Mtl.D Takes Over NYC: The Final Cut

The last Mtl.D takes Over NYC segment is finally here! And it's a doozie! We'll be doing it award-style today friends, so I'll be comparing spots and giving you the 411 on exactly what makes (and breaks) these NYC gems. For the local restaurant dwellers, I've also included my version of the best noodle soup in the 514. Read on!

First off, you all know how much I love brunch. Sunday brunch. Monday brunch. Any brunch. It's my favourite meal, and Manhattanites do it best for a reason: their city is brunch central.

Contenders: BALTHAZAR vs PASTIS

VS

And the winner is *cue drum roll*

...........

PASTIS!!!

My rating: ♡♡♡♡1/2

9 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10014, United States
(212) 929-4844

This charming Chelsea neighbourhood dig is brunch perfection. A lively scene, it is not at all like its French bistro speakeasy counterpart. I was beyond impressed by how well we were treated. First off, Pastis has a terrasse (Hello!) and yes, sunday brunch gets rather crowded with New York socialites, who are out in full force recovering from their saturday night champagne overdose. Still, I adored it. Overflowing with glamorous groupings of impeccably dressed New Yorkers, not to mention being greeted by the sweetest New York City hostess I've probably ever met, arrogance was not on the menu. The service is a far cry from the pretentious-ladden hipster-esque Balthazar in overcrowded Soho. In fact, my last recall from Balthazar conjures up a sad image of me waiting 20 minutes past my reservation time sitting at the bar unimpressed, without even being offered so much as a mimosa. Tisk tisk barman! Not good.

Plus, Balthazar's runny eggs benedict were pedestrian and nothing compared to my delish French Toast over at Pastis. Yum. An added bonus? Celeb-spotting. I saw the one and only Kanye West flanked by a bevy of models over at Pastis. Sorry Balthazar, but next time you overcharge and serve lacklustre food, at least compensate with a celeb! Gosh!

Mtl.D tidbit: reserve a minimum of two to three weeks ahead of time.

Next up, nominees for best deli:

Contenders: CARNEGIE DELI vs KATZ DELI

The winner is

..........

KATZ!!!

My rating: ♡♡♡1/2

205 E Houston St
New York, 10002, United States
(800) 446-8364

There really is no explanation needed here to define my life-altering experience at Katz. It's a landmark, an institution, and a goldmine for a reason: it is the best deli in the city. Don't care about the monstrous line or the crowded, kill-me-now, where-do-I-even-order counter. This is New York City, baby. Just roll with the punches, and trust me, you'll enjoy the best motza-ball soup and pastrami sandwich with dill pickle you've ever had. 

Mtl.D tidbit: Go at lunch for an even bigger sensory overload (not for the faint of heart).

Betcha didn't know: When Harry Met Sally shot a historical scene there. 

And finally, the best sushi: 

Contenders: BUDDHA BAR vs NOBU 

(yes, it's a dead give away)

The winner is

..........

NOBU!!!

My rating: ♡♡♡♡♡+

40 West 57th St # B
New York, NY 10019-4001, United States
(212) 757-3000

Out. Of. This. World. Nobu has a reputation in NYC: if you can make it into Nobu, you can make it anywhere. Nobu 57 especially, as there is not even a sign outside the bulding, so you have to know it's there to go. Typical New York. But that's what I'm here for, bloggies!

Honestly, its unsurpassed quality and outstanding service. Decor is stunning and sexy with dark wood panels, chandeliers and high ceilings. Astronomical prices are to be expected, and so is the tedious task of having to reserve one month ahead to make sure you even stand a chance at getting in. Annoyances like this aside, it serves by far the best sushi and Japanese dishes you'll ever have. 

Mtl.D tidbit: use the online reservation site called Open Table. And I mean it; one month adead, minimum. Also, make sure you go to Nobu 57, and not Nobu Next Door. The latter is allllll the way down in the Meatpacking district and is crowded. Not my shtick.

Finally, (no contest here, just obvious regaling) you HAVE to hit Momofuku Noodle bar. It is the best noodle spot in the city! Chef David Chang (of the pricier chi-chi spots Momofuku ssam and Momofuku Ko) opened this East Village eaterie due to his booming popularity with the NYC crowd. Eat at the bar. Order the Pork noodle soup, and expect to strike up a conversation with the stranger sitting next to you, as he or she will be sitting very, very close.

Momofuku Noodle Bar

My rating: ♡♡♡♡

171 1st Ave
New York, NY 10003, United States
(212) 777-7773

And finally, for Montrealers keeping it local and craving a piping hot Vietnamese noodle soup these frigid days, you must try Nugyen Phi on Cote-des Neiges. Very authentic, and nothing fancy by any means, but perfect  on a cold winter night.

My rating: ♡♡♡

Restaurant Nguyen Phi

6250 CH DE LA CÔTE-DES-NEIGES, 

MONTRÉAL, QC H3S 2A3

Phone: 514-344-1863

Phew!!! What a list! I'm hungry now...

Bon Appetit, bloggies! 

Mtl.D xo

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Hello my little holiday shoppers!

I hope everyone in Montreal is loving the first snowfall. For my non-canadians, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoyed your Black Friday super sales! Here in Canada, we give thanks to some department stores having their very own faux-black friday sales, which I'm sure are unrivalled to the American version of non-stop shop 'til you drop and call the cops 'cause that biznatch stole the last $49 Blue-Ray player outta my hands.

I have much to share in this post, bloggies, so let's get started.

My latest reviews here will include yummy Japanese fare and a French bistro dessert. Part 2 of my review will include the best BEST noodle soup in Montreal at a drop-jaw price, and my last segment of Mtl.D takes over NYC. PHEW! Let's get this party started

First, any time I can see food being cooked right in front of me, I'm hooked. Toyo Grillades A la Japonaise casually provides just that. With locations in Laval and downtown Mtl (nestled right on De La Montagne) this place is so much fun to go with friends. Keep in mind it isn't cheap, about $22-$36 per person, which includes a soup, an appetizer of grilled shrimp, steamed rice, yummy grilled veggies, and mounds of meat (or more shrimp) of your choice including chicken, beef and tender Fillet mignon. To end, your meal includes tea, sorbet or ice cream. The only hiccup was the slow service, but my group of fabulosies was excellent company, so time flew regardless.

Mtl.D Tidbit: Make reservations. It won't hurt.

My rating: ♡♡♡♡

Toyo Grillades

2155, Rue de la Montagne

Montreal, QC H3G 1Z8

(514) 844-9292

Onto the next one. Last week, a friend and myself were craving dessert after one of our late-night lectures. We were literally stuck in the downtown core without a sweet-spot in sight. How is that possible? Where to go for dessert besides the ever-so usual/boring/same old Rockaberry's? We finally came across Chez Alexandre on the bustling Peel Street. Now listen up foodies, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to this spot, to be honest. I've heard things such as "overpriced" and "overrated" when it comes to this French bistro brasserie, and how it's just a happy hour mecca for middle aged business men (it's next to Club Funky Town for a reason). But we really just wanted our chocolate molten cake. So, we walked in, and what hit me immediately was the stained mirrored walls, and cigarette smoke smell embedded in their bankettes. How Parisian! The service was alright, our little waitress in her even tinier dress was to-the point and a tad nonchalant, the poor thing must have been tired. At $14 big ones, our chocolate molten cake hit the spot. Whatever. It was nice to feel like we were in old-Paris, and we REALLY wanted dessert. Stale-cig stench and all.

My rating: ♡♡1/2

Alexandre 1454 Rue Peel, Montreal, Qc H3A 1S8 (514)-288-5105

I'll post my noodle/NYC review in jiffy!

Mtl.D xo

Cupcakes for a Good Cause

"We like to give, and we give a lot, even those who can't afford it." -Bono

How was your weekend? Mine was filled with school work and cupcakes. Yup- you read right. And no, I didn't go on a cupcake bender as a result of school driving me crazy. That's just sad.

I attended Cupcake Camp Montreal, which is a fundraiser benefitting organizations like Jeunesse J'écoute and Tablée des Chefs. The event included an array of donated cuppycakes from bakers all across the island, and was held at Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth. Swanky huh?

Okay, so I have a confession: if the event weren't benefitting such good causes, I would have probably left after half an hour. Before getting in, I waited 40 minutes in line outside (frrrrreeeezing) on Rene-Levesque and another hour inside the hotel. A friend of mine also waited quite a while, and never even got in. What kept me from bailing? Well, it was my new twinkly-eyed friend Morgan, a little girl ahead of me in line, who convinced me by saying: "Think of all the red velvet and sprinkles!" How could I leave?

I still can't get over how much Montreal has turned into a cupcake crazed city! Don't get me wrong, I love them as much as the next person, I just never expected to wait almost two hours for them. But I suppose that's the beauty of Montreal. We like to say we're tough skinned, but then amid swarms of crowds and amped up kids, stressed out parents and impatient line-dwellers, we still have a soft spot for helping people out. And being that it's almost the holidays, we have this restless need to give back. All of the volunteers were so sweet! I didn't run into a single short tempered person, both inside the hall and out. I was just waiting for someone to blow their fuze and tell me to stick my cupcake you-know-where. It didn't happen. All I saw were smiles and laughter. It was nice to see.

Here's what the line looked like outside (it got progressively longer):

And here's the second line inside (yes I said second line):

Below was the actual reception hall before the crowd:

aaaand after:

Crazy, right? The collective mantra while waiting in line was: "It's for a good cause. It's for a good cause."

And it sure was. CCMTL raised approximately $31,000 ...How's that for waiting in line?

Have a good monday peeps.

Mtl.D xo

Early Christmas Wishlist

Too soon? Oh, who cares?

Calling all trend spotters: I just saw these sexy driving gloves on New York Magazine's website, and I just had to share them as the first official Mtl.D Christmas wishlist item (hint, wink, nudge, cough). They're called the Echo Touch Gloves. These technicolor cuties are a steal at 35$ USD per pair. Plus, get this: my fellow Iphone users and Blackberry Torch newbies are going to love that they're touch-screen friendly. Yup, now you can make the fashion cut without causing permanent damage to your fingers in sub-zero Montreal weather while texting your bff.

Available on the bloomingdales website: http://www.bloomingdales.com/

Happy shopping!

Mtl.D xo