Mile End: that's Amore!

Ciao Montrealers!

Welcome to August in the 514 blog-o-lites. I simply adore this time of year

in Montreal. Yes my friends, it is Italian week. The festivities run from the 6th to the

15th of August. I must mention that our city is home to approximately a quarter of a million beautiful people who claim Italian heritage. So whether you are heading out to Jean-Talon Market or enjoying a leisurely sabato mattina, take a few moments and sit back while you enjoy your espresso and biscotti, because do I have a treat for you.

I am in love.

...with the Mile End. And I also have a confession. After my wonderful discovery of Les Enfants Terribles last week, I went for a nice long stroll to walk off my wine, and magically fell on St-Viateur. Yes, I did not blog about it,

and the reason is this: I wanted to see the street in the light of day before I gave you my real impression. Well, the take-home is this: I am in love.

It never occurred to me to hang out in the Mile-End. In my head, I pictured St-Viateur street as a plethora of bagel shops with lineups galore and not much else. I was so VERY wrong. I wholeheartedly have to say I am enthralled by this area. There are boutiques, bookstores, eateries, terrasses, coffee shops, etc. Nothing chi-chi or pretentious by any means. A very jeans-and-t-shirt type of casual, with a lively array of anything your tummy is craving. I even spotted a Vegan resto.

My discovery can be effectively narrowed down to what I like to call my new favourite breakfast place. Yes, B & M is my current crush. The love affair started one (helluva-HOT) thursday morning. I arrived on St-Viateur street, a tad apprehensive about finding parking (a breeze) and wondering about parking meters (which was actually free in the spot we chose!). Once inside, I knew I had butterflies for a reason. It is a diner type of decor, only re-invented. It had beautiful white banquettes, flat-screen television screens tuned in to the Food Network, and the friendliest wait staff ever (on a side note, my good luck with wait staff these days has me worried that my streak will soon come to a crashing end, but that's just me).

The prices are very fair, with an average meal costing about 10$. Coffee was a-plenty, the food was carefully prepared (and in abundant portions) as well, they served some of the best crepes I've had in a while. They came in two (huge) rolls, which much looked

like wraps, only abundantly packed with mushrooms and scrambled eggs. It was so filling, we had to ask for the dish to be taken to go.

Another hit! Breakfasties, you will NOT be disappointed. I can't wait to go back.

Mtl.D