, I fall solidly ono the side of Fairmount. Both shops are open twenty-four hours a day, and the best time to go is at 2am on your way home from the pub, when you are sure to encounter a good-humoured queue waiting for deliciously warm bagels.
→ Perusing Saint Denis Sreet. Full of boutiques, nooks, and curiosities (as opposed to the curiosi-tea of Santropol), spening a couple of hours on St. Denis is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just remember to bring warm accessories should it happen to be minus twenty ...
→ Checking out the Montréal skyline from Mount Royal, perferably at night. Okay, we didn't have time to accomplish this this time around, but the view of Montréal's sparling lights is worth braving the cold or the heat.
And now for Ottawa (yes, my critical friends, good times do exist in Ottawa!)...
→ Dinner at Haveli's. Like bagels in Montréal, there is a raging debate in Ottawa about where the best Indian food in the Byward Market can be found. Based on a weighted grid with the highest weight given to the restaurant's version of butter chicken (other categories being ambiance, service, and price), I can without hesitation state that Haveli's wins the contest! Yummy!
→ Dinner (different night) at Khao Thai. A relative newcomer on the Ottawa scene (est. March 2004), Khao Thai is a delight for the tastebuds. Great atmosphere and prices also help. I recommend anything made with eggplant!
→ Drinks at the Empire Grill. Order a martini and ask for the Ultimate Starter Dip, a sundried tomato paté served with bread or pita which hasn't been on the menu for several years. If the server hasn't heard of it, get him or her to check with the chef. They'll love you for it!
→ Skating on the Rideau Canal. Thank goodness we made time for this. No trip to Ottawa in winter is complete without a spin on the world's longest outdoor skating rink.
→ Cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park. So sad ... there was no time for this, plus my skiing partner was off in New York. Next time, next time ...
So here, without further ado, is my list of fun stuff to do when in Montréal for a weekend:
→ Lunch at Café Santropol on Saint Urbain at Duluth. For those who are not acquainted, Santropol defies explanation (sorry!). It is a Montréal institution which serves ginormous sandwiches on thick brown bread (as well as soups and other delectables) replete with yummy ingredients. Personal favourites are the Killer Tomato, Sweet Root, and the Santropol sandwiches. You can stay for a half an hour and have a quick bowl of soup or for three hours sipping on cup after cup of Curiosi-tea. Check out the website, there are some pretty cool before and after pictures on the building of Santropol.
→ Bagel shopping at Fairmount. There is a serious bagel war going on in Montréal. On opposing sides are those who swear by Fairmount Bagels and those who espouse St. Viateur Bagels. Personally, I fall solidly ono the side of Fairmount. Both shops are open twenty-four hours a day, and the best time to go is at 2am on your way home from the pub, when you are sure to encounter a good-humoured queue waiting for deliciously warm bagels.
→ Perusing Saint Denis Sreet. Full of boutiques, nooks, and curiosities (as opposed to the curiosi-tea of Santropol), spening a couple of hours on St. Denis is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just remember to bring warm accessories should it happen to be minus twenty ...
→ Checking out the Montréal skyline from Mount Royal, perferably at night. Okay, we didn't have time to accomplish this this time around, but the view of Montréal's sparling lights is worth braving the cold or the heat.
And now for Ottawa (yes, my critical friends, good times do exist in Ottawa!)...
→ Dinner at Haveli's. Like bagels in Montréal, there is a raging debate in Ottawa about where the best Indian food in the Byward Market can be found. Based on a weighted grid with the highest weight given to the restaurant's version of butter chicken (other categories being ambiance, service, and price), I can without hesitation state that Haveli's wins the contest! Yummy!
→ Dinner (different night) at Khao Thai. A relative newcomer on the Ottawa scene (est. March 2004), Khao Thai is a delight for the tastebuds. Great atmosphere and prices also help. I recommend anything made with eggplant!
→ Drinks at the Empire Grill. Order a martini and ask for the Ultimate Starter Dip, a sundried tomato paté served with bread or pita which hasn't been on the menu for several years. If the server hasn't heard of it, get him or her to check with the chef. They'll love you for it!
→ Skating on the Rideau Canal. Thank goodness we made time for this. No trip to Ottawa in winter is complete without a spin on the world's longest outdoor skating rink.
→ Cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park. So sad ... there was no time for this, plus my skiing partner was off in New York. Next time, next time ...
posted by Karen @ 10:36 p.m.
1 Comments:
What a briliant trip! I love to eat out but haven't done so for a long, long time! When we go to Scotland my Mum fears for my sanity as I plan a trip to every restaurant in town!
Post a Comment
<< Home