Ethiopian Scene: Nil Bleu

If you're in the mood for something different, there's a lovely place on St-Denis that will definitely hit the spot. Nil Bleu is an Ethiopian restaurant that really fits in with the multiculturalism of Montreal. A brief walk from Sherbrooke Station, you'll find yourself right in the midst of a perfect African paradise.

I love the tiny elephant herd.

M and I came here for an early dinner. We'd recently discovered that it's best to go to restaurants really early, whether we have a reservation or not. That way, our food comes faster, and we still have a lot of time to chill after the meal and still get home at a reasonable time. Not for the first time, we were the first ones in.

It's not every place that can pull off zebra chairs so well. They also have huge painting depicting different scenes on the African savannah. A polished, white grand piano stands toward the back, and although we didn't get to hear it today, I have no doubt that its music will blend spectacularly into the decor as everything else. 

Those who know me know that I don't drink much, especially not wine, and past experience has shown that the cocktails here are so-so at best. Fear not, they have some cool exotic juices! I tried the goyava (guava) juice (right, $3.95). Refreshing and thick, the nectar was delicious! I could even taste little grainy bits of guava; there\s no doubt to how fresh this was. M tried the guanabana juice (left, $3.95). Neither of us had any clue what guanabana was... It's actually a large, spiky, green fruit with white flesh and black seeds. The more you know, huh? This drink was thinner and it was quite good; I definitely recommend both of these. 

The waiter tried to get us to order the tasting menu (and no surprise there, those cost a pretty penny), but we were having none of that. We had selected the combo A ($34.95). Now, I am usually against combos, but for this restaurant it's really the way to go. Since it's a type of cuisine most people are totally clueless about, there's a big chance you'll order something you won't like. The combos for two are well-priced and include four pre-selected choices, with a small complementary salad in the middle. If you do order your own dish, it's quite reasonably priced too, ranging from $13-18.

You may have noticed the little breadrolls. It's injera bread -- a very soft, rolled up crepe that you use to pick up your food. That's right, folks, no knives and forks in here! I would come here just for the injera; I am a huge fan. Don't worry if you run out of bread, the waiter will come with extra. 

Now, the actual mains... The yellow one at the top is yatakelt watt, a thick and creamy mash of yellow split peas cooked with tumeric, ginger, and onions. Tasty and filling, and definitely complements a meal well. I'm not sure about having that as a full meal though. On the right is doro alicha, a chicken leg hidden under a mountain of house sauce and topped with half an egg. It was very good, but the chicken leg is whole, and was annoying to pry apart with the bread. I would get this if it was shredded chicken, though. Yebec alicha at the bottom was my favorite. Rich morsels of lamb in a mild sauce, with tender pieces of carrots and potatoes. Definitely try this one if you're not so excited about eating the more paste-like options. To the left, there is the key watt -- marinated beef in berbere sauce, a common spice mix in Ethipian cuision. It's a little bit spicy, and very yummy. M's favorite. 

All that was more than enough food for two, but there's more! The waiter showed up with a plate of little cakes ($3.00 each), and they all looked so good that we couldn't resist. M had the mango chocolate, a fudgey cake with tender mango in the centre. I got the lemon meringue, and the tartness was perfect after the meal I'd just experienced. We did find eating these to be pretty awkward, since the cakes would start to fall apart when you break the chocolate layer. I would have appreciated plates for these... 

Every single aspect of the restuarant blew me away. Our waiter was quite gentlemanly, providing exemplary service. We walked out of here with very full bellies, a fantastic mood, and promises to one another that we're most certainly coming back. 

3706 St-Denis,
Montreal, QC
(514) 285-4628
http://www.nilbleurestaurant.com/

The Sexiest Homemade Meal I've Had in a While

Grilled beef and veggie skewers, and capelli d'angelo in a broccoli-mushroom Camembert sauce. Yummy. And it sounds fancy too!

St-Georges: Resto-Bar Pub

For March break, I visited my parents in Saint-Georges. On my last night there, we feasted at the Pub -- a popular spot for bar food and their speciality  seafood. I've been to this place a few times, it's almost a tradition when I visit. Other than typical chicken, steak, and burgers, they have a huge selection of different seafood plates: scallops, shrimps, scampi, and lobster, and fish, in every combo possible for your preferences. Sweet.

Mum and I got the Surf 'n Turf platter (54.95$). This is a meal for two, and can probably feed three. When it arrived, I was stunned into silence, and that wasn't even all of it because two baked potatoes arrived for me and Mum a moment later. Pardon my French, but holy crap, that's a lot of food. To start, we munched on the giant frog legs in the middle. They were pretty bad, way too dry and the colour turned me off a bit. The mussels were okay, if not really small. I did like the breaded shrimp, they were so crunchy that it was like munching on very thick, yummy chips. The scampi (AKA langoustines) were tasty and fun to eat: you dig your fork in one side and pull out the entire strip of flesh, and dip it into garlic (or lemon) butter. Deeeelish. And the lobsters were good, tender and just a bit creamy. There were also 2 slices of filet migon each, served with mushrooms -- really good. The steak wasn't as tender as I've had at other places, but it's a pub, so cut them some slack.

Dad got another platter, all for himself. I don't remember what it was called, sadly. It  was mostly the same seafood as earlier, with a skewer of scallops. I tried one and it was fine. The fries were mushy and plain, so I recommend the baked potato.

All in all, it's seafood in a pub -- not fantastic, but still pretty satisfying if you're craving some shrimp and shellfish. Giant platters do have their charm

11750 1re Avenue
Saint-Georges, QC
G5Y 2G4
(418) 227-6010

Japanese Delights: Yuki Bakery

If you ask me, bakeries are the best places to go to after a hard day, especially with a friend or two. Sit down, take a long breath, and relax. A slice of cheesecake, maybe a dish of sweet, soft mousse, or even a macaron or two -- what better foods to bond over? 

I used to be a regular here back in the college days. Coming back to enjoy a couple of treats really brought back some memories, although the colours and the atmosphere of the small bakery totally changed -- they've had two renovations in the past couple of years. It's no longer the same snug, little hole-in-the-wall it used to be; they're going for a fancy, classic look, but their treats still taste exactly the same. It's like rekindling an old friendship -- warm and sweet. 

Yuki Bakery is run by the talented pastry chef Yukiko Sekiya and her husband Hank. The biggest, glaringly obvious japanese touch is the abundance of green-tea-flavoured confectioneries: scones, cheesecakes, cookies, and more. The green tea mousse (3.75$) is my favourite. This springy dessert melts in your mouth, letting the deep, fragrant tones of quality matcha bloom until you feel like you are a living, breathing tea tree. Rich, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet. When you get to the dark chocolate, the bitter hues of cocoa and green tea combine into the most delectable treat. I just can't get enough of this one. 

The mocha cake (3.95$) was okay. Decadent at first, but the rich fudgey cake was too much to bear by the end. Heavy frosting is something you expect from Yuki, and isn't always a bad thing, but this time, it missed the spot; the butter so thick that the frosting almost broke off in chunks. The peanut brittle was the best I've ever had, funny enough. 

The salty caramel cupcake (2.95$) is the best in the world, or at least, in Montreal. I'm not even joking. I really like fleur-de-sel caramel cupcakes, and it's something I always always get at cupcake places. Light eaters beware: this is a really heavy treat. The frosting is a calorie-bomb if I've ever seem one, a thick, delicious salty caramel bomb that is absolutely delightful. Worth every second. This cake doesn't need a filling, because the whole thing is the star of the show. 

Yuki Bakery still has great desserts. Sadly, their prices have gone up a bit. Most people would be reluctant to spend 2.95$ on a cupcake, after all. Nonetheless, I invite you to drop by and try some of their delightful creations.

5122 Sherbrooke Ouest
Montreal, Quebec
H4A 1T7
(514) 482-2435
http://www.yukibakery.com