Friday, 10 July 2009
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Best tables of Quebec: Quintessence, Mont Tremblant
Quintessence, Mont TremblantAddr: 3004, chemin de la Chapelle,
Mont-Tremblant (QC)
1866 425-3400
Url: http://www.hotelquintessence.com/en/restaurant.phpAromes mention: EXCELLENTThis dining happened during our stay at their hotel at the beginning of July 2009.
STARTERS
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Starters consisted of beef tataki for my girlfriend +
the risotto for me. The beef tataki (had some bites of it) was a great change from the usual raw beef'd appetizers we have all around -> it was nicely seared, had the perfect toothsome and was of great quality. As for the risotto, it had the desired cooking + creamy flavourful and fresh mouthfeel I am so picky about when seeking for the perfect risotto. Both appetizers were creative and plentiful.
MAIN COURSE
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My girlfriend took the duck. I picked the lamb and of course we shared bites from each other plates.
The rack of lamb couldn't have been as stellar as what was in that remarquably luxuriously presented plate: perfectly cooked with a delicate palate drooling savourish sauce. Heavenly!
The duck was so flavorful, nicely seasoned with the freshest ingredients I could have asked for (right from the smell of it, 1st thing that came into mind was the fresh odors of those ingredients!). It was bathed in a delicious sauce that went down in no time, lol. Unbelievably succulent!
We ended with the mignardise plate for 2 which were numerous little fine/delicate mouthful delicacies.
WINES
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Although on the pricey range (which should be expected, particularly for this type of high end dining), it had stunned me by it's wide variety of choices (do not put me in front of an extensive choice of wine, cuz I'll be in heaven..lol!). It was the opportunity to test the sommelier's knowledge (very good, very!) + getting to know some new wines I had less infos about.
It was simply an awe of a dining experience + service was impeccable (not pretentious at all, which was a pleasant surprise given the somptuous surroundings).
Bottom line, this dinner both Jannice and I had sampled there was of high end luxurious ++ fine dining standard (gorgeous looking plates, superior ingredients, world class cooking techniques and flavors) up par with a 1* to 2* Michelin starred caliber dinner.Check all my Mtl's restaurant quick reviews on YELP
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+ Other restaurant reviews from Aromes:
Toque!: Any honest serious knowledgeable food enthusiast will tell you that it makes no sense that a restaurant like Zuberoa in San Sebastian (Spain) is 2* Michelin..while Toque! does not even have one! I like Zuberoa, but still..it's a pure non sense! Along with La Porte and XO Le Restaurant (Raza, Club Chasse et Peche, Nuances could qualify too with some slight improvements) is without 1 Oz of a doubt of 2 Michelin Star level whether you like it or not! Definitely the #1 fine dining Montreal offering along with XO Le Restaurant. Click on the logo on the left for a report on my latest dinner @ Toque!
Before heading to Restaurant La Porte, I heard from several foodie sources that it was in the top 10 of Montreal restaurants, and that at least 6,7 of Montreal top tables (all reviewed here) were ahead of it. This latest January 15th 2010 multiple-course tasting menu there (click on the logo on the left for the review of that dinner) proved them all wrong: This dinner was marked by Michelin star potential food items (spectacular dessert, the best mise en bouche I ever sampled on a Mtl fine dining table + other food items that pertained to World's best tables). Come to think about it, you would wish to all great 2* Michelin Star table to throw such exceptional dinner. La Porte pertains definitely to the top 3 of Montreal best fine dinings, no doubt about this, and I see only -- for now -- Toque! and XO topping it.
Star Chef Anne Desjardins is nowadays an icon of Quebec's Gastronomy. So does her Star table, L'Eau à la Bouche (among the only 3 Relais & Chateaux of Eastern Canada) . Largely in the top 5 best tables of this province, I had the opportunity to get a taste of two different Gastronomic type of fares @ L'Eau à la Bouche: A first Febr 13th 2009 dinner pertained to the Upscale fine dining repertoire and largely pertained to what you see on your best 2* Michelin Star tables. The latest discovery menu on Febr 27th 2010 pertained to the upscale bistro type of fare. Either way, L'Eau à la Bouche can deliver some of the top finest dining experiences of this province. And it's in fine dining offerings like that one of the 1st dinner that it's relatively high prices is better justified.
Nuances: If Michelin were on audit in Mtl, they would have to pay a visit here. Easily anywhere in the top 4 best finest table in Mtl. Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
When Restaurant La Montée de Lait was in Dowtown Mtl, I was a great fan of Chef's Martin Juneau inventive,exciting playful food items. Oftently, the degree of excellence was such that there was no doubt his table was of Michelin star caliber. Click on this single short Lunch report, for a reminder of that amazement. Then La Montée de Lait moved to Mile End: their food, although less complex compared to what was done downtown, is consistantly of great value and done well. Eventhough I miss the daring complex playful dishes of the previous La Montée, this restaurant remains a 'Valeur sure' and largely pertains to the top 5 Best Bistros of Montréal. Click on the logo that's on your top left for details of the latest dinner I enjoyed there at their new location in Mile End. 
Au pied de Cochon Restaurant: In Montreal, there's simply no other restaurant like APDC. Inspired creative rustic tasty comfort food you won't find anywhere else. As long as they storm my tastebuds with daringly savourish food like the one I had on my latest dinner there (Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there), I will embrace the cult!
Largely in the top #10 finest dinings in Montreal. With a great Chef like Jetté and a Star pastry Chef like Demers, Newtown is a must-visit table with great modern French cuisine and impressive contemporary pastries. I just hope that this place is not as usually quiet as when I dined there, or else...too bad for Montrealers...I would recommend to Chefs Jetté & Demers to move abroad: a lot of great cities would dream to have such Chefs and would reward them graceously: I just can't imagine both Chefs in wealthy places like Qatar or Kuwait! Imagine...
Club Chasse & Peche: Anywhere between #3 to #5 top Mtl restaurants. It has a lot going on for it: legions of fans, a decor that is unique and attaching, some food items I had there (check my description of the boar item / again, using pure common sense: do not order a filet mignon or some fries and tell me that it was like anywhere else...lol! At such restaurant, you go for the most elaborate, sophisticated fares!) have their ticket among World best restaurant's food items + an elite chef. Just get the desserts outstanding, avoid that just ok starter I had on that latest dinner, and you are right up there in the 2* Michelin star league. There are buzz and hypes that I do not get, but this is one I do get!
Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
Raza Restaurant: So could this be the best of the latest upscale New French North American cuisine in Mtl? I am just asking...Because, what I had on that Friday December 4th dinner there was exactly that: New French North American cuisine done way better, more creatively with an exotic latin fusion zesty touch. Chef Navarete is unarguably a genius of creativity, an architect of stunning refined and researched tastes. I never hesitated 1 second to name her, along with Alexandre Loiseau of Bistro Cocagne, as my choice for Best Chef in Eastern Canada for 2009. Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
Arome's personal #1 table in Mtl for 2009. Largely in the top best North American Bistros in Mtl along with Kitchen Galerie, Joe Beef, Au Pied De Cochon, Cuisine & Dependances, M sur Masson, La Montée. A personal favourite, a coup de coeur when Chef Alexandre Loiseau is cooking. Chef Loiseau is an unbeatable architect of stunning pristine tastes, always opting for the freshest top Ingredients. BC offers savourish classic comfort and upscale bistro fares. Loiseau's Braised Lamb Shank with it's mouthwatering risotto is one of my all time personal top favourite restaurant food items in town. BC is another proof that the best tables are not necessarily the ones everyone is raving about! Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
Renoir, Hotel Sofitel, Montreal - It is among the very few CAA/AAA diamond rated tables in Montreal. And we all agree: with their executive chef Deff Haupt behind the Kitchen, this table can be stellar. But following a recent heartbreaking dinner there (click on the left logo to access the review of my latest dinner at Renoir), a question arises: can they really make the magic happen without Deff??? At that price and with such great reputation, they have no choice: they need to!
Passionate chefs. Very nice food. In the top 10 best Mtl restaurants, but in no top 5, imho. Also: I do not usually complain about $$$ (stun me and I'll spend my hard earned money on you with no regret) ...but that last dinner, although really good, did not justify the high price. Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
Cuisine & Dependance: Easily in the top 5 best upscale Bistro of Mtl. Chef Giroux is a legend of QC's gastronomy (back to his days at the now-closed Saint Augustin reknown top of the notch Restaurant). Now at C&D he perpetuates the magic of his humunguous talent with very tasty food, his love for impeccably fresh and great ingredients, and a remarquable passion for cooking that shines in the plates! Click on the logo that's on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
Osco - No buzz around it: is it because it is a hotel restaurant? is it because it's classic food (with a modern touch, btw)? is it because the trend is not about Provence's food in Mtl? ...perhaps, but that did not stop Osco from discretely hiding an elite fine dining table inside it's walls. Click on the logo on your left to read my report of the dinner I had there.
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