In Videos: From Haute French Cuisine to Poutine, the Food of Montreal
Over the last year or so, Al Jazeera English has produced a really interesting series on food from around the world. In previous broadcasts, they have visited Jerusalem and New York City, and here, they're in Montreal, where the cuisine ranges from gussied-up oysters and tarts to the arguably less refined poutine (cheese curds and gravy over fries). Some purists think the fat explosion that is poutine represents a scandal.
"It's not really cooking! An aberration!" A little miffed by these naysayers, chef Martin Picard of the well-respected Au Pied de Cochon, put poutine on his menu as a symbol of his support. Except to make it jibe with the rest of his restaurant, he throws on a dollop of foie gras. The video, which covers Montreal's food on many levels, after the jump.
The Food of Montreal
Previously
48 Hours in Montreal: A Guide to Eating
Poutines Deathmatch: La Banquise vs. Patati Patata
Favorite gems/finds to dine in Montreal? [Talk]
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6 Comments:
I was struck by the journalist's comment in this piece that, if struck by hard times, Canadians would give up food shopping, but the citizens of Quebec would refuse to give up food shopping. I guess the rest of Canada would starve.
Also, Montreal is the second largest French speaking city in the world, outside of Paris? What is that supposed to mean? Second to Paris, or outside of France?
What a sloppy piece of work.
jdlambert at 12:30PM on 05/08/09
The chef is Martin Picard, not Martine. He would make a most unattractive woman. And his poutine avec foie gras? Almost as wondrous as his Pied de Cochon farcis au foie gras.
Gustatorian at 12:56PM on 05/08/09
Kinshasa and Abidjan are both larger than Montreal or even Paris, but then again who cares about Africa...
That was kind of awful. I was happy to see Mme Keller. She's the éminence grise of Quebecois food culture. As for the rest, all the crane shots in the world couldn't save the sloppy editing and amateurish journalism in that piece.
The reporter showed her colours by spending way too much time talking about the language police and politics in general. What does that have to do with food? But, I think "The liver of a force-fed goose" was the clincher for me.
SqueezeBottle at 1:17PM on 05/08/09
...And those gussied up oysters were scallops.
SqueezeBottle at 1:22PM on 05/08/09
I was born in Montreal, but moved from there was I was 3. I love the city and agree that its food is fantastic. I've not had a lot of chance to eat in higher end places (I spent time there as a student and a newly employed person) but what I ate, I usually liked. I enjoyed seeing Mme Keller - I have heard of her, but never seen photos or heard her speak. Martin Picard is hilarious - he had a show on FoodTV for a bit - not sure if it is still on. I agree that the emphasis on language law was unnecessary. My French is not strong, but I have always been able to order in any restaurant in Montreal successfully and made myself understood and worked to understand the servers who are helping me. Now, outside Montreal, unfortunately, that is not always the case - I had an experience in Rimouski that caused me and my former husband to walk out of a restaurant for the first and only time to date.
Maureen at 1:48PM on 05/08/09
Oh boy, there's a part 2 with more crane shots, more ramping and more language wars.
SqueezeBottle at 1:51PM on 05/08/09