I'm going to be in Montreal for a little while on business. Montreal is home to a variety of Romanian pastrami, known as "smoked meat" in Canada.
I'll be having some soon.
If you've never heard of it, imagine pastrami, but spicier, with more like a pickling-spice rub.
From what I understand, Montreal steak spice was originally one restaurant's response to a customer who wanted a steak to be seasoned like smoked meat. So it's the rub, plus salt which would have come from the cure.
The oldest and most respected place for smoked meat is Schwartz's , but I think they're over-rated and living on past glory. My favorite is Lester's. I've heard conflicting opinions on another place called Smoke Meat Pete. I'll try it, I think.
Of course YMMV.
For anyone in the NY area, a place called Mile End opened up in Brooklyn that makes Montreal smoked meat. (Mile End is also the name of the neighborhood in which I grew up in Montreal and home to both Schwartz's and Lester's. I was there last night. )
In Montreal
In Montreal
"Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen." - Heinrich Heine
Unlikely. For $57 per person, I can do better than everything with maple syrup on it. They're a tourist trap.JerBear wrote:Are you going to hit up Au Pied de Cochon? I can still kick myself for not making the trek up there when I lived on the East Coast.
Up in that area (about a mile) is Intermiel, a great meadery/apiarist/store. I may go there if I have time.
EDIT: By the way, in your area I've been to Coronado Brewing Company. Food and beer were both great.
"Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen." - Heinrich Heine
The smoked meat at Smoke Meat Pete was great, as good as the best I've had. The weird thing about this place is that it's a total dive... and because the owner loves blues, there are live bands every day.
The James Green Band, pictured below, played 45 minutes, and they were credible and interesting. Then it was open mike night and some horrible music started from audience members, but I had finished my meal and I left, smelling of wood smoke and very full.
The James Green Band, pictured below, played 45 minutes, and they were credible and interesting. Then it was open mike night and some horrible music started from audience members, but I had finished my meal and I left, smelling of wood smoke and very full.
"Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen." - Heinrich Heine