Here is why I crave food from Montreal even though I am 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles:

1. Montreal Bagels--Nothing compares to a Montreal bagel. Not too heavy. Perfect when it comes out of that wood fire oven. I recommend St. Viatuer Bagel however real bagel tastes nearly identical.

2. Smoke Meat--I have tried smoke meat all over the city (and even some joint off the island to the North), and the only place that gets my vote is Schwartz. Still the best after all these years.

3. French Fries--There is just something about the way they make the fries there. Maybe it's because they never throw out the oil and just reuse it over and over. Let it sit in a brown paper bag for 10 minutes and enjoy. Yes, poutine is good too...cheese and sauce are nice, but the fries itself is what gets me. My number one spot in Montreal Cote. St. Luc BBQ. I recommend a side of chicken with fries. Honorable mention to Lafleur.

4. Souvlaki--It's all about the tzaziki. Some people prefer Marathon. Others have moved on from there. For me, I love my Arahova. Shaved chicken (technically a gyro), crisp from the heat, dripping in fat (damn it), wrapped in amazing pita with the best tzaziki in the world is heaven.

5. Chinese Food--The Chinese food in Montreal is very unique to Montreal. There are so many excellent places that to name some wouldn't do the others justice. A visit to a Chinese food restaurant is a must when in Montreal.

Honorable mention to Steakhouses:
Moishes: Great steak and verenicas (sp?). Unfortunately the prices have escalated above the actual quality of the meal.
Gibbys: Steak is as good if not better than Moishes however you get an amazing salad with a garlic dressing that is out of this world.


Feel free to add to the list...work is finished for the day.