Glam by an Open Fire

"A love so warm and beautiful, stands when time itself is falling."

-Paul McCartney

Bonjour!

January is in full swing. Our fair Montreal is in the midst of a hazy-cold lull, doused in skiers and underground city warmth-seekers. 

Montreal Skyline

This time of year, my apres-ski self adores nothing more than the coarse heat offered by the roar of a fire. Very little compares to the feeling of lounging by an open fireplace. As of late, I'll find any excuse  to unwind by some cozy flames, armed with my french-press coffee with a dash of cinnamon. 

True Beauty: A roaring fire. Photo Cred http://bit.ly/f4gkl7 

While enjoying coffee is for the daytime me, I also enjoy a good glass of wine come sundown (which, incidentally, happens rather early these day. But I digress!). For the wine connaisseurs and non-aisseurs alike, the perfect post cold-day braving deserves a beautiful La Moussiere Loire Valley Sancerre. This 2007 jewel is essench for fire-place relaxing. This fabulous vino goes down with a medley of puckering minerals and awashes your mouth with the lingering taste of dried fruit and rich woods. Serve chilled, obvi.

Bonus? It's a total steal at $16.90, available at most SAQs. 

Going glam with crystal wine glasses.

And finally, here's my brief foodie bit.

Wine and coffee all in the same place? Hello!

As a result of a recent stumble upon a bistro called Toi, Moi et Café, I've all but sworn off most coffee shops. This restaurant/café/brunch spot all in one makes my life a total breeze when I don't know which mood I find myself in. The beautiful banquettes, modern decor, open glass wine cellar and kitchen tucked behind coloured glass is a delight to the eyes. Free wifi is definitely a plus for the student in me, while my sunday brunch cravings can also be curbed. Need a late night bite? You're in luck, the kitchen is open! At three locations in and around Montreal, I've just about found my hangout (other than by my fireplace) for winter 2011.

Enjoy basking in the warm coziness of it all, Montreal.

Mtl.d xo

My rating: ♡♡♡

Locations for Toi, Moi et Café:

Toi Moi et Café   - more info »

2695, Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3J 1N9(514) 788-9599 ‎

7 reviews

"We went here for brunch on a Saturday. Best brunch coffee I have ever had. ..."

Toi Moi & Café   - more info »

244, avenue Laurier Ouest, Montréal, QC H2T 2N8(514) 279-9599 ‎

24 reviews

"Ils font les meilleurs lattés en ville! (Les 2eme meilleurs lattés en ville selon les sondages, mais en vrai, on sait tous que c'est chez Toi moi et café!)" - monavis.ca

Toi'Moi Et Cafe   - more info »

220 Bd Labelle, Rosemère, QC J7A 2H4(450) 433-9599 ‎

For Auld Lang Syne

Welcome to 2011, bloggies!

Sending you out tons of H&H: Health and happiness.

Ah, a new year. filled with renewed expectation, fuzzy unknowns, blind anticipation, and yet-to-be realized, um, resolutions, I believe they're called? 

Truth time: I stopped making resolutions the year I discovered they amount to nothing more than an accessory to Weight Watchers commercials and the centre piece to countless fluffy "news" items sprawled across every newspaper and magazine cover. Change can come whenever you need want it to, so why does January 1st have to be the starting point? I hereby liberate you from the useless marketing tools referred to as so-called "resolutions". Enjoy life, and welcome self-improvement on your own terms!

So, how were your holidays? I had the pleasure of spending Christmas in Manhattan. Besides the once in a lifetime snowfall of over 25 inches (50-ish centimetres for the Canadians who are keeping count) and considering New Yorkers don't have the equipment to clean their sidewalk (well sounds like us Montrealers finally have one thing we can't complain about!) here's what the West Village looked like early on the 27th of December:

I've never seen New York city like this. But the notoriously tough Manhattanites didn't blink for a second. I had to smile when I saw a Salvatore Ferragamo salesclerk cleaning his storefront sidewalk armed with a microscopic shovel and italian-leather loafers. 

I had to visit the Kardashian Dash NYC store just to see what all the hype was about. 

Storefront of Dash NYC...*yawn*

My take? 

Well, here it goes: if "hand"-selected Bebe apparel (slight cringe) and flouncy Alice and Olivia blouses are your coup-de-coeurs, then you'll loooove the over-the top, postage stamp sized boutique with attitude-ladden sales-girls at the Dash shop on Spring Street in NYC. Yes, the Kardashians are definitely nip/tucked marketing masters (or their publicists are wildly overpaid, either way) but as cute as some of their clothing items were, I didn't see anything that would make me fall flat on my fashionista face. NEXT.

Here's my foodie bit.

I tried Norma's, made famous by some Blair Waldorfian visits on Gossip Girl, to see whether the caviar omelettes and foie gras french toast really do add up to a whole new level of chic-brunching.

Be warned: the prices are completely absurd, (Challah french toast for $24 USD?) and noisy mid-day snackers have no shame about boisterous gabbing around their french press coffee. 

But really, I loved it.

The infamous prices of $100 to $1,000 omelettes are a farce, but my reliable foodie sources told me the lobster used for these luxurious concoctions are so buttery and creamy you barely need to chew. All of Norma's bread is made in-house, as well as their homemade confiture made with day-fresh blueberries and strawberries.

Plus, every meal starts off with a complimentary shot of their fresh daily smoothie concoctions made to entice your palette and, perhaps, order one of your own. Smart.

It goes against every grain of my being, but I enjoyed my over-the-top, upper west side brunch. 

And just for kicks and in the name of the shear ridiculousness of their prices, here's 
My rating: ♡♡♡♡

I keep one ♡ to myself because what brunch-o-lista doesn't like a good mimosa with her cappuccino? Apparently Norma's skipped out on getting a liquor license, so no embarrassingly early-hour cocktail for us, friends. What a downer. How else am I supposed to wash down my $1,000 omelette?

Mtl.D solution: Norma's is actually at the Hotel Le Parker Meridien, so before you nosh, get your champagne flute or bloody mary fix at the hotel bar. The cathedral-high ceilings, Byzantine/gothic style and oaky wood panels transport you enough to enhance your experience. Just in time to forget the fact that an expensive brunch awaits. Below is a glimpse of the bar:

Norma's Restaurant  At Le Parker Meridien 118 West 57th Street

New York, NY 10019, United States

(212) 708-7460

That's all for now!

Happy New Year blog-o-lites! 

Mtl.D xo