The first month of a brand new year is already behind us. A new year is a time to reset our ideals and standards. For the Great Burger Search, it’s time to make sure that more burgers are conquered and more experiences are etched in stone. The plans for 2013 are lofty, but with time, I’m sure we’re all going to have a huge 2013.
This is the second visit to Méchant Boeuf, click HERE for the first post.
124 Saint-Paul O.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Place d’Armes
Bus: STM 14, 55, 129, 715
Visit: January 29, 2013
http://www.mechantboeuf.com/
In July of 2011, this Great Burger Search went through its turning point, one that changed the way this whole enterprise was approached. The restaurant that was part of that slow transformation was Méchant Boeuf. With Happening Gourmand wrapping up, my third visit compelled me to have a much different kind of burger in a restaurant that had a strong first outing.
410 Saint-Vincent
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Place d’Armes, Champ-de-Mars
Bus: STM 14, 55, 129, 715
Visit: January 25, 2013
http://www.bevopizza.com/
Happening Gourmand 2013 gives a chance for every Montrealer set foot in restaurants that they would not normally be able to afford. One of the newcomers in this year’s line-up is a place that people are talking about, Bevo Pizza. Their take on Italian cuisine and pizza is surely something that could no longer be ignored.
445 Laurier E.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Laurier
Bus: STM 14, 27, 30, 46, 47, 51, 427
Visit: January 21, 2013
http://www.laboitegourmande.qc.ca/
Sometimes the things you find come from out of nowhere, or even from right under your nose. Located right next to the northern entrance of the Laurier metro station, La Boîte Gourmande is one of those places that you might not think twice about entering, unless you knew what was inside.
351 Laurier E.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Laurier
Bus: STM 14, 27, 30, 46, 47, 51, 55, 427
Visit: January 21, 2013
Looking for places at the last minute is not something that I’m really known for. There are still literally hundreds of possible burgers left on my list and when put in that position of having to choose on the fly, I’m in trouble. This is where Chez Claudette comes in. A small place located just steps away from a metro station was home to a quick decision, one that I may or may no have regretted.
39 Saint-Paul E.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Place d’Armes, Champ-de-Mars
Bus: STM 14, 55, 129, 715
Visit: January 10, 2013
http://www.vieuxportsteakhouse.com/
Sometimes, when you least expect it, you’ll find something that you’re looking for without even realizing it. In life, that’s sometimes the best way to run into something worthwhile. Just under a year ago, I was introduced to the Vieux-Port Steakhouse. As promised in the post from last year, I did indeed make a return visit. However, best laid plans were completely blown to bits when a random menu discovery was made.
93 Mont-Royal O.
Montreal, Quebec
Bus: STM 11, 55, 97
Visit: January 8, 2013
http://beautys.ca/
In 1942, just over 70 years ago, the world was still deeply involved in the second World War. It was that year where a newlywed couple would purchase a snack bar and turn it into what is known as Beauty’s Luncheonette. Home to an extremely well known Beautys Special, it’s no wonder that this iconic Montreal establishment is still going strong in 2013.
1291 Mont-Royal E.
Montreal, Quebec
Metro: Mont-Royal
Bus: STM 11, 14, 97
Visit: January 5, 2013
http://www.facebook.com/BistroCornichon
2013 is already upon us and we’re all probably ready to really get this year going. This is also the case when it comes to burgers. There’s not going to be any more time wasted as I’m looking forward to seeing what the new year has in store when it comes to having burgers. To begin the year, I look to a very crowded burger street in Avenue Mont-Royal and relative newcomer, Cornichon.
I know what you’re thinking. You must think I’m insane to upload yet another review post. Well, since I’ve been doing them for the last 11 months, it wouldn’t be fair to December if I would just ignore it.
With 2012 now behind us, I want to have one last look at the past before we forge ahead and break new ground in 2013. My main purpose in pursuing this blog is to seek out new burgers and to boldly go where I haven’t been to before. Searching Montreal and its surrounding areas for great burgers isn’t just about the actual product, it’s about the journey itself. Without that journey, there would be no point in doing this. So, by going through the various desserts, poutines, dishes, pictures, and moments, there is only one last thing to reflect on, the 5 most memorable burgers of 2012.
When you’re trying to convey food or anything relating to it, pictures really do speak a 1000 words. No matter how eloquently structured a paragraph may be, the picture is what puts it over the top. In the last 12 months, I’ve taken almost 3,000 pictures and only 5 can be worthy enough to mention as the ones that defined 2012 for me.
This year, I’m introducing a brand new category in the end of year posts. Anyone who reads this blog regularly or follows me on social media will know that I fancy bacon way too much. The point of this post is not just to highlight bacon in its regular use, but in a way that goes above and beyond. Here, you will see the 3 items that best exemplify and most creatively use that element that we all love so much.
Burgers aren’t the only thing that gets featured here on the GBS. From time to time, I get the chance to try other things that don’t necessarily fit my domain of specialty. These dishes are some that I’ll remember for a time to come.
There is one thing that is synonymous with the province of Quebec and that is poutine. Some might even say that it should be Canada’s national dish, but others will fight you to the death on that one. Regardless of petty disagreements, the poutine is something that I can’t get enough of. Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I just have to go with the life-shortening dish with cheese curds and gravy. While some places will never go wrong with the dish, others should seriously rethink theirs. This isn’t about the worst, but the 5 that stood out in 2012.
Picture this, you’re having the meal of your entire life. The service is at its utmost best, you wouldn’t trade the company for anyone in the world, and the food is firing on all cylinders. What’s the one thing that puts the proverbial cherry on top of the cake? That part of the meal is the dessert. The dessert is meant to put that exclamation point on the evening.
