Author: Blair Dohey
-
Oysterfest Legends
Nine years ago Oysterfest started out as a small gathering of fans, friends and farmers of oysters. With shucking competitions, oyster plating and kegs of beer swilled with glee, the grassroots project launched a phenomenon that has grown into one of the most important summer festivals in Montreal. As our unofficial last hurrah of the…
-
Boho
The South Pacific is having a big moment in the 514 and Boho in Old Montreal has joined the ranks offering its Miami-tinged take on the food trend (poke and popsicles to be specific) that has been successfully sweeping the city for the last couple of years. The thing about trends is they come and…
-
Le Perché
The William Gray hotel in Old Montreal is an architectural marvel. While respecting the old world look of the surrounding neighbourhood, the hotel has pushed the boundaries of what it means to be a hotel in 2017. As much a gathering place for locals as it is an eye catching destination for visitors to our…
-
Vogue Is Vogue
In the great tradition of Paris is Burning, the epic documentary that followed the “ballroom” scene in New York in the 80’s, and framed with the 2017 edition of Montreal/Canada Pride comes the mainstream return of Voguing in Montreal. The gang at Tourisme Montreal teamed up with Fierté Montréal/Canada Pride and Gerard X Reyes to bring…
-
CW Beggs & Sons
A couple of weeks ago I attended the launch of a couple of new products from CW Beggs & Sons. We gathered downtown at Cloakroom for cocktails and canapés to learn about the new offerings and to sample them first hand, on the spot. You’ve probably come across these products in drug stores across the…
-
La Grotte
There are a number of restaurants on the Plateau that I haven’t yet had the chance to try but that’s about to change. I’ve made it my mission (now that I live in the hood) to try as many as I possibly can while still running from one end of this city to the other…
-
La Belle et la Boeuf
There’s nothing better than a great night out in Montreal and whether you’re at your favourite bar, pub or club, you know that nothing tops a great night like a good poutine or a burger. We’re blessed to have some of the best late night snacking food in the country and La Belle et La…
-
KOZU
Kozu opened a couple of months ago in the space that once housed the now defunct Rachel-Rachel. With an Asian-inspired menu designed by Jatoba’s executive chef, Oliver Vigneault and a swanky new design, Kozu is the latest Asian Brasserie in the city hoping to garner attention on the Plateau. Being located in the heart of…
-
El Zaziummm
It’s very rare that I make it back to a restaurant as quickly as I did to review El Zaziummm. I attended their 25th anniversary party back in June and a couple of weeks later I organized (with plenty of wonderful help) a sit down dinner to try a little more food in a setting…
-
Grey Goose Terrasse Launch
We may have missed the Grey Goose Summer Soiree this year but there was no way we were going to be absent for the launch Sea Salt and Ceviche’s Grey Goose Terrasse in Old Montreal. The branded terrasse is the perfect spot for sipping on cool summer cocktails, eating great food and watching visitors and…
-
Kamehameha
We’ve all heard the saying “the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time”. The same philosophy can be applied to the transformation underway in Montreal’s Gay Village. With each cool new business that moves into the neighbourhood, people are returning to eat, drink, shop and party the night away. Kamehameha,…
-
More To LOV
After revolutionizing vegan and vegetarian cuisine less than a year ago, LOV (local, organic and vegetarian) has already expanded to a swanky new location smack dab in the middle of downtown Montreal. Ever since the original LOV opened earlier this year in Old Montreal, its been packed to the rafters with people who’ve raved about…
-
Caribou Gourmand
As one of our country’s biggest provinces, Quebec’s vast territory is rich with great people who’ve made the best of the land they’ve inherited. Families of farmers, fishermen, hunters and artisans from the far reaches of this beautiful place we call home provide us with some of the best food the world can offer and…
-
CHANEL Haute Couture F/W 2017/18
Chanel doesn’t do anything half way. When in Paris… And here’s a very cool behind the scenes look at the show and the very fomo worthy celebrity guest list. What did you think of this spectacle?
-
Estérel Resort
Long weekends are perfect for little getaways. A mini vacation is just what we need as we begin to settle into the long hot days and wonderfully busy nights of the summer season. Montreal is an hour away from the Laurentian Mountains and there’s more than enough up north to keep us occupied for a…
-
GoodFood
Text and photography by David Major-Lapierre Over the past few years, grocery delivery services have gained massive popularity. The idea of having entire, ready-to-cook meals delivered your door on a weekly basis is very seductive for those of us who are always on the run. Preparing healthy meals, cooked with fresh ingredients every night can…
-
Vallier Bistro
Even though the “eat local” movement has only started to really ramp up in the last few years, a few restaurants have been championing amazing foods grown and produced in la belle province from their beginnings. Vallier is one of these restaurants and recently the restaurant went through a few changes, both behind the scene…
-
Hopkins
NDG is one of those Montreal neighbourhoods that stand out as something truly different. The area is one of the most culturally diverse in the city, there’s a laid back easiness to the people that call NDG home and along Monkland, the neighbourhood’s main strip, you will find some of the best restaurants, bars and…
-
Dario Cecchini At Plaza Antique
The mere mention of Italian food is enough to get me moving and I will go to the ends of the Earth to try whatever is put in front of me. Last week I may not have gone to the end of the Earth but I did go to the east end of Montreal to…
-
Hachoir
It’s very, very rare for me to go to Hachoir and not have my usual Big Mec (or at least the Classic) burger, a delicious salad (that ginger vinaigrette is unreal) and of course the piping hot fries. This meal is one of my favourites in the city but every now and then I have…
-
El Zaziummm
Laurier Street east in Montreal’s very popular Plateau neighbourhood is a quiet oasis where crowds of people stroll to and from the sprawling park, they meander slowly from one shop to the next, buying breads, cheese, clothing and trinkets from the little shops that line the street. Surrounded on all sides by busy thoroughfares like…
-
Grand Prix Recap
Although it’s only been a couple of weeks, the sounds of rubber screeching along the Giles Villeneuve raceway are already a distant memory in a city where festivals come at us at break-neck speeds all summer long. Canada’s Formula 1 is far more than just a weekend of car racing; it’s an economic shot in…
-
Marché des Éclusiers
With Montreal’s summer finally in full swing, there isn’t a moment to waste when it comes to eating on our favourite terrasses, drinking on our favourite rooftops or sitting in the sun, soaking it all in. For a second year in a row Marché des Éclusiers returns, offering visitors in Old Montreal a unique environment…
-
La Champagnerie
The time flies when you’re having fun. That’s what I thought when I received the invitation to the fourth anniversary of La Champagnerie. I remember being at the off-the-wall opening of La Champagnerie in Old Montreal four years ago and it was one of the most epic champagne filled parties I’ve ever been to (the…
-
Grand Prix 2017
Montreal’s busiest weekend is only days away. With so much to see and do in Montreal during the Grand Prix weekend, it can get a little overwhelming. Here are our picks for this year’s not-to-be-missed parties and events. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines… Le Richmond From Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon Le Richmond in…
-
Terrasses Bonsecours 2017
The summer season is more or less upon us and so far this year we’ve been taking it one day at a time. Mother Nature has been playing coy by giving us the cold shoulder one day and leaving us hot and bothered the next. One place that makes it a little easier to appreciate…
-
Brasserie 701
When I began blogging back in 2009 I never knew just how far it would take me. I’ve seen some amazing things, eaten some fantastic food and drank more champagne that I care to admit. The inspiration to begin telling the world about my fabulous adventures in Montreal came from several different sources but one…
-
Le Saloon
25 years ago I was a 14 year old boy living in a fishing village in Newfoundland and dreaming about life in the big city. That same year le Saloon opened in Montreal’s Gay Village. It was a very different time in Montreal. In 25 years a lot has changed in our city’s gay community…
-
La Voûte
Nightlife lovers have yet another address to add to their arsenal. La Voûte is the latest nightclub to open in Old Montreal and no expense was spared in turning the massive bank vault into a state-of-the-art nightlife hotspot. At a special media preview we experienced La Voûte first hand and from the decent into the…
-
Le Blumenthal
Le Blumenthal sits in one of Montreal’s Quartier des spectacles best vantage points. Looking out over the sprawling grounds that is anchored by the MAC and Place des arts, this is one of the busiest areas of the city all year round. With festival season quickly approaching the QDS is about to be inundated by…
-
Portus 360
A little over a year ago Helena Loureiro and the team behind PortusCalle uprooted their restaurant, which had been located in the micro-neighbourhood of Little Portugal on the Plateau, and migrated south to Old Montreal. Taking over the revolving restaurant that sits atop the EVO student residence (formerly the Delta Hotel) Portus 360 is a…
-
Invasion Cocktail 2017
Starting Wednesday, May 10th and running until May 16th, Montreal will be shaken and stirred during the 4th edition of Invasion Cocktail! Presented by #madewithlove, this year’s Invasion Cocktail competition will take place in over 35 bars across Montreal and Quebec and over 250 fabulous cocktails will mixed and poured by Quebec’s finest bartenders. This…
-
Sticking To The Program
When it comes to starting at the gym, we are our own worst enemy. Until we are truly ready to make important, healthy changes to the way we live our lives we continue to ignore the warnings signs. We also tend to be resentful of those who are taking measures to improve their health and…
-
Sustainable Seafood
I have had the privilege of eating at the finest restaurants in Montreal with some of the finest people in the city. Running from one neighbourhood trying all kinds of food is part of my passion and I couldn’t be happier to combine that with my love of writing. Every now and then I have…
-
Le Mount Stephen Hotel
Montreal is a city teeming with awe-inducing structures, beautifully designed public spaces and buildings that reach high into the sky. Heritage Canada has done a wonderful job of protecting the rich heritage of the buildings that helps retain Montreal’s old world charm while sleek new additions are painstakingly added to keep our city looking to…
-
Vladimir Poutine
Remember a couple of weeks ago when the sun was shining and the weather was warm? Even though the warm weather isn’t trending as much as Montrealers would like, we did take full advantage of being outside for as long as we could. I chose to spend my evening watching the sun’s rays descend over…
-
Veuve Clicquot Yelloweek 2017
Rare birds and other colourful surprises awaited guests attending the 2017 Veuve Clicquot Yelloweek launch held yesterday evening at a luxury loft in the heart of downtown. We braved the elements to get the lushly decorated, jungle-inspired launch that featured both Veuve Clicquot Rich and Rich Rosé. Since launching only a few years ago, Veuve…
-
West Elm Montreal
Next to book shopping, furniture and home décor shopping is one of my favorite ways to spend a few hours of the weekend. I can easily take half a day to search through a store to find that perfect chair, a new candle or even just dream about redoing my whole home from top to…
-
Désorientation 2017
Late last month we attended the 4th annual Désorientation fundraiser at the Entrepôts Dominion near Atwater Market in Saint-Henri. After last year’s blowout event our expectations were sky high and this year’s event didn’t disappoint. Once again the sold-out event was the top-ticket talk of the town gathering a massive, and well-dressed crowd, for a…
-
Rosewood Revisited
As a food writer, restaurant lover and nightlife enthusiast, I eat out a lot. As much as I love the feeling of walking into a new restaurant for the first time, I also enjoy recurring visits to some of my favorite places in the city. When I returned to Rosewood a couple of weeks ago…
-
Mac-n-Cheese Week 2017
I hope you’ve been wearing your eatin-pants all week! The third annual Mac-n-cheese week is bigger than ever before with more restaurants, crazier recipes and of course plenty of ooey-gooey Mac-n-cheese to go around. From April 3rd to 10th over 30 restaurants across Montreal and Quebec City have developed plenty of fun new takes on…
-
L’Avenue 2
No one can deny that l’Avenue on Mont-Royal is one of the most successful restaurants in the city. Nowhere else in Montreal are people waiting for hours to eat in a restaurant and it isn’t because there’s isn’t anywhere else to eat brunch on the Plateau. Any restaurant in Montreal today would kill to have…
-
Daybreaker MTL
This Saturday, April 1st Daybreaker returns for an all-inclusive, female empowerment inspired second edition at the Fairmont Theatre. Hundreds of people, regardless of gender, orientation or identity, are expected to gather for a morning inspired by dance, good vibes and finding that perfect balance. Daybreaker is an active morning packed with yoga, dancing, an inspiring…
-
Foire Culinaire Complètement Sucres
This coming April 8th isn’t just important because I will be celebrating my 10th annual 29th birthday. It’s also important because I am on the judging panel for this year’s Foire ailmentaire complètement sucre! As one of five judges, I will be partaking in food related festivities and the competition from noon to 4pm. Competing…
-
Chef à l’érable
Every great meal, like any good book, TV show or movie, should have an intriguing beginning, a fruitful middle and a satisfying conclusion. Recurring food-related events such as Chef à l’érable should be treated in the same fashion. When Laurent Godbout started Chef a l’erable 4 years ago it was a massive success. Reinventing the…
-
The Chain Gang
Restaurant chains get a bad rep for many reasons. Be it the fast food mentality, the international corporate domination or the lack of heart, larger restaurant chains have tarnished our view of them. On a smaller scale, several chains, born right here in Montreal, are helping to change the way we think, one new location…
-
Red Nose Day Actually
See the trailer below!! https://youtu.be/Au5eSHFduJo Who’s excited to pick up almost 10 years later? Airs March 25 on NBC.
-
Suitsupply
Guys, your style inspiration in Montreal just got a new destination. Suitsupply recently opened their second Canadian location right here in the 514. Montreal is a city that prides itself on being one of North America’s best cities for envelope-pushing fashion for women but for guys it isn’t always easy to find the threads that…
-
5 Hoods, 5 Must Try Brunches!
Weekends in Montreal are as much about the splashy parties as they are the morning brunch that follows. Great stories begin with a toast to our health on Friday and Saturday nights and followed by a healthy helping of toast, Caesars, eggs Benedict and just about anything to cure that hangover while dishing about what…
-
AURA by Moment Factory
AURA is a spectacle of epic proportions. I will say this right out of the gate, you NEED to see this. Officially opening to the public tomorrow, the show is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Moment Factory has become the go-to techno wizards when it comes to blowing our minds. The’ve proven themselves at several Super…