Friday, October 31, 2008

Halloween Sugar Cookies

Every year my mother sends us amazing Halloween sugar cookies in an assortment of spooky shapes. I got them yesterday, just in time for today's festivities. The recipe is quick and easy and designed especially so that cutting out shapes is a snap. Enjoy decorating and Happy Halloween everyone!


Jane's Sugar Cookies

Mix ingredients in order – Don't overbeat!

2 ¼ cups flour
½ c sugar
½ c powdered sugar
½ t salt
1/8 t baking soda
1/8 cream of tartar
1 ½ sticks of butter
1 egg, beaten
1 T vanilla

Process until just mixed. Roll to 1/8"

Bake 375ºF for 12-15 minutes.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

What kind of vanilla extract do YOU use?!

Peter was just watching Good Eats, and Alton Brown was talking about vanilla beans. While the vanilla bean from Mexico is superior, he says that you should never buy vanilla extract from Mexico. He says the extract usually is processed with parts of the tonka bean which is a filler that tastes like vanilla but contains some quite harmful substances.

Ina Garten always wants us to use "good vanilla," so, what kind of good vanilla do you use?

Images are from the public domain/or published with permission via Wikipedia Commons.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Boston Beer Works

The first time I went to Boston Beer Works was on a fall evening before a Red Sox Game last year, and I must say I was a bit overwhelmed by the hundreds of people crammed into the place. Offering 12 to 16 hand-crafted beers each day at only $5 each, however, it's no wonder the place is so popular. Last night it was suggested that a bunch of us go grab dinner there and watch the game, so I figured why not. I recall seeing some pretty tasty-looking bar food that last time...

When we got to the restaurant it was pretty dead, polar opposite of the last time when I could hardly get to the bar for a drink. I was very pleased from the get-go to see that they had a home-brewed Pumpkinhead Ale on tap. Seated at a table in the back corner, we had a good view of a few of the TVs as well as some of the machinery used to make the beer there.

We started with a few pitchers of the before mentioned Pumpkinhead ale, described as "a copper-colored ale that’s brewed with real pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla and allspice". Everyone was a big fan. Another beer that caught my eye was the Peanut Butter Porter, "a deep brown, full-bodied ale with rich roasted coffee and chocolate overtones. Flavored with real peanut butter". I definitely want to come back some time later in the season to try it.

I was very impressed with their extensive menu - they even have a whole Oktoberfest menu with fun German-inspired dishes for the month, including schnitzel and bratwurst. I couldn't resist ordering a burger, though, and so chose the Fenway burger, which was covered in chili, scallions, and cheddar. They have a few different fry options for only $.95 extra, so I substituted my classic fries for the sour cream and chive fries with ranch dipping sauce. They were absolutely delicious. Other options include gravy fries, cheese fries, sweet potato fries, and fiery fries with ranch. As for the burger, they serve a serious hunk of meat, nice and medium rare like I wanted it. I thought the price of just over $10 was justified for such a meaty burger. Many of the others got burgers, too, and equally loved them.

Melanie and Chris, on the otherhand, got nachos for their meal. The half order, for only $6.95 is MASSIVE. After eating for a good half an hour it barely seemed like either or them made a dent. For $3 extra you can add chicken, chili, steak, or guacamole. They were excellent, and I look forward to the leftovers in our fridge!

In terms of other menu offerings, Boston Beer Works has whatever you might be in the mood for - salads, pizza, ribs, and even fried pickles, which I'm dying to try next time. If you're looking for a place with great beer and great food to match, I encourage you to head to Boston Beer Works, especially if you have a large group. Just be careful before and after games at Fenway ;-)

Boston Beer Works on Urbanspoon

first photo courtesy of thesunblog.com

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Charlie's Sandwich Shop


Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, giving you the fuel to
be bright and productive.


While visiting Boston, several breakfast spots were recommended to us
so we decided to visit one that was close to our apartment.
Charlie's Sandwich Shop on Columbus Avenue was a perfect choice.

We arrived about 8:30 AM when most of the working crowd had finished.
The tables were still full so we sat at the bar giving us an opportunity to meet the family members that have been running the business for over fifty years.
The restaurant has been in business since 1927 when their father began the spot visited by many important people during the past 81 years.


Russ chose his favorite combination of scrambled eggs, real hash browns, sausage, and white toast. I chose a more gourmet breakfast of an omelette with spinach and feta cheese. It was served with hash browns and a salad with chick peas and fresh vegetables and wheat toast. The food was really great, but I discovered that it was enough food for three people. I asked the owner if I returned would they alter the menu for me, and they were delighted to meet my request.

The following morning we invited Peter to go with us, and again, we were served with a very warm reception and a willingness to please. I reduced the eggs to only one and the salad was doubled, leaving off the hash browns. It was perfect! Breakfast was enjoyed by all.

If we have a chance before heading home, we will visit them again. I give them a high rating on service, a willingness to please and a delicious menu!

Next time you want to treat yourself to a great breakfast don't forget Charlie's Sandwich Shop.


Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe on Urbanspoon

Apple Slices Recipe


Every fall my mom bakes one of our family's favorite desserts, apple slices. Since we had some many apples left over from apple picking, I thought it was time I tried the recipe for myself. I was happy to find out that these tasty treats are super easy to make. The ingredients read as follows:

3 lbs Apples (about 8 or 9 small-medium apples. My Mom suggests granny smith, but I just used an assortment of apples that my roommate had picked, and it turned out delicious.
2 packages rolled pie crusts (Note: each package has two crusts) You can find this in the grocery store where Pillsbury biscuits are found.
1 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
2 1/2 tbsp flour

And for the glaze...

1 cup powedered sugar
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp milk

To start off, press two the four pie crusts into a 9x13 baking dish. Next, peel and slice the apples. Mix in the sugar, cinnamon, and flour, then scoop the entire mixture into the pan with the pie crusts. Take the remaining two crusts and mold over the top of the apple mixture. Place in the oven at 350 for 50-60 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let it sit for a little bit, then pour on the glaze. You can serve immediately, but I personally prefer the slices cold.

Brunch at The Fireplace


On a crisp fall morning there are few things better than a hearty brunch to get the day going. I remembered very much enjoying brunch at Brookline's Fireplace some time ago and everyone agreed that they would like to try it. Located right in Brookline's Washington Square, The Fireplace is a New England-themed restaurant having comfort food with an upscale feel. The chef has a philosophy of "hearty, clean food with integrity" prepared simply but thoughtfully. Though they have menus for brunch, lunch, mid day, and dinner meals, today we were all craving breakfast food.

We were seated at a table for four right next to the window on the entrance level of the restaurant. The sunlight creeping in from outside, combined with the festive carved pumpkins and other tasteful Halloween decorations made for a great autumn ambiance.

I had my heart set on eggs benedict since waking up, so I was pleased to see they had it on the menu. It was served alongside a salad of mixed greens, which is nice if you're not in the mood for the more standard home fries. The dish was excellent, and I loved the bits of scallion in every other bite or so. Feeling hungrier than usual I split a side of applewood smoked bacon. The side came with 6 pieces that were nice and thick and full of flavor.

Tara first wanted a cup of the pumpkin bisque with walnuts and great hill blue cheese, something I've had before and loved. For her meal she chose the Challah French toast with apricot almond cheese & Vermont maple syrup. I've tried this dish before and found the sweet cheese to be wonderful. She found her first bite to be bland, but soon pulled a 180 and very much enjoyed it.

Marcello opted for the crispy corn waffles with rum, bananas, brown sugar & apple cider syrup. Though I didn't get any commentary on the waffles, it certainly looked great, and based on his empty plate I'm sure it was.

The service was excellent throughout the whole meal, and our waitress was very happy to answer any and all questions we had about the menu. A perfect example was when one of my dining companions asked about the 7 herb tea, namely what the seven herbs were. She actually went to the kitchen to find out, curious herself. Aside from that our coffees (really good, by the way) and waters were always replenished with a smile.

If you are looking for delicious, relaxing brunch experience, the fireplace makes a great choice. Be sure to check out their other menus to see what they have to offer at other times of the day - you won't be disappointed!

Fireplace on Urbanspoon

Friday, October 24, 2008

Church

Church is a comfort-food  restaurant with a hip trendy atmosphere and attached music venue in the Fenway area.  The decor is relaxed and pleasant with tea-stained walls and brown leather chairs.  The restaurant is low-lit with many small candles on the tables and larger candles that sit in front of mirrors on the wall.

The menu is pretty simple flare.  Appetizers include salads, fried clams and beef empanadas.  Entrees range from pressed crispy duck to mac & cheese tp eggplant rollatini.  There is also a small sandwich menu consisting of a cheeseburger, reuben, and steak and cheese.  All the food comes in decent sized portions.  Entrees range from 15-21 dollars and sandwiches are about $12.  My favorite part about Church is the drink menu.  On top of wine and beer, Church offers 7 drinks named after the seven deadly sins.  A fun mixture of ingredients create unique cocktails that are just as much fun to drink as to order (the night we
 went, the waitress told us that they were out of "lust".  A friend told her not to worry, the table had enough of that to go around.)  For those of you who aren't familiar with the seven deadly sins I've listed them below as they appear on the menu:

GREED Using Hendricks Gin, St Germain liquer, diced cucumber, a pinch of white pepper and a salted cucumber to garnish, the White June demands it all…and who are we to stand in its way.

SLOTH There should be no rush when this one can end your night before it begins. So take it slow while sipping the Dark Ryeder, our take on a vintage manhattan. 

WRATH Back by popular demand…The Boilermaker. Bud depth-charged with Jack. Two old friends, together again. Drink back and become wrath. Sweet Mercy. 

GLUTTONY Over induldge your senses with Mother’s Milk, a rum based concoction with bananas, Thai coconut milk and mint chocolate. Mother knows best. 

VANITY Inspired by the legendary beauty herself, Sophia Loren has made a life long dedication to turning heads. Let us turn yours with The Loren, a vodka based cocktail made with fresh squeezed, sweetened, ruby red grapefruits. 

LUST The traditional sidecar driven down a different street. The Lavenderia is made with flowers and honey and buckets of Spanish brandy…a sidecar named desire. 

ENVY Made with Reyka Vodka

Last time we went to Church we ordered the cheeseburger, Reuben, garden salad, and the
 pressed crispy chicken.  On previous occasions we've ordered the mac & cheese and bacon wrapped pork loin.  While the burger is definitely one of the cheaper things on the menu, I didn't feel like 
it was that good.   I did not like the roll it was on which was very stiff on the outside.  The wrapped pork loin was delicious when I had it last and so was the mac & cheese.  The Reuben and garden salad looked and tasted good but nothing overtly awesome about them.  My favorite thing was the oil dipping sauce for the sliced bread.  The spices they used were a really nice medley and something a bit different then I was used to.  

Overall, Church is a good casual place to go to with friends.  Nothing too fancy but a nice atmosphere, decent food, good drink menu and a nice departure from the normal "Red Sox Nation" restaurants in the Fenway.


Church on Urbanspoon

Thursday, October 23, 2008

A world of Kitkats!

One thing that a lot of people don't know about me is my peculiar interest/obsession with KitKats. For almost 7 years I have traversed the globe (and of course fought Ebay battles) to collect KitKats from around the globe. Now this may seem odd to you, but perhaps you are unaware of the wondrous Kitkat flavors out of reach to you in American markets.

Have you had a lemon cheesecake Kitkat from Malaysia? A green tea Kitkat from Japan? How about Australia's Kitkat cookie dough or Kitkat Cinnamon from our friends up North in Canada? I thought not. While the U.S. is the only country where Kitkat is sold under the Hershey brand (elsewhere it is Nestle), our limited Kitkat flavors probably has more to do with global confectionary tastes than anything else. In the U.S. we love chocolate and peanut butter (hence the introduction of KitKat Peanut Butter), while in Asia palates are not quite so sweet-oriented. Combine that with the Japanese epic quest for trendiness, and you get such creations as Kitkat 'Caramel and salt'. Europeans typically enjoy more fruit, hence the UK's Kitkat 'Mango and Passionfruit' or 'Luscious Lime'

Earlier this week I got a fresh shipment from Japan, some of the contents of which I'll talk about. First up we have Kitkat Caramel Macchiato McFlurry, a joint venture between Nestle and McDonalds. It's super sweet and has a nice Starbuck's-esque caramel flavor in the white chocolate. Kitkat Green Grape Alexandria Muscat had a really interesting flavor that really did taste just like Champagne. I'm glad to see more booze-oriented Kitkats, following Kitkat Red Wine a few years back.

Kitkat Azuki Red bean, though delicious and flecked with bits of the flavoring throughout the chocolate, didn't taste like red bean paste at all. It was, however, very smooth and creamy.
Lastly was Kitkat Double Berry with Cranberry. It had a nice pink and white swirl to it, as well as a sweet, fruity flavor, Unfortunately I didn't get the cranberry taste at all. Nonetheless it is always exciting to try the latest Kitkat flavors from abroad!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Carnival Food

This weekend we took a trip to Witches Woods at Nashoba Valley and besides getting a dose of ghosts, zombies, and goblins, we were treated to the smells and tastes of a good ol' fashion carnival.  Nothing makes you feel like a kid again quite like the smell of funnel cake on a crisp autumn night or the sweet sticky smell of cotton candy wafting over to you from across the way. 
Below is a small montage of what was being offered(notice the creepy hand-shaped funnel cakes)...enjoy!

   










Monday, October 20, 2008

J.J. Foley's


Having recently moved to a different section of the South End, Bryan and I were anxious to try out some of the local eateries that we normally wouldn't have ventured to.  Topping the list was J.J. Foley's for the mere reason that I heard Justin Timberlake had gone to party here (or at its sister location in the financial district) after his concert in Boston last year.  

Yesterday, the cold weather got our appetites rumbling for some pub food so Bryan, Adam and myself headed over to J.J's (do they call it that?) for a bite to eat.  From the outside of the pub, J.J.'s looks a bit rundown.  The sign is very nice though and states that the pub's been in business since 1909.  We walked in and were pleasantly surprised.

In my past experiences, I've come to realize that pubs are not known for their cleanliness.  Patrons are usually greeted with sticky floors or tables and a worn out atmosphere.  So imagine how happy I was to discover the complete opposite at J.J.'s.  The atmosphere at J.J.'s is warm and friendly.  We were greeted by both the bartender and the waitress when we entered and were told we could sit anywhere.  The pub was clean and actually quite pretty.  There was a new tin ceiling that was bright and shiny, what looked like newly shellacked wooden panels covering the walls, and the floors were tiled and very clean.  The bar had a large plasma screen above it playing the football game (not too loud I might add...a good thing for me). 

Our waitress for the day was a feisty woman with an Irish brogue (points for authenticity!).  She was extremely pleasant and took our order, refilled our drinks and cleared our plates without delay.  She even offered us some Irish mustard to try (we did and it was good).  The menu at J.J.'s is simple pub food at decent prices.  The burgers are about 9 bucks and so are most of the sandwiches.  I ordered the taco burger that came with guacamole, salsa, sour cream and a side order of fries.  The burger was good and so were the fries.  I was completely satisfied.  Bryan ordered the blue cheese burger and he liked it as well.  Adam ordered the potato skins (you get 3) and the Reuben which he commented to the waitress that it was probably one of the best Reubens he's ever had...she ventured to say that it was  perhaps even the best corn beef in Boston (one can only dream!).  The only complaint I have about the whole experience is that we were charged for our refills on our soda (2 bucks a glass) without being told they would cost extra.  After two refills though, they stopped charging so maybe that's the rule?  Or maybe the waitress was amazed we could drink that much soda and felt pity on us?  

Overall, we had a great experience at J.J. Foley's in the South End and would recommend this location to anyone in the area craving friendly service, good comfort food and a cozy local hang-out.

JJ Foley's Cafe on Urbanspoon

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Easy Crumble Crust Apple Pie

If you're like us, you probably have a huge bag filled with apples sitting in your kitchen that you can't seem to make a dent in just by eating them one by one. Take the opportunity to use your extra apples from apple picking to make this easy apple pie with crumble crust. Enjoy!

Recipe makes 2 pies


Bottom Crust:
I use the frozen store bought kind. Life's too short to make your own bottom crust!
Apple Mixture:

(It's always good to use a mixture of different types of baking apples. We get our apples from my family's small orchard so we stick to the Macintosh, Liberty, Jonathan, and Freedom varieties but feel free to experiment!)

6 Tb all-purpose flour
1 tsp lemon zest
1Tb fresh lemon juice
1 tsp ground Cinnamon
1 tsp ground allspice (about 12 cloves if you grind them yourself)
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/3 cup sugar
5 lbs apples, peeled, cored and cut into slices

Mix apples and ingredients together in a big bowl. Using your hands is probably the best way to make sure all the apples get evenly covered.

Divide the apple mixture in two and Scoop into the two pie crust bottoms. Set aside.

Crumble Crust:
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter chopped into cubes

Combine ingredients and then pulse together in a food processor so the mixture resembles coarse cookie crumbles.

Press the crumbles onto each pie until all the apples and tops are covered.
Bake on a cookie sheet (to catch the drips) at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn down to 375 and bake for 40 additional minutes.
Let the pie cool and settle for a few hours. Serve with a fresh dollop of vanilla ice cream.









Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Croma Boston

My roommate's parents are in town for the weekend, so after deliberating for quite some time on a restaurant, she chose Croma. Calling itself a restaurant, pizzeria, and bar, Croma is tucked away on Newbury Street and has abundant seating both inside and out. Inside there are two levels - the upstairs starts with the bar followed by a dozen or so tables of varying sizes. Downstairs is similar, with its own bar, and can be rented out for private functions. I found the decor a bit stark, but we were also surrounded by empty tables, so that could have added to it.
I must say I was a bit irked when, after ordering a bottle of wine, we were brought out only three glasses, myself being left out. Though I acknowledge my youthful countenance, the waiter should have asked how many were planning on having wine. When he came back and saw we had shifted the glasses over he gave me a puzzled/questioning glare. I'm sure I was the only one that noticed any of this, however, so whatever.

To start out we got a round of bruschetta. Holding true to its description, it was indeed garlic bread topped with a vine ripened tomato salad, plus hunks of cheese. I liked having the bruschetta on actual soft bread as opposed to the more standard (at least in my experience) crispy slices of bread. Deciding on our main meals was another matter, as there were many great-sounding options for pizza, pasta, salads, and other items.
For my meal I chose the peking duck pizza (first picture above), with slices of warm Peking duck, arugula and lambs leaf lettuce, scallions, cilantro, cucumber and hoisin sauce. This was precisely what I had a taste for, and done extremely well. I loved the fresh cilantro with every bite balancing the sweet taste of the hoison sauce. They didn't skimp on the duck, either. Lauren chose the barbeque chicken pizza (left) and finished hers just about as quickly as I did mine - she said it was delicious. Both pizzas were 10" and intended for one person, similar in style to what is offered at California pizza kitchen.

Melanie and her Mom opted for the seafood canneloni, crêpe style cannelloni stuffed with Maine lobster meat, pan-seared sea scallops, and shrimp, baked in a lobster sherry cream sauce. I was very close to getting this dish, and they both seemed to love it. Interestingly enough, the 3 cannelloni were served with dough balls, perhaps for dipping into the leftover sauce. Last but not least, Melanie's father chose the chicken marsala, melted mozzarella and morel mushrooms in a marsala wine sauce, served with haricoverts and linguini. Though I didn't ask him about his dish, he seemed to very much enjoy it.

To finish the meal, we passed around a rich chocolate concoction with whipped cream and fresh strawberries - very nice.

We all left Croma very satisfied and most of us very full. I look forward to returning to Croma sometime to sit outside and enjoy a nice meal complete with cocktails from their sizable cocktail menu.
Croma on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Rocca

Rocca is a relatively new Italian restaurant located on Harrison Ave in the South End. Unlike many Italian eateries, Rocca strives to create a hip, modern atmosphere using Mediterranean colors to liven up the large space. Above the door sits a neon sign that glows a steady red and welcomes guests inside. Upon entering Rocca, you are at first struck by the height of the bar area. Stretching at least 20 feet high, the bar wall is covered in cork while the opposing wall is made up of glass windows with shiny sheer curtains that give a translucent view to the outside patio (the patio is beautiful with wonderfully bright umbrellas, beautiful trees and an old water wheel). On this particular evening our party was seated upstairs. The upstairs area does not have as high ceilings as the downstairs bar but the feeling of spaciousness continues. A glowing azure blue "river" flows across the ceiling drawing your eyes across the large space. To the right, a smaller bar glows blue and is filled with bottles of any liquor you might want.

We started off our meal with two appetizers: the Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Pizzetta with ricotta, gorgonzola & sage ($9) and the Fried Calamari with salsa verde & preserved lemon ($9). The pizzetta was wonderful. It was light, crisp and packed with lots of flavor. The gorgonzola worked very well with the pear. I would definitely order this again. Although I personally am not a fan of fried calamari, everyone else at the table said they were nearly perfect: delicious and crisp, not at all chewy and there was a nice amount of both rings and tentacles. The only complaint was that they were just a tad too salt.

For my main course I ordered the Chicken Genoese roasted, with sweet and sour spinach, wild mushrooms & pine nuts ($19). The chicken was good, it was moist and the sauce was fantastic. I didn't particularly care for the mushrooms and pine nuts but the chicken portion was good and I was satisfied with the dish.

Bryan ordered the Lasagne Ligure with butternut squash, wild mushrooms, mozzarella, crescenza cheese & arugula pesto ($23). I felt that the portion size was a bit small for the amount of money but Bryan thought the dish was fantastic. The pasta tasted home-made, the dish was light but filling and although it was meatless, the mushrooms were a good substitute. The pesto was a nice fresh touch. Even though there was a lot going on with all the components and flavors, it worked really well and Bryan would order it again.

Bryan's parents had the Braised Short Ribs with creamy polenta, green beans, glazed carrots & pickled horseradish gremolata ($24) and the Tuscan Tomato Soup with farro, chickpeas & white beans, served with Parmigiano crostini & basil oil ($7) to accompany the Mixed Greens with citrus vinaigrette & fresh herbs ($7). Both parents enjoyed their dishes. Again with the portion size, the braised short ribs seemed a bit on the small side for the price but I didn't hear too many complaints about the amount of food at the table.

Overall, our experience was a good one. Our waitress was very attentive to us and was quick to refill our water and offer us more bread (foccacia with olive oil). We all agreed that the food was in general very good and we would return to try more. The only negative we had was that there was louder techno music playing downstairs which made its way to the upper level where it didn't work as well with the ambiance.


Rocca on Urbanspoon

Monday, October 13, 2008

Les Filles Du Roy


*photo courtesy of http://www.pierreducalvet.ca*

When Chris's father offered to pay for us to go out for a nice dinner, I knew I had to pick somewhere great that I normally wouldn't be able to afford. Consequently we choose to dine at the restaurant in the Pierre du Calvet Hotel, named Les Filles du Roy (note the old spelling of 'roi'). The building itself was built in 1725 under the French regime and is the oldest historical house that is open for public accommodations in Montreal. As seen in the above picture, the dining room is absolutely gorgeous in every detail. It evokes all the grandeur of French Montreal, from the game trophies on the wall to the Louis XIII tapestry arm chairs.
Arriving at 7pm, we were surprised to find the dining room almost entirely empty, but by 8 there were many others. Before even seeing the menu we were suggested by the waiter a Kir cocktail with a local Quebequois cherry liqueur and champagne. It was topped with a Cape gooseberry native to South Africa. It was very refreshing and the berry was a nice extra touch. Oddly enough this is the second time in the past month or so we've come across this berry, the latter being at a gin tasting at the local liquor store.

After starting on our drinks, the waiter brought over some complimentary hors oeuvres. It was essentially salmon tartare served on sliced cucumbers and was a great little nibble.
After looking at the menu for some time, we finally decided on our meals and so began the real dining experience.
We both began with a soup, with myself choosing the potage of the day with tomato and basil. It was thicker than anticipated, more like a puree, but very good. Chris opted for the onion soup with melted white cheddar, which I thought was interesting.

While certainly tasty, it wasn't salty enough for either of us. I'm wondering if the French version of the dish is in essence saltier than the North American version. We've made an onion recipe from a New England cookbook and it was equally lacking in saltiness.

Anyway, moving on to our next course we had a half-dozen oysters (huîtres) served upon a bed of course salt and with just a dash of hot sauce. The description on the menu mentioned something about raspberry vodka, but perhaps my palate is not refined enough to have tasted this. Either way they were nice and chilled and very good.


For my main dish I choose the faisan rôtit, or roasted pheasant, served with cabbage and beets. I hadn't had pheasant in sometime, and being in Canada I wanted something a bit on the gamey side done well. It was very nice, especially the roasted skin which added tons of flavor.

Chris had the maple pecan roast duck, which was accompanied with potatoes and a root vegetable that escapes both of our memories. He asked for it medium, and it came perfectly tender. The sauce was also delicious and a perfect compliment to the meat.
After all that food we decided to just end with a cup of espresso to reenergize us for a night out on the town.

All in all we had a wonderful almost 2 hour dining experience in the heart of Old Montreal. The service was impeccable - never did we have to ask for a single thing, and our water and wine glasses were filled every couple of minutes. If ever you are looking for a most opulent dining experience with delicious Quebecois French cuisine, and if money isn't really much of an issue, I would highly recommend Les Filles du Roy.

Les Filles Du Roy on Urbanspoon