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Un Bâton Rouge... à Calgary 15 juillet 2009 | 15h19 Mise à jour: 15 juillet 2009 | 20h13 ARGENT Olivier Bourque Argent Le groupe Imvescor fait une percée avec sa bannière Bâton Rouge dans l’Ouest canadien. L’entreprise souhaite implanter un premier restaurant à Calgary dans la capitale du Stampede d’ici quelques mois. Il s’agit de la première incursion de Bâton Rouge hors du Québec et de l’Ontario pour le groupe. Le restaurant devrait ouvrir dans un horizon entre six et neuf mois. Bâton Rouge est une chaîne de restaurants qui s’est spécialisée au fil des années en mettant à l’avant plan des plats de grillades de steaks et de côtes levées. Pour l’entreprise, il s’agit d’un investissement de plus de 1,4 millions $. À l’heure actuelle, le groupe possède 17 restaurants Bâton Rouge au Québec et 11 en Ontario. Le marché de Calgary était alléchant pour l’entreprise. «C’est le temps d’investir là-bas. Nous avons donc profité de l’opportunité», a indiqué le chef de l’exploitation du groupe Imvescor, Terry Faulconbridge, en entrevue avec Argent. Imvescor pense également ouvrir des restaurants dans les Maritimes. La bannière Bâton Rouge est primordiale pour le groupe qui possède également deux autres chaînes bien connues : Mike’s, Scores et Pizza Delight. «Bâton Rouge représente pour 22 à 23 % des revenues de notre compagnies», a indiqué M. Faulconbridge. Un restaurant Bâton Rouge rapporte 4,4 millions $ annuellement alors qu’un restaurant Mike’s permet d’amasser 1,3 million $. M. Faulconbridge a également avoué que les derniers mois ont été plus difficiles en raison de la crise mais aussi à cause de la hausse du salaire minimum. «Les marges sont moins importantes qu’auparavant, c’est vrai. Et il faut s’ajuster comme entreprise», a-t-il admis. M. Faulconbridge a effectué une annonce en vue d'aider l’industrie du homard, dont les ventes ont chuté. Bâton Rouge va lancer un menu estival qui mettra en vedette les produits issus de la pêche au Québec et dans les Maritimes. La chaîne prévoit acheter plus de 53 000 livres de chair de homard d’ici le 30 août. Le groupe Imvescor est situé à Moncton au Nouveau-Brunswick.

Publié le 22 avril 2009 à 05h00 | Mis à jour à 11h30 Une guerre du café à l'horizon Pierre Couture Le Soleil (Québec) Après la guerre des beignes, assisterons-nous à celle du café? McDonald's vient de lancer une vaste offensive sur Tim Hortons. Le but : gagner des parts dans le très lucratif marché des buveurs matinaux. Ne riez pas, de grosses sommes d'argent sont en jeu. L'an dernier, il s'est vendu au Canada plus de 1,8 milliard de tasses de café dans les restaurants et les établissements spécialisés. Les ventes de café ont ainsi progressé de 2 % (36 millions de tasses) par rapport à 2007. Selon un sondage commandé par la firme NPD Group, le café demeure le produit le plus prisé des Canadiens lorsqu'ils franchissent les portes d'un restaurant. Le tiers des ventes des restaurateurs sont associées au café. En calculant un profit net d'environ 85 % sur chaque tasse vendue, on comprend un peu mieux l'engouement des géants de la restauration rapide pour cette précieuse boisson chaude. Au Canada, Tim Hortons domine outrageusement la vente de café le matin. Ses parts de marché sont estimées à environ 70 %. À l'opposé, McDonald's ne contrôlerait que 10 % des ventes de café entre 6h et 10h30. L'an dernier, les 2917 succursales Tim Hortons ont généré beaucoup de fric, soit des revenus de 2 milliards $. Chez Tim Hortons, environ 50 % du chiffre d'affaires émane de la vente de café. Or, McDo pense qu'elle pourrait s'attirer de nouveaux clients dans ce marché au cours des prochains mois. Depuis lundi, et ce, jusqu'au 3 mai, la multinationale du hamburger offre le café gratuitement à tous les clients qui se présentent dans ses restaurants. Aucun achat n'est requis. Plusieurs analystes estiment que cette façon de faire est audacieuse et pourrait permettre à McDonald's de gagner de nouveaux adeptes (voire ravir des clients à Tim Hortons). On pense notamment aux irréductibles automobilistes qui n'hésitent pas à faire la file de longues minutes le matin chez Tim Hortons pour se procurer un café. McDo cherche depuis longtemps à rentabiliser ce service peu fréquenté le matin par ses clients. Il faut dire que Tim Hortons tire 60 % de ses revenus le matin. «Cette promotion vise essentiellement à mettre de la pression sur Tim Hortons», signale l'analyste Perry Caicco, de CIBC Marchés mondiaux, dans une note de recherche à ses clients. Car voilà, en pleine récession, McDonald's a tout à gagner. Et Tim Hortons, beaucoup à perdre. Tim Hortons demeure une marque très populaire auprès des Canadiens, mais il semble y avoir une limite à vendre des cafés, des muffins et des beignes le matin. On imagine d'ailleurs mal comment la chaîne de beigneries au nom du célèbre joueur de hockey pourrait faire mieux. Au petit déjeuner, Tim Hortons détient 65 % du marché de la vente de café, alors que près de 50 % de sa clientèle revient au moins quatre fois par semaine dans ses établissements. À moins d'ouvrir de nouveaux restaurants et de risquer de «cannibaliser» davantage ses franchisés actuels, Tim Hortons devra se résigner à des objectifs financiers plus modestes cette année et l'an prochain, pensent certains experts. Au dernier trimestre, Tim Hortons a notamment vu ses revenus grimper de 9,4 %, à 563,7 millions $, alors que ses profits nets ont glissé de 8,7 %, à 69,1 millions $. Alors que l'Association des restaurateurs prévoit une contraction des ventes de 1,8 % cette année dans le secteur de la restauration rapide, Tim Hortons pense toujours faire grimper ses revenus entre 3 et 5 %. Pour faire taire les rumeurs, Tim Hortons a décidé de hausser de 11 % son dividende annuel le mois dernier tout en s'engageant à racheter 5 % de ses actions en circulation en 2009. Chez McDo, l'offensive café devrait déboucher sur l'entrée progressive au Canada des McCafe. Une nouvelle section déjà introduite dans des restaurants de la chaîne en Europe et aux États-Unis. Les McCafe offrent des cappuccinos, des cafés lattés et des pâtisseries à des prix, dit-on, imbattables. Chemin faisant, l'analyste David Hartley, de BMO marchés des capitaux, s'attend à ce que le titre de Tim Hortons fasse du surplace cette année. Il croit que d'ici un an, l'action vaudra 31 $. Hier, le titre de Tim Hortons (TSX : THI) a terminé la journée à 30,64 $, en hausse de 17 ¢. Il y a un an, le même titre s'échangeait autour des 34 $. L'analyste de BMO note toutefois que le titre de Tim Hortons se transige ces temps-ci à des ratios plus élevés que la moyenne de l'industrie. À la Financière Banque Nationale, Jim Durran vient d'ailleurs de revoir à la baisse sa cible annuelle sur Tim Hortons, passant de 37 $ à 33 $. L'analyste redoute les effets de la récession et de la compétition ainsi que les faibles bénéfices dégagés par les succursales aux États-Unis.

Publié le 08 avril 2009 à 07h19 | Mis à jour à 07h24 Le centre-ville nouveau Marie-Claude Lortie La Presse Juste avant Noël, trois institutions du centre-ville de Montréal ont fermé. Guy et Dodo, la Rapière, les Chenets. Trois restaurants français qui ont connu de très beaux jours à une autre époque mais qui, pour des raisons incluant les piètres pronostics économiques, ont préféré mettre la clé sous la porte. Au même moment, ou à peu près, la Montée de lait a décidé de devenir La Montée, en quittant son Plateau pour déménager rue Bishop. Et Myriade, un minuscule café parti de rien mais dédié aux connaisseurs, a ouvert parmi la faune de Starbucks, Nespresso et autres points de vente de multinationales aux reins plus que solides. Bref, le centre-ville change. Il évolue. Il s'adapte. Il se tasse autour de Concordia, où circulent des milliers d'étudiants chaque jour grâce aux nouveaux pavillons. Il se transforme autour du Centre Bell, où les foules demandent à boire et à manger et pas juste des ailes de poulet dans les bars sportifs. Il accueille des jeunes professionnels qui aiment cuisiner, manger sainement, découvrir, goûter. Bref, les bars à sushis se multiplient et les adresses qui ont connu leur apogée à l'époque où les hommes d'affaires, avocats et autres courtiers allaient luncher avec leurs clients pour enfiler deux martinis, du vin et trois grappas à la fin du repas, façon Mad Men, elles, cherchent une raison d'être. «Les jeunes sont tough», résume le chef Daren Bergeron du Decca 77, à l'angle de la rue Drummond et du boulevard René-Lévesque, une des adresses qui illustrent le mieux le visage de ce centre-ville nouveau. Gourmet et moderne, soucieux de l'environnement, ayant beaucoup voyagé, ce nouveau monde apprécie les prix raisonnables de la cuisine recherchée qui met en vedette les produits régionaux offerte par le restaurant. «Et même dans les cinq à sept, c'est rare qu'ils prennent plus que deux verres», ajoute M. Bergeron. Le nouveau défi des restaurants du centre-ville est donc de suivre la modernité des autres villes d'Amérique du Nord et d'offrir une cuisine à la fois légère et raffinée qui ne coûtera pas une fortune et qui se démarquera des ersatz de restaurants fusion si communs dans les années 90 et connus pour leurs ridicules portions d'oiseaux. Avec son rapport qualité-prix spectaculaire et son allure à la fois sophistiquée et décontractée, pas trop «nappe-blanche-coincée», La Montée, nouvellement installée rue Bishop, répond tout à fait à ce genre de demande. Mais si l'équipe formée par le chef Martin Juneau et par Hugo Duchesne a déménagé au centre-ville, c'est aussi un peu par hasard. Ils ont aimé la maison qu'ils ont trouvée près de Concordia, avec ses hauts plafonds et son style brownstone new-yorkais. «Pour le moment, on a surtout des clients qui nous ont suivis du Plateau, explique Juneau, qui s'attendait d'entrée de jeu à voir plus d'anglophones. «Mais ce que je découvre surtout, c'est que le centre-ville, ce ne sont pas juste des gens de passage, des touristes ou des gens qui magasinent. Il y a aussi une vraie vie de quartier.» Le nouveau centre-ville, c'est aussi le Laurie Raphaël, à l'hôtel Germain, rue Mansfield, avec sa cuisine haut de gamme offerte le midi à un prix qui en fait l'une des meilleures affaires en ville. C'est M: BRGR, rue Drummond, le restaurant de hamburgers ouvert par des gens de chez Moishe's, où on sert des hamburgers de qualité, apprêtés au goût du jour, fût-ce avec des poivrons grillés ou des asperges, du boeuf de Kobé ou une mayonnaise à la truffe. C'est le café Holt, avec ses tartines de chez Poilâne et ses salades créatives et fraîches, servies dans un décor hyper moderne. C'est aussi Vasco da Gamma et ses sandwichs de grande qualité, c'est la Brasserie Brunoise, rue de la Montagne, version montréalaise avec télés accrochées aux murs d'une brasserie à la française, et c'est le café Myriade, rue MacKay, qui nargue les grandes chaînes avec son café provenant de petites plantations, dont on sait presque qui en a cueilli les grains. Ce qui demeure difficile, toutefois, au centre-ville, c'est de trouver la perle parmi les tonnes de restaurants pas chers. Pour la cuisine coréenne, il y Manna, rue Bishop, ou alors Towa, sur Sainte-Catherine. Pour la cuisine de Hong Kong, plusieurs ne jurent que par Prêt-à-manger, sur Sainte-Catherine, où la platitude du décor n'a d'égal que la qualité des nouilles. Les gars de La Montée, eux, aiment bien aller manger parfois le midi chez Ferrari, en face de chez eux, rue Bishop, où la cuisine italienne est souvent très bonne, familiale. Et Hugo Duchesne est aussi un amateur des caris de la Maison du cari, rue Bishop. Et que fait-on si on a une envie de bavette ou de cassoulet comme en faisaient tous ces restaurants d'une autre époque qui ferment les uns après les autres? On va au très vénérable, classique et intact Paris, rue Sainte-Catherine, qui a fermé, puis a été racheté et est maintenant rouvert, géré par de plus jeunes!Quelques adresses Quelques adresses: > Decca 77 1077 Drummond Montréal 514 934 1077 http://www.decca77.com > La montée 1424 Bishop Montréal 514 289 9921 http://www.lamontee.ca > Brasserie Brunoise 1012 rue de la Montagne Montréal 514 933 3885 http://www.brunoise.ca > Café Myriade 1432 McKay Montréal 514 939 1717 > M :BRGR 2025 Drummond Montréal 906 2747 http://www.mbrgr.com > Café Holt Sous-sol du Holt Renfrew 1300 rue Sherbrooke ouest Montréal 514 842 5111 http://www.holtrenfrew.com

Publié le 09 février 2009 à 05h00 | Mis à jour à 09h20 Temps durs à venir pour les hôtels Violaine Ballivy La Presse Les prochains mois s'annoncent difficiles pour les restaurants et les hôtels. Ils devront multiplier les efforts afin de convaincre les clients d'ouvrir leur portefeuille pour se gâter un peu. Des milliers d'entre eux sont réunis ces jours-ci à Montréal pour trouver le produit, le concept, le slogan qui aura raison du ralentissement appréhendé. «Les taux d'occupation sont en baisse, et nos clients (les hôteliers) sont plus exigeants», témoigne Claire Grenier, représentante d'une entreprise qui alimente les hôtels de la province en produits d'entretien, savons, shampoings et autres. Dans les allées du centre d'exposition de la place Bonaventure, où sont réunis quelque 400 fournisseurs d'hôtels et de restaurants jusqu'à mardi, les vendeurs de mobilier, d'ustensiles de cuisine et autres sont souriants. L'optimisme est de rigueur dans ce type de salon. «Il ne faut pas laisser la déprime gagner du terrain, mais c'est sûr qu'il faudra probablement s'ajuster au cours des prochaines semaines, réviser nos façons de faire», dit Victor Francoeur, président de l'Association des fournisseurs d'hôtels et de restaurants. «Il y a des craintes, confirme à son tour Danielle Chayer, directrice générale de l'Association des hôteliers du Québec (AHQ). Si les gens perdent leur emploi, cet été, ils vont faire des sorties d'une journée pour éviter de payer l'hôtel.» L'AHQ a même fait modifier le programme de son congrès annuel, qui débute ce matin à Montréal, pour inclure des séances d'information sur les moyens de surmonter les contrecoups de la crise financière. Victor Francoeur croit que l'une des solutions est de se montrer plus sensible aux clients. «Ce n'est pas normal qu'on néglige de demander à un client qui arrive de l'étranger ce qu'on peut faire pour l'aider à surmonter le décalage horaire.» Le marché devrait aussi se recentrer sur l'Asie, la Russie et l'Inde. «À peine 15% des Américains possèdent un passeport, et les autres ne s'en feront certainement pas délivrer un pour venir au Canada quand il sera essentiel pour traverser la frontière en voiture», dit-il. Des clients en profiteront Pour Michel Archambault, titulaire de la chaire de tourisme de l'UQAM, le moment est idéal pour donner un nouveau souffle à l'industrie. «Le parc hôtelier est vieillissant, il aurait besoin d'une bonne mise à niveau dans plusieurs régions du Québec pour que les clients aient des souvenirs plus favorables de leur passage», dit-il. En concurrence avec ceux des grandes métropoles, les hôtels de Montréal devront aussi se montrer plus féroces pour attirer les clients. «Il faut être imaginatif, être présent sur les blogues, les sites internet, prendre d'assaut le web», dit-il. Les touristes dont le portefeuille n'aura pas été trop malmené par le ralentissement économique devraient en profiter. «Les grandes chaînes hôtelières ont adopté de bonnes stratégies pour fidéliser la clientèle en offrant la troisième nuit gratuitement ou des rabais sur l'internet. Les clients en auront davantage pour leur argent.»

La chaîne de restauration rapide a vu les ventes de ses restaurants ouverts depuis au moins 13 mois augmenter de 7,7% le mois dernier, à travers le monde. Pour en lire plus...

Big Apple starting to crumble Janet Whitman, Financial Post Published: Thursday, November 06, 2008 NEW YORK -- The Big Apple is losing its shine. After years of benefiting from consumer bingeing on everything from luxury lofts to US$99 hamburgers, New York is seeing a dramatic turn in its fortunes as Wall Street stumbles. Investment banks and other financial-services firms here have cut tens of thousands of high-wage jobs and many more pink slips still could be on the way as they grapple with the deepening credit crisis. This year's Wall Street bonus pool, which makes up the bulk of the pay for high-flying financial executives, is forecast to be chopped in half to US$16-billion. Businesses are already feeling the pinch. Revenue at some high-end Manhattan restaurants are down an estimated 20% this year and the once sizzling real-estate market is cooling fast. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this week that the big drop in tax revenue collected from financial firms is forcing him to renege on planned US$400 property tax rebates for homeowners and to mull a 15% income tax hike. Economists said yesterday that the downturn could resemble New York's financial crisis in the early 1970s, when the city nearly went bankrupt and crime rates skyrocketed. "Compensation is going to be way down and that's going to weigh on restaurants and retailers and the housing market as well," said Mark Vitner, senior economist at Charlotte, N.C.-based bank Wachovia Corp. "We're going to have a very difficult climb back out of this. The recovery might begin in the middle of next year, but that just means things will stop getting worse." Mr. Vitner said it could take at least three years before New York starts to see strong growth and five years before the city gets back to normal. After the dot-com bust in 1999 and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, New York soon roared back, fueled by Wall Street's recovery. But the city can't depend on Wall Street this time around. "The flavour is different," said James Brown, a New York state Department of Labor regional analyst who focuses on New York City. "It's not clear how much growth we can expect from our financial sector in the next upturn. We don't know to what degree they may not be as profitable and able to lavish the same high salaries in the next boom as they have in the past booms." With the U.S. government looking to avoid sowing the seeds for a future financial crisis by cracking down on executive bonuses and limiting how much financial firms can wager, Wall Street's recovery could be slow. That's bad news for New York State, which depends on the financial sector for 20% of its revenue. The state already is facing its biggest budget gap in history, at US$47-billion over the next four years. The crisis last week prompted New York State Gov. David Paterson to ask U.S. Congress for billions of dollars in federal assistance. New York City has been particularly hard hit. For every Wall Street job another three or four will be lost in the city. Despite the doom and gloom, Mr. Bloomberg assured New Yorkers at a press briefing this week that the city wouldn't return "to the dark days of the 1970s when service cuts all but destroyed our quality of life." The mayor, who is seeking a third term to guide the city through the crisis, said New York is in much better fiscal shape than it was then and won't make the same mistakes. Still, he warned, it could be as many as five years before financial companies have to start paying city or state taxes again because of the half a trillion dollars in write-downs they have taken, which will offset future profits.

Les bars et les restaurants subissent déjà les contrecoups de la crise financière, s'il faut en croire les organisations qui les représentent. Pour en lire plus...

A facelift for St. Jacques? Tue, 2008-09-02 16:04. Shuyee Lee St. Jacques Street in NDG is known mainly for car dealerships, auto repair shops, seedy motels, vacant lots and empty storefronts. But the borough wants to give it a facelift and attract more residents and stores. It's proposing a bylaw that would bar new body shops, gas stations and other industrial business from opening up and rezone the area as mostly residential with room for restaurants, boutiques, grocery stores and similar "user-friendly" businesses. They're focussing on the stretch between Madison and Decarie. The existing industrial businesses would be allowed to stay. A public consultation is being held tonight at 6pm at 5151 Côte-Sainte-Catherine.

Urban exodus hasn't touched house prices in Montreal Island: study Mike King, Montreal Gazette Published: Tuesday, June 03 Urban sprawl doesn't appear to have had a negative effect on Montreal Island house prices. While 2007 marked the fifth year in a row that Montreal and its on-island suburbs suffered a net loss of approximately 20,000 residents, according to the Institut de la statistique du Québec, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. notes house prices have soared over the past decade. For example, results of Royal LePage's national Urban vs. Suburban Survey released yesterday show the average price of a bungalow in the city appreciated by 130 per cent to $253,125 during the past 10 years while its suburban off-island counterpart rose by 99 per cent to $226,273. At the same time, the price of a standard two-storey urban home climbed 120.5 per cent to $307,400 compared to a 107-per-cent jump to $265,625 in the 'burbs. The survey examined five urban (Notre Dame de Grâce, Beaconsfield, Dollard des Ormeaux, Dorval and Pointe Claire) and four suburban (St. Lambert, Boucherville, St. Bruno and Laval des Rapides) markets. Gino Romanese, Royal LePage senior vice-president in Toronto, explained in a phone interview there has been "greater demand than supply the last 10 years despite that exodus (of Montrealers)." "The combination of a shortage of inventory and virtually no space in the city for new development led to the significant gains that Montreal experienced over the past decade," he added. "Also contributing to the city's rising house prices is the fact that historically, Montreal's prices were well below the Canadian average." Romanese said "as the country experienced a rapid expansion cycle in the early 2000s, Montreal followed suit with house prices near, or more than, doubling." He pointed out urban enclaves such as N.D.G. hold the most appeal to homeowners because of their proximity to businesses, trendy shopping areas, restaurants and public transit. "The preference for urban dwelling has helped fuel healthy price increases in recent years, with the sharpest rate of appreciation taking place in the past five years." The survey found that shortages of inventory in popular urban residential markets caused many purchasers to look to the urban periphery and then to the suburbs to satisfy their housing needs. "Looking ahead 10 years, it is likely that both Montreal's urban neighbourhoods, as well as their surrounding suburbs, will both see solid price appreciations," Romanese said. "With the city's transit system anticipated to eventually extend out to the St. Lambert area, it's likely more people will consider moving away from the city." But stressing that Montreal remains "a vibrant city with some of the finest restaurants and cultural activities in the country, there are buyers who will always clamour for a home in the heart of the city." He suggested the local situation anwers the age-old question of whether it's best to live in the city or the suburbs. "It depends on what you're looking for, it's a lifestyle choice and by and large, whether you invest in an urban or a suburban area, you should do equally well if history (of the past decade) repeats itself." mking@thegazette.canwest.com © The Gazette 2008

Ooh La La Kelly Ripa finds romance in Montreal. By Joseph Guinto. Photograph by Robert Ascroft. Kelly Ripa has talked to every single living celebrity in America. Twice. Maybe even more. I have not verified this fact, per se, but she’s served alongside TV legend Regis Philbin for almost seven years as cohost of Live with Regis and Kelly, so it must be true. Or close to it. And yet, Ripa — plenty famous in her own right, known for acting on All My Children and in sitcoms as well as for playing the role of TV talker — is still genuinely interested in the vaporing of the vainglorious, the gabbing of the glitterati. You know, the stuff that famous people talk about. She Said… Here’s where Kelly Ripa parle français in Montreal. LODGING Hôtel le St-James, very expensive, (514) 841-3111, http://www.hotellestjames.com Hotel St-Paul, expensive, (514) 380-2222, http://www.hotelstpaul.com DINING Eggspectation, inexpensive, (514) 282-0119, http://www.eggspectation.ca Ferreira Café, moderate to expensive, (514) 848-0988, http://www.ferreiracafe.com Olive & Gourmando, inexpensive to moderate, (514) 350-1083, http://www.oliveetgourmando.com NIGHTLIFE Vauvert, expensive, (514) 876-2823, http://www.restaurantvauvert.com THINGS TO SEE AND TO DO IN *MONTREAL Formula One Grand Prix du Canada, http://www.formula1.com Just for Laughs Comedy Tour, (514) 845-2322, http://www.justforlaughs.ca Montreal International Jazz Festival, (514) 871-1881, http://www.montrealjazzfest.com Old Montreal, http://www.vieux.montreal.qc.ca Spa Diva, (514) 985-9859, http://www.spadiva.ca SHOPPING Les Cours Mont-Royal, (514) 842-7777, http://www.lcmr.ca “I’m a pop-culture junkie,” she says from her office inside ABC’s Manhattan headquarters, where Live is produced. “I never get tired of it. There’s always something they haven’t revealed, something that you’ve never heard anywhere else. I really find it fascinating.” Then again, not everything the famous and rich say and do is fascinating. And, to be sure, some things are simply better left unrevealed. To wit, do you really want to know that Britney Spears had a number-three value meal with a Coke at McDonald’s last night? Probably not. But many of us — or at least I — still manage to obtain this type of knowledge on a daily basis. It would be wrong to blame Ripa for that. She’s certainly never grabbed a camera and followed a pop star to a fast-food restaurant. (I have not verified this fact, per se, though surely it is true.) But Ripa, 37, does regularly open her own life to the other pop-culture junkies in the world, right down to discussing what she had for dinner last night. Each weekday morning on Live, she and Philbin, 76, engage in 20 minutes of remarkably unscripted banter that touches on everything from their noshing habits to the day’s news (well, celebrity news, anyway) to where babies come from — specifically, where Ripa’s babies come from, in at least one case. I had somehow forgotten about this when Ripa and I recently chatted. We were talking about Montreal, her favorite romantic getaway and a place that she and her husband, fellow All My Children alum Mark Consuelos, visit nearly every year sans the kids (Michael, 10; Lola, 6; and Joaquin, 4). But then, exactly 10 minutes and 34 seconds into our conversation, Ripa reminds me that she keeps few secrets from the public. “One of our children was conceived in Montreal, actually,” she says, quite unprompted. “Mark and I went for our anniversary one year, and Joaquin was our souvenir.” This is one of those things that we — okay, maybe it’s just me — actually don’t want to know. Or maybe it’s just something that we — or again, maybe it’s just me — don’t know how to react to. Regis would likely come up with something witty or wacky to say in reply. The best I can do is, “Oh, so Joaquin came right out speaking French, eh?” I am no Regis. Thankfully, since Ripa talks for a living, she bails me out. “That’s why we gave Joaquin the exotic name,” she says. “I was going to name him Jean Pierre. But I thought that was too much. Jean Pierre Consuelos doesn’t really go together.” Jean Pierre. It’s probably just a joke. But still, I hadn’t heard that before. It’s funny — and, sure, fascinating. You know what else is fascinating? Montreal. Especially Kelly Ripa’s Montreal. Here are the things you do want to know about. We Said… Here’s where we allons in Montreal. LODGING Novotel Montréal Centre, moderate, (514) 861-6000, http://www.novotelmontreal.com. The Canadian dollar is no longer a bargain, but the Novotel still is. Its budget-friendly digs are comfortable and convenient, and it’s near the intersection of Rue Sainte-Catherine and Rue Crescent, where clubs, restaurants, and shops abound. Opus Hotel Montreal, moderate to expensive, (514) 843-6000, http://www.opushotel.com. If you were a touring rocker with a touch of fame, you’d probably stay at this slick, modern downtown hotel. It would be a smart move. The Opus offers its style at a discount, compared with prices at Montreal’s other sleek digs. DINING Au Pied de Cochon, moderate to expensive, (514) 281-1114, http://www.restaurantaupieddecochon.ca. You will be fighting for a reservation with foodies from around the world at this simply decorated eatery, where pork and foie gras are the main attractions. Yes, they cook them together. Banquise, inexpensive, (514) 525-2415. Located in the Plateau neighborhood, largely a French-speaking area of town, this diner-style restaurant serves more than a dozen different kinds of poutine. That’s a Quebec specialty featuring, when at its most basic, french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. C’est magnifique! Le Réservoir, inexpensive to moderate, (514) 849-7779. This neighborhood joint is just off what Montrealers call the Main — Boulevard Saint-Laurent, the old dividing line between the French- and English-speaking sides of town. Celebrate the détente with international snacks, and drink house-brewed beers until the last call, at three a.m. NIGHTLIFE Casa del Popolo, (514) 284-0122, http://www.casadelpopolo.com. Maybe you’ll get lucky and catch the next Arcade Fire performance at this venue, which is popular with the indie-rock set. Les Deux Pierrots, (514) 861-1270, http://www.lespierrots.com. Does sitting in a brick-walled bar in Montreal’s oldest neighborhood while singing along to French and English cabaret songs sound silly? Well, then, it’s time to get silly. SHOPPING Marché Bonsecours, (514) 872-7730, http://www.marchebonsecours.qc.ca. Unfortunately, they’re no longer selling fresh vegetables at this European-style marketplace. But they are selling locally made crafts, so that’s nice. ATTRACTIONS La Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal, (514) 842-2925, http://www.basilique nddm.org. Is the interior of this scaled-down, nineteenth-century replica of Paris’s Notre-Dame more dramatic than the original’s? That depends on how you feel about the stunning use of the color blue. Le Mont Royal, (514) 843-8240, http://www.lemontroyal.qc.ca. Frederick Law Olmsted, who laid out New York’s Central Park, also designed this sprawling space. It’s filled with hiking and biking trails and is capped by a 98-foot-high cross, which honors Paul de Chomedey, Sieur de Maisonneuve, the city’s founder. About Montreal: There are more than 3.6 million people in Montreal and its immediate urban area. That’s nearly half the population of the province of Quebec. Some 70 percent of those people are native French speakers, making Montreal the second-largest francophone city in the world, after Paris. Plus, Montreal is in Canada. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “My husband has friends who live in Montreal,” Ripa says, “and he’d been raving about it for years, telling me how wonderful it is and that we just had to go and that I would love it. The first time I went, I think, was for our fourth or fifth wedding anniversary. When we landed, everyone at the airport was speaking French. So I turned to Mark, and I said quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever said in my life. I said, ‘You’re right; it’s so romantic and wonderful. It’s just like being in another country.’ He said, ‘I hate to burst your bubble, but we are in another country.’ ” About Montreal: The city has seen a boom in swank boutique hotels in recent years, especially in Old Montreal, a neighborhood with narrow, cobblestoned streets that dates back to the founding of the city, in 1642. Plus, Montreal smells nice. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “The St-James in Old Montreal is a wonderful hotel,” Ripa says. “It is simply luxurious. Also, the St-Paul Hotel is very boutiquey and kind of rock and roll. They give you these wonderful colognes that you can take with you when you leave. I sometimes call the hotel and ask them to send me some because they smell so good.” About Montreal: The city claims to have more restaurants per resident than any other city in North America. It is famous for café au lait, smoked meats, and game-based Quebecois cuisine. Plus, some of the restaurants serve breakfast even at lunchtime. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “Mark and I go there without our kids,” Ripa explains. “It’s the only place we go without our kids. I mean, I know it’s wonderful for children, but it’s just been our romantic-getaway place. So we usually get up and have breakfast at lunchtime — which, you have to *understand, with three kids, that’s such a luxury for us to not have to get up early. So we usually go to Eggspectation. It’s a very good sort of diner-breakfast place. There’s also a specialty place called Olive & Gourmando in Old Montreal. It has café au lait and croissants and beautiful breads. Unfortunately, I don’t know the street it’s on. Mark and I just sort of wander around there.” About Montreal: The city has thriving live jazz and rock scenes — the noted indie act Arcade Fire is just one rock band to emerge from Montreal. And the city is packed with watering holes. There are, on average, 9.5 bars per square kilometer. Plus, there are lots of restaurants and music venues (which can also be called watering holes). About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “If you [can], go to Old Montreal. There are these little cobblestone streets, and every place is a jamming supper club or an amazing jazz bar,” Ripa says. “I just think it’s magic. “You have dinner very late there. It’s very European in that way. Then a lot of these restaurants that start out serving food will turn into nightclubs. All of a sudden, the tables vanish and a DJ comes out. “They have this place called Vauvert in the St. Paul. You can have dinner, and then right after dinner, the DJ comes in. They call it diabolique when the DJ is there on Saturday nights. It’s like a big party. So you eat dinner, and then you dance. It’s one-stop shopping. Plus, the people are gorgeous, and the waitresses have designer uniforms. It’s all very sleek and very elegant.” About Montreal: More than half the Canadian fashion industry’s workers are employed in Montreal. It’s no surprise, then, that the city is home to numerous fashion designers and boutiques. Plus, there are spas. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “For shopping, I like to go to the Cours Mont-Royal,” Ripa says. “It’s kind of like a mall, but there are a lot of small boutiques in there. I mean, you have to buy something when you travel. You have to at least get the kids something. You’re leaving them. ‘Bye! We’ll be back in two days. Have fun with Grandma and Papa!’ Also, I really love Spa Diva, which is in the Cours Mont-Royal. It’s very relaxing.” About Montreal: Despite the fact that Montreal is known for its French speakers and French heritage, one in four Montrealers is an immigrant, and the city is surprisingly diverse, supporting its own Chinatown and Little Italy. There’s also a slice of Portugal. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “There’s a wonderful place called Ferreira Café, which Mark took me to for my birthday one year,” Ripa says. “It’s Portuguese food and is just fabulous. Mark kidnapped me. I’m not kidding. He flew me blindfolded to Montreal and took me to Ferreira. Well, I was allowed to take the blindfold off when we landed. I didn’t have to eat blindfolded. He had me home in time for the show the next day.” About Montreal: Winters are long and can be stingingly cold, which explains why the city loves its warm-weather festivals. It hosts international mega-gatherings to celebrate jazz, comedy, and film. It also has really fast car races. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “Mark loves the Formula One race,” Ripa says. “He goes every year if he can. That’s in June. They also have the jazz festival. That’s great; it’s in July. But the comedy festival, for me, is the most special. You see the most amazing performers. You just know that any day now, a sitcom is going to come out of one of the great performances you just saw on the stage.” About Montreal: The city is the site of a semi-risqué routine performed at the aforementioned Just for Laughs comedy festival by a certain American star named Kelly Ripa. It included some, ah, other performers. About Kelly Ripa’s Montreal: “Yeah, thanks for noticing that I did that,” Ripa says. “It was amazing fun. The joke was that we hired all these drag queens to do a burlesque striptease with me. I had just had a baby, and they all looked much more like women than I did. So people were like, ‘Oh, look at these beautiful women … and Kelly.’ Then the audience figured out that they were all men … and Kelly.” Career Questions Kelly Ripa explains what she does when she’s not relaxing in Montreal. Did you set out to be an actor/talk-show host? No. My whole career has been a series of accidents. I accidentally got into acting because my friends were doing it. They were doing extra work, and they were making good money. So I was like, Hey, why not? That led to the soap [All My Children], which led to the talk show, which led to the sitcom, which led to the production company. What production company? Mark and I have a TV production company together now. We sold a scripted show that did not get picked up this past fall, and we just sold a pilot to the History Channel for an interesting show called Wild Gourmet. It’s about a man who is a trained chef and an anthropology major. He takes you through a culture’s hunting and eating of a specific animal. Why production? You can’t be on camera forever. Very few people can. So I’m one of those people who would eventually like to work behind the camera. Wait — hasn’t Regis been on camera forever? He’s the one in a million. He’s always relevant. He’s always charming. He’s always gorgeous. [Laughs] I don’t see it turning out that way for me. Speaking of Regis, I’ve heard people say he’s quitting when his contract is up. True? I don’t believe that. I’ve been hearing that since I got here. He loves it. I love it. It’s a great place to work. It’s a fun, sort of easy schedule for people like us, who really just want to be on vacation all the time. You did voice work for two animated movies that are coming out soon. What was that like? I don’t even remember. You do these things, and then for, like, the next seven years or something, they animate the film. It’s all that computer animation. I had almost forgotten that I did them. One of them, Fly Me to the Moon, my son is also in. I play a fly, and my son plays the friend of one of my maggots. It’s very cute. http://www.americanwaymag.com/tabid/2855/tabidext/3465/default.aspx

MONTREAL No North American City Offers Its Style & Ambiance By Ray Chatelin Photos By Toshi No city in North America offers the style, character, or ambiance that you find in Montreal. And no city generates as many questions about its accessibility. Montreal is a place in which history is taken seriously and where today the city's most picturesque parts date from its origins. Montreal was first discovered by the Europeans when Jacques Cartier arrived in 1535 and the first settlement was established by Samuel Champlain in 1611, making the city one of the oldest in the western hemisphere. It’s where churches from the 17th and 18th Centuries and restaurants housed in buildings built in the early 1700s are commonplace. Mark Twain once said you couldn't throw a brick without hitting a church in Montreal. He was right. There are 450 on the island of Montreal, more than in Rome. Notre Dame Basilica, just off the old quarter on Place d'Armes is the most spectacular with its Rose stained glass windows and gold ornamentations. With two-thirds of the nearly two million population in the greater Montreal region speaking French, the city is French not just in spirit but in everything it does. For here is a culture not to be found anywhere else in North America. Latin in temperament, boldly proud, the French have carved a small North American island from a vast prairie of English speaking Canadians and Americans. It's an inheritance of history that French Canada hangs on to with fierce pride. Frankly, there isn't a city on the continent - sorry, New York and San Francisco - more taken by its own unique character. Both cosmopolitan and yet intensely French, it's a place that's extremely fashion conscious, has an old town that dates from the late 1600s, and is a city that’s determined to enjoy life. So here, you find incredible restaurants, a rich cultural collection of theatre in several languages, a great symphony orchestra, opera, ballet, jazz, chamber music, a major world film festival, and a series of quarters - neighborhoods with their own charm. Start with a sampling of exciting new trends and tasty traditions in Old Montréal before trying an exotic treat on the bustling streets of Chinatown. From there, you'll discover the smorgasbord of shops and eateries along Saint- Laurent Boulevard and enjoy a few local favorites like poutine, bagels and smoked meat. The official language is French, though in Montreal English will get you anything you want. Wherever you go, you'll be spoken to first in French, all signs, by law, are in French, and there's only one daily English-language newspaper, the Montreal Gazette. But that's no real problem. Once you reply in English, that's the language you'll be dealt in. Montrealers today speak a total of 35 different languages, reflecting the diverse heritage of peoples who have immigrated to the area. The metropolitan region is the second largest in Canada, behind Toronto and ahead of Vancouver. Just 300 air miles (480 kilometers) from New York, its climate is as volatile as its politics which, to English-speaking Canada, is often unfathomable. In winter, temperatures can drop to -27 F (-33 C), matching what you'd get in mid-winter Minnesota - and rising to 97 F (36 C) in mid-summer, which is about equal to downtown Manhattan. Some 50 different airlines serve the city with inter-North America flights into and from Montreal-Trudeau Airport, the city’s primary arrival point. Montreal is also linked by Amtrak from New York. Three major expressway lead into the city from the U.S. - Route 91 to Boston, Route 87 to New York, and Route 89 to Vermont. Getting around is easy although it often feels as though you've been deposited in the middle of a foreign country with French being spoken everywhere. All of the streets are laid out in grid fashion, much like in New York. It's tough to get lost. The major thoroughfares such as Sherbrooke, Rene Levesque, Maisonneuve, and St. Catherine go east and west and are parallel to the St. Lawrence River, while the small, intimate side-streets with their restaurants and boutiques are north and south and are perpendicular to the river. The subway system is one of the best in North America with four lines - all of which interconnect - and 68 different stops. Le Metro, as it's called in French, runs from about 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily. You can easily spot them, their large square signs with a white arrow on a blue background pointing downwards to the entrance. The metro stations are also mini art galleries with the city having one of the gorgeous systems in the world. A visit to the metro is highly recommended and should be on your must-see list. The downtown area is laced with underground shopping corridors, 30 km (20 miles) worth. It's possible - sometimes necessary in the winter - to spend the entire day walking the "underground city" that is linked to major above-ground stores. Toronto has the same concept, but without the French style. Downtown is where you find the great boutiques, museums, and department stores. Sherbrooke is Montreal's Fifth Ave with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Holt Renfrew (an exclusive department store), the Museum of Fine Arts, and rows of art galleries, and restaurants that not only line Sherbrooke but radiate out into the side streets. Crescent, MacKay and Bishop Streets are where you'll find the trendiest bars, nightclubs, restaurants and the Hotel de la Montagne (Hotel at the Mountain) with its super-deluxe category baroque-styled facilities. But it's the old town that's the most fascinating. There's only two other cities in North America with anything like it - Quebec City and New Orleans. This is where the world’s second largest French city had its start. The old stone buildings have been renovated since the early 1960s into a variety of more contemporary uses such as restaurants and small shops and clubs, galleries, and private residences. Montreal is unique in that it offers deluxe and expensive category hotels in both North American and Continental style, although the downtown area is also awash with more modest inns and hotels. The finest hotels include The Ritz Carlton, W Hotel, Le Centre Sheraton, Sofitel, Four Seasons, La Meridien, Ramada Renaissance, and the Queen Elizabeth – all of which fall into the kind of international standard familiar around the world. But there's another style, uniquely French that adds to the overall atmosphere. La Citadelle, and Hotel de la Montaigne are two European style hotels, with 181 and 132 rooms respectively, that offer personalized service in more human dimensions than the larger, though exceptionally well appointed, international hotels. The Hotel Shangri-La is an exquisitely decorated hotel in the downtown area that is often overlooked, but that provides exceptional service. Montreal is a place unique to North America and a place that will take you to Europe without ever leaving the continent. For more information check out the website at http://www.tourisme-montreal.org . http://www.visavismag.com/content/view/459/77/ originaly posted by habfanman, SSC

These Chefs Believe in Sticking Close to Home Source: New York Time MONTREAL is not just a good eating town, but an opinionated one, too, with deep roots and a culture all its own. There’s always a debate about where to get the best rotisserie chicken or the most authentic poutine, that classic Québécois belly buster of French fries, gravy and squeaky cheese curds. Or whether to go to St.-Viateur Bagel Shop or Fairmount Bagel Bakery for sesame bagels that are baked in wood-burning ovens and put New York City’s fluffy bread bombs to shame. The epicurean partisanship fight extends to the city’s two venerable food markets, Marché Jean-Talon and Marché Atwater. Even when winter has wilted the local supply of fruits and vegetables, the markets are bursting with stinky cheeses, apple cider and all manner of charcuterie: plump links of black blood sausage; fowl and furred game rendered into terrines and galantines; piles of confit frosted in white fat like the snow that blankets the city for a good part of the year. Not that Montreal lacks for proper, sit-down restaurants. L’Express, the reigning bistro king of this officially Francophone city, is as close to Paris as one gets while on the wrong continent. Toqué, run by the chef Norman Laprise, is the city’s standard bearer for haute cuisine. But over the last few years, there has been a surge in quirky restaurants that are extensions of their chefs’ personal tastes and dedication to Montreal’s regional ingredients. At these restaurants, no part of the pig escapes the kitchen knife, whether it’s the ears (sliced and fried in a salad with frisée) or feet (braised, stuffed and roasted). And foie gras abounds, never far from marrowbones, sweetbreads and steaks so big they’d make a cowboy blush. All are dressed down and welcoming: perfect places to come in from the cold. AU PIED DE COCHON These days, you can’t mention food in Montreal without touching on the chef Martin Picard’s unrepentantly Québécois restaurant, Au Pied de Cochon (536 Rue Duluth Est; 514-281-1114; http://www.restaurantaupieddecochon.ca). P.D.C., as the locals call it, was a pizzeria before Mr. Picard got his meaty mitts on it, and a blazing fire in a wood-burning oven greets guests at the door. Beyond it, the restaurant is long and narrow, bright but not too bright, with a mirror running down one side and an open kitchen on the other. The bare wooden tables are crowded with boisterous eaters of every age and description. And the chef — look for the unshaven man with a shock of untamed black hair — frequently works both sides of the bar, talking and drinking with customers and cooks. Mr. Picard put his restaurant on the gastronomic map when he put foie gras on poutine back in 2004, just after the restaurant opened. Many dishes at P.D.C. are conceived with that same wicked sense of humor — who puts foie gras on French fries? — and carry an unspoken threat of a cholesterol-triggered overdose. There’s a even a whole section of the menu dedicated to the fatty livers: foie on a burger, foie on a pizza and, most compellingly, the Plogue à Champlain — a dizzying combination of buckwheat pancakes, bacon, foie gras and maple syrup. But Mr. Picard doesn’t need to rely on fattened blond duck livers to make a dish worth seeking out: My meal started off with a simple plate of leeks — which crowded the local markets when I visited — poached and dressed with a bright vinaigrette. The salt cod fritters (another Montreal staple) were as greaseless and light as could be. But nobody goes to P.D.C. to diet. The restaurant’s namesake dish is a pig’s foot the size of grown man’s forearm that is poached, stuffed and roasted in the wood oven; a lobe of seared foie gras is laid over it sidesaddle before it goes out to a table. Entrees are reliably heavy and frequently come with some kind of surprise, like the dark brown fritters that accompanied a pot au feu for two (or was it four?) The fritters, which were speared on skewers, were crisp and brown. But it wasn’t until I bit into one that I realized what they were: testicles. Lamb’s testicles. And they were good. Dinner, with drinks and tip, about 80 Canadian dollars a person (the Canadian and U.S. dollars are nearly at par). JOE BEEF On my next visit to Montreal, I will put back another couple of dozen oysters at Joe Beef (2491 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest; 514-935-6504; http://www.joebeef.ca), a bistro of sorts that opened in the Petit-Bourgogne neighborhood in 2006. Shucked on the night I was there by John Bil, the restaurant’s champion oyster shucker (he captured the Canadian shucking crown three times), we slurped small, sweet oysters from Prince Edward Island and fat Moonstone oysters from Rhode Island, each shell brimming with oyster liquor like a bathtub with the faucet left on. Named after a 19th-century saloonkeeper, the restaurant has the coziness of a neighborhood pub: a chalkboard menu (that changes daily) covers one wall, wainscoting wraps the room, the light is flatteringly low. The chef Frédéric Morin’s menu has a classic bistro slant, though he’s tweaked each dish to make it his own. He eschews lardons and instead tops his frisée salad with strips of pig’s ears cut into matchstick strips and fried to shattering crispness. Pucks of silky foie gras au torchon are served with buttery brioche toast and pears poached in cinnamon-infused red wine. Entrees change nightly, but there are two menu stalwarts: pasta with lobster, and a massive côte de boeuf for the table. The lobster in the former was slightly overcooked the night I tried it, though it wasn’t hard to grasp the appeal of such a decadent cream-and-butter dish. The steak, served with marrowbones and potatoes, embodied the full-flavored, mineral promise of grass-fed steak. Dinner, with drinks and tip, about 110 Canadian dollars a person. LIVERPOOL HOUSE Joe Beef has a new neighbor. Mr. Morin spent last fall covered in sawdust, building his second restaurant, Liverpool House (2501 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest; 514-313-6049; http://www.liverpoolhouse.ca), just a few doors down from his first. Liverpool House is split into a barroom and a laid-back dining room. The woodwork and wainscoting are painted a warm white. The rest is decorated with an eclectic mix of paintings — oversized modern canvases and tiny impressionistic works — and odd, pig-themed tchotchkes like the porcelain porcine head, affixed to the wall at eye level like an extra diner at my table. Liverpool House is ostensibly Italian, though the restaurant’s cuisine owes more to Mr. Morin’s imagination and whatever is in season. One night, the bar plates were undeniably Italian: perfect sausage-stuffed arancini, a ball of buffalo milk burrata cheese (mozzarella’s creamy cousin) and a plate of salumi cured in the restaurant’s basement. But when I returned two nights later, the menu had been hijacked. I ate poached skate with black trumpet mushrooms in a buttery sauce, the mild ropes of fish an unobtrusive stage to show off those tender, earthy mushrooms. Hard-boiled eggs topped with crab meat sounded like a dreary canapé from the 1950s; instead it was a showcase for a snowdrift of sweet crab meat, piled on a pedestal of egg white anointed with house-made mayonnaise. The rest of the meal continued in the same manner: technically assured cooking that typifies the simplicity of the Italian kitchen (like the vitello tonnato), or lets the hand of the nearby market push it toward riskier directions (like a grilled veal chop served with roasted root vegetables and a sauce fortified with foie gras and sweetbreads). Is Liverpool House Italian? French? Or Québécois? Whatever it is, it’s an excellent place to eat. Dinner, with drinks and tip, about 100 Canadian dollars each. GARDE MANGER Another spot that trades the sanctimonious trappings of fine dining for a looser atmosphere is Garde Manger (408 Rue St.-François-Xavier; 514-678-5044). It is one of the few restaurants with real charm in Vieux Montreal, the oldest part of the city. Tucked into a small building on a side street, the restaurant has dark brick walls and a wildly oversized chandelier that looks as if it could have been pilfered from a merry-go-round at Versailles. The roaring fireplace offers a warm refuge from the blustering winds off the nearby St. Lawrence River. Early in the evening, the loud soundtrack leans toward Neil Young and the Grateful Dead, and the crowd is older, the men in dapper suits and ties. After 9 p.m., the soundtrack shifts to clubbier music and a younger crowd sets in and doesn’t mind standing two deep at the bar. One Montrealer commented to me that Garde Manger is a “bar that happens to serve some food early in the evening.” But at 10 p.m. on the night I was there, every table in the restaurant was full. The restaurant is rightly regarded for its seafood platters, which take a place of prominence on many tables. The largest is 120 Canadian dollars and comes in a giant wooden trough that contains enough raw shellfish to feed a romp of otters. A less expensive option, at 70 dollars, is still impressive: a dozen each of oysters and clams, plus Alaskan crab legs and a half-dozen poached shrimp. And though the kitchen, overseen by the chef Chuck Hughes, offers an appealing and ever-changing blackboard menu with its own signature poutine (with lobster and lobster gravy), I would not pass on the opportunity to order the steak frites again. It’s rare to find a restaurant that takes as much care with such a simple dish: the steak (bavette, or what we call flank steak south of the border) is seasoned with an assured hand and charred to a textbook medium rare; the fries were crisp and fresh and tasted like potatoes. Though we had to shout over the gunshots ringing out in the chorus of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes,” my dining companions and I were impressed that a place as rollicking as Garde Manger chooses to pay attention to what’s coming out of the kitchen.

Un autre article intéressant du Telegraph de Londres. Ils publient régulièrement des articles touristiques sur Montréal et le Québec, toujours très flatteurs, d'ailleurs. Montreal: a thrilling collision of cultures Part French, part English and a lot more besides, Montreal is stylish, intriguing, and full of joie de vivre, says Kathy Arnold. On a sunny Saturday morning, we stroll through the Quartier Latin. Apart from a few dogwalkers and the occasional cyclist, the streets are quiet. We take a table at an outdoor café, order café au lait and read through La Presse, the local newspaper. It is all oh-so French, but when an American sits down nearby, the waitress slips effortlessly into English. We are in Montreal, the third-largest French-speaking metropolis in the world (after Paris and Kinshasa) – and one of the most intriguing cities I know. Montreal is proud of its Gallic roots. From its founding in 1642 until 1763, when the British took over, this island in the St Lawrence River was an important outpost of France. Down by the harbour, 19th-century banks and warehouses testify to the wealth generated by the port. It still ranks as one of the largest in North America, despite being 1,000 miles from the Atlantic. Traditionally, the Anglophones lived on the west side, the Francophones to the east. The dividing line was - and still is - the boulevard Saint-Laurent, referred to as “The Main” in English or “La Main” in French. The look of the city reflects this mixture of cultures, as if, in an architectural game of tit-for-tat, classic French designs are matched by traditional British. In front of the Hôtel de Ville, we crane our necks to look up at columns and porticoes as grandiose as any on a 19th-century town hall in France. By contrast, at Christ Church Cathedral, Anglican Gothic rules, from arches to spire. Then there are the street names: Saint-Jacques and Victor-Hugo share the map with Sherbrooke and Queen-Mary. And where else boasts a rue Napoléon and a rue Wellington? Canada’s second city may rest on European foundations, but its mirror-windowed skyscrapers are pure North America. So is the grid system of streets that spreads from the St Lawrence up to Mont-Royal, the hill for which the city is named. But unlike many US cities, Montreal is very walkable. We saunter along cobbled streets and lanes in the oldest part of the city, the Vieux-Port, where harbourside seediness has given way to galleries, trendy hotels and restaurants. Up the hill, in the Plateau area, we photograph the escaliers - the outdoor staircases that are a feature of the century-old duplex townhouses. Some insist that the curved steps reduced building costs; others say they created space for a front garden. Local lore suggests otherwise. “We are very Catholic,” a friend explains. “To ensure propriety, the church insisted on exterior entrances so everyone on the street could always see who was going in and out of each apartment.” Many Montrealers still live downtown, so the urban bustle continues after work and at weekends. Thanks to a passion for the arts, there is always plenty going on. Over the years, we have been to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Grands Ballets Canadiens, enjoyed jazz and comedy at small clubs. And we have always eaten well. Like their cousins in the Old World, Montrealers love good food. As well as four busy, European-style markets, piled high with local produce, there is a huge range of well-priced restaurants. Some offer hearty Québec favourites such as smoked meat, tourtière (meat pie) and, thanks to the Jewish community, arguably the best bagels in North America. My favourite restaurants are those offering a modern take on traditional recipes; the most famous is Toqué!, whose chef, Normand Laprise, was in the vanguard of the foodie revolution. Still others reflect the influx of immigrants from Italy and Greece, Spain and China. These newcomers have spiced up the pot-au-feu that is Montreal: Vietnamese-run flower stalls look like mini-garden centres and red-shirted Benfica supporters celebrate the Portuguese club’s victory. Although locals still talk about the “French” and the “English”, meaning Francophone and Anglophone, Montreal today embraces so much more than just these two cultures. It all adds up to a city that is vibrant, confident and forward-looking, with a joie de vivre that is impossible to resist. As the franglais slogan for a local radio station puts it: “Plus de hits! Plus de fun!” Essentials Montreal is five hours behind UK time; the international dialling code for Canada is 001; the current exchange rate is C$1.88 to the pound. Where to stay Luxury The city is dotted with designer-cool hotels, such as the 30-room Hotel Gault at 449 rue Sainte-Hélène (514 904 1616, http://www.hotelgault.com; from £90), on the edge of Vieux-Montreal. Behind its elegant 1871 façade are bare brick and modern art. Traditionalists should opt for the Auberge Bonaparte at 447 rue Saint-François-Xavier (514 844 1448, http://www.bonaparte.com; £80), with its romantic ambience, excellent restaurant and 30 comfortable rooms. In fine weather, take in the views over Vieux-Montreal from the sixth-floor roof terrace. Mid-range The 60-room Hôtel XIXe Siècle at 262 rue St-Jacques Ouest (877 553 0019, http://www.hotelxixsiecle.com; from £70) scores for price and location – on the edge of Vieux-Montreal and an easy walk from downtown. The lobby and bar still have the high ceilings from the building’s origins as a 19th-century bank. Budget When the Auberge Les Passants du Sans Soucy at 171 rue St-Paul Ouest (514 842 2634, http://www.lesanssoucy.com) opened as an art gallery-cum-b&b some 15 years ago, Vieux-Montreal had yet to be revived. Today, guests staying in this 1723 stone house are steps away from galleries, shops and restaurants. Nine rooms only, so book early; Daniel Soucy’s breakfasts are lavish. What to see Museums For a quick history lesson, visit Pointe-à-Callière, built right on top of the city’s first Catholic cemetery (1643-1654). Look down through glass to the graves of Iroquois Indians buried near people named Tessier, Thibault and Hébert, family names that are still in the local phone book. On the top floor, L’Arrivage restaurant has great views over the port (514 872 9150, http://www.pacmusee.qc.ca). As well as the obvious European Old Masters, the Musée des Beaux-Arts (514 285 2000, http://www.mbam.qc.ca) has fine Canadian works. Paintings by the renowned Group of Seven capture the ruggedness of the country in the early 20th century; more contemporary are Quebecois talents such as Jean-Paul Riopelle and Serge Lemoyne . The Olympic Park From the 1976 Olympic Stadium, the Montreal Tower rises 537 feet (164m) - at an incline of 45 degrees. Take the funicular up to the Observatory for spectacular views across the city. Another legacy of the Games is the pool. For £2, you can swim where David Wilkie of Scotland took gold in the 200m breaststroke, breaking the world record in the process (514 252 4737, http://www.rio.gouv.qc.ca). Then there is the velodrome, recycled as the Biodôme. Under a vast roof, this space is divided into four eco-systems, which are always in season. Sloths hide in the Tropical Rainforest, cod and salmon swim in the St Lawrence Marine Eco-system, beavers build dams in the Laurentian Forest, but the biggest crowd-pleasers are the penguins, which torpedo into the icy waters of the Antarctic (514 868 3000, http://www.biodome.qc.ca). Montreal Botanical Garden An easy walk from the Olympic Park is the city’s answer to Kew Gardens (514 872 1400, www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin). Within its 180 acres are 10 giant greenhouses and 30 themed gardens. Learn all about toxic and medicinal plants; compare Chinese and Japanese horticultural styles. Montreal Insectarium Across from the Botanical Garden is the Insectarium (514 872 1400, www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/insectarium), a must for children. This is a world of creepy-crawlies, with dung beetles, stick insects, cochineals, bees and more. There is even a set of scales that registers your weight, not in pounds or kilos but in ants. A 10-year-old weighs in at about 1.5 million. What to buy Shopping With sterling riding high, shopping is a pleasure. All the international brand names are here, but most fun are the boutiques featuring the work of stylish local designers. Downtown, head for rue de la Montagne, between Boulevard de Maisonneuve and rue Sherbrooke; up on the Plateau, check out rue Saint-Denis, chock-a-block with shops, and the funky boulevard Saint-Laurent. The three big department stores are Holt Renfrew, La Baie (Hudson’s Bay Company) and La Maison Ogilvy, where noon is still marked by a kilted piper playing the bagpipes. Markets Join locals shopping for produits du terroir at the art deco Marché Atwater, with its cheeses and maple syrup, and, next to Little Italy, the Marché Jean-Talon, ringed with busy bistro tables. The Marché Bonsecours in Vieux-Montreal no longer sells fruit and veg: the handsome 1847 building is now devoted to arts and crafts. Where to eat Toqué! Back in the early 1990s, Normand Laprise startled locals with his flavour combinations and the dramatic look of his dishes. As inventive as ever, his seven-course, £45 “mystery menu” could include scallops marinated in strawberry and bell pepper jus and suckling pig with a curry glaze (900 Place Jean-Paul-Riopelle; 514 499 2084, http://www.restaurant-toque.com). La Porte At this family-run operation, Pascale Rouyé looks after front of house while her husband, Thierry, and their son cook. They do what the French do best (local ingredients, classic techniques), and the five-course, £22 menu would be hard to beat in their native Brittany (3627 Boulevard Saint-Laurent; 514 282 4996) . Olive + Gourmando Wood floors and chairs and young, cheerful staff make this a pleasant place to start the day with steaming café au lait and a blueberry brioche (351 rue Saint-Paul Ouest; 514 350 1083, http://www.oliveetgourmando.com). Garde-Manger The disco beat gets louder as the evening progresses in this brick-walled restaurant. Get stuck in to ribs and platters piled with crabs, mussels and shrimp from Québec’s Iles de la Madeleine. Finish with maple-pecan pie (408 rue Saint-François-Xavier; 514 678 5044). Aszú In this basement oenothèque, David Couture’s modern cuisine is matched with 50 wines by the glass (212 rue Notre-Dame Ouest; 514 845 5436). Night owls During Prohibition, Americans escaped to Montreal for whisky and jazz. There is still no shortage of clubs and bars. Join the fun on rue Crescent, boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Saint-Denis in the Quartier Latin. One of the best jazz clubs is The Upstairs (1254 rue MacKay; 514 931 6808, http://www.upstairsjazz.com). Getting there Canadian Affair has return flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Montreal Trudeau International from £198; flights and six nights’ three-star accommodation from £396, based on two sharing (020 7616 9184 or 0141 223 7517, http://www.canadianaffair.com). Getting about No car is needed. The STM three-day tourist pass (£9) offers unlimited travel on the fast, safe metro and bus system. Metro stops are part of RÉSO, the network of cheerful, brightly lit underground walkways that stretches for some 20 miles, linking shops and apartment blocks, restaurants and museums. Getting in The Montreal Museums Pass gets you in to the 30 principal museums, and includes the three-day travel pass (£23, http://www.museesmontreal.org). More information Tourism Montreal: http://www.tourisme-montreal.org. At Tourism Québec, talk to a real person on 0800 051 7055 (http://www.bonjourquebec.com/uk). In the know Three of the best events on the city’s calendar include: Canadian Grand Prix, June 6-8 (http://www.grandprix.ca). International Jazz Festival, June 26-July 6 (http://www.montrealjazzfest.com). Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, July 10-20 (http://www.hahaha.com).

Les restaurants Kelsey's ferment leurs portes au Québec 12 mars 2008 - 11h37 LaPresseAffaires.com Michel Munger Agrandir Les restaurants Kelsey's offrent un concept de bar et grill pour des clients qui cherchent à manger dans une ambiance conviviale et informelle. Photo: kelseys.ca Grossir caractèreImprimerEnvoyer .a{float:left;padding:0px 15px 10px 0px;text-align:center;width:175;} Les 12 restaurants Kelsey's disparaîtront de la carte au Québec dès le 15 mars et 414 emplois sont touchés, a appris LaPresseAffaires.com. Insatisfaite du rendement de la chaîne dans la Belle Province, la maison-mère Cara a décidé d'y mettre la hache. Josée Béliveau, directrice de compte chez Edelman Relations publiques, confirme la nouvelle. «Disons que le concept offert par la chaîne n'a pas vraiment trouvé preneur auprès des Québécois», explique-t-elle. Les restaurants Kelsey's offrent un concept de bar et grill pour des clients qui cherchent à manger dans une ambiance conviviale et informelle. Ses rivales immédiates sont les bannières Boston Pizza et Casey's. «Les restaurants étaient surtout présents en banlieue, rappelle Mme Béliveau. Il y avait un restaurant à Anjou et un à St-Laurent, mais les autres étaient situés à des endroits comme Longueuil, Laval et St-Bruno. C'était une clientèle familiale qui était visée.» Kelsey's compte plus d'une centaine d'emplacements au Canada et elle célèbre son 30e anniversaire cette année. La chaîne est surtout présente en Ontario. Ancienne propriétaire de la chaîne de cafés Second Cup, la société Cara, de Mississauga, exploite aussi la bannière Harvey's au Canada. C'est aussi un traiteur pour 60 transporteur aériens. http://lapresseaffaires.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080312/LAINFORMER/80312130/5891/LAINFORMER01

Québec s'attaque à l'évasion fiscale Dernières nouvelles (archives) Le gouvernement du Québec intensifie ses efforts dans la lutte contre l'évasion fiscale dans le secteur de la restauration. Radio-Canada a appris que le ministère du Revenu annoncera lundi le lancement d'un projet pilote pour contrer ce phénomène. Revenu Québec va installer gratuitement un logiciel d'enregistrement fiscal dans une cinquantaine de restaurants pour comptabiliser leurs véritables revenus. Le projet se fera en accord avec l'Association des restaurateurs du Québec. Le gouvernement souhaite que tous les restaurants soient équipés de ce logiciel d'ici 2011. Chaque année, l'évasion fiscale dans le secteur de la restauration prive le trésor public du Québec de 425 millions de dollars. http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/Politique/2008/01/25/002-Restauration-Fiscal.shtml

Montreal's restaurants fluent in French BY RAPHAEL SUGARMAN Saturday, December 1st 2007, 4:00 AM Europea's chef, Jerome Ferrer, prepares a fine French meal. New Yorkers looking for the perfect destination to tantalize their palates needn't spend hours traveling overseas to Paris. They should instead make the relatively short jaunt to Montreal and enjoy a culinary tradition that is just as passionate and arguably more exciting than that of France. "The food [in France] is very good and very classic, but here we are more open-minded," says Normand Lapris, executive chef of Toque, a highly rated Montreal restaurant. "When I am cooking, I don't think to myself, 'I can't use this recipe or this spice because it is not French,'" adds Lapris. "If I like curry, I put curry in my food." Fostering classic French cuisine - while remaining open to North American eclecticism - makes Montreal an ideal city for food lovers. More than half the city's 20 top-rated restaurants are classified as French or French-Canadian, and the cuisine - and its Quebecois influences - undeniably inspires the greatest passion in Montreal's kitchens. A very good case can be made that the city's top French restaurants - including Chez L'Epicier, L'Express, Au Pied de Cochon and Toque - offer every bit as delectable and memorable a dining experience as any spot in Paris. Because Montreal is, by nature, a French city, dining in a bistro here offers a much more authentic experience than similar establishments in New York or other North American cities. "When you are dining at L'Express, you feel like you could be in Paris, like you are in another world," says Lesley Chesterman, restaurant critic for the Montreal Gazette. Much like France, the quality of restaurants in Montreal is driven by the superb food markets. At the Atwater Market in the Saint-Henri district, and at the Jean-Talon Market adjacent to Little Italy, locals and tourists alike marvel at the bounty of luscious, home-grown products. At Jean-Talon, make sure to visit Le Marche Des Saveurs du Québec (The Market Flavors of Quebec), a pair of shops that feature a staggering 7,000 delicacies produced in the province. "The small producers make all the difference here in Quebec," says Carl Witchel, a local food historian. "The difference between Montreal and New York is that here you can go into a really inexpensive bistro with 20 or 25 seats and have something really remarkable." IF YOU GO ... Where to stay: Le Saint-Sulpice: Cozy boutique hotel in the heart of Old Montreal, a block from Notre Dame. (877)-SULPICE. Hotel Le Germain: A gem in the city's downtown business district. (514) 849-2050. Where to eat: Nuances: Jean-Pierre Curtat's wonderful French fare, irreproachable service and ethereal sunsets. (514) 392-2708. Club Chasse Et Péche: You have to love a place that lists "Six Oysters with Charisma" on the menu. (514) 861-1112. Europea: The Lobster Cream Cappuccino with truffle oil is just one of chef Jerome Ferrer's inventive offerings. (514) 398-9229. Beaver Club: Located in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, this opulent stalwart has been serving classic French cuisine for decades. (514) 861-3511.

Il s'agit d'une tour résidentielle/hotel avec une gallerie commerciale au 2 premiers étages, principalements des restaurants, spa, bar/lounge Vue Rene-Levesque/de la Montagne Vue de la gauchetiere/Drummond

Vive Montreal! It may not be Paris, but city is awash with Old World charm, warmth for Christmas By Mary Milz Special to The Courier-Journal Some say if you can't afford Paris, try Montreal, the most European city in North America. Not quite. Montreal is no Paris. And thanks to the strong Canadian dollar, it's not the bargain it once was, either. But it's still well worth the trip even on those nippy December days when temperatures hover in the 20s. With its strong French Catholic heritage, Montreal dresses in its Christmas finest and lights up for the holidays, encouraging visitors to join in the revelry. Montreal transported this Midwesterner worlds away without jumping time zones, without confusion over currency and without need of a pocket translator. It's just a two-hour fight from Chicago, Canadian coins pretty much mirror American, and while French is the primary language, everyone we encountered spoke English too. Montreal is Canada's second-largest city. More than 3.6 million people call the greater metropolitan area home. At first glance, Montreal stands out as a modern city with its gleaming skyscrapers, upscale shopping and internationally known restaurants. But bundle up and stroll its vibrant and varied neighborhoods and you find Montreal oozes Old World warmth and charm. Montreal provides the perfect three- to five-day getaway for travelers wanting big-city excitement without big-city hassles. Culturally diverse and rich in history, Montreal offers everything from top-notch museums and centuries-old churches to fabulous food and lively night life. Travelers intent on holiday shopping may feel giddy at the options. Saint Catherine Street, one of the longest streets in North America, is home to scores of trendy boutiques as well as the city's most prominent retailers, including Ogilvy. The landmark department store is famous for its bagpipers, who announce the noon hour each day; and its legendary Christmas windows, which come alive with animated toy animals. Shoppers wanting edgier, funkier gifts will enjoy browsing Saint Laurent Street. And if it's too frigid outdoors, shoppers can escape to the underground city. Twenty-two miles of subterranean walkways link shopping centers, boutiques, restaurants, cinemas, hotels and the subway. No need for a rental car. The Metro is fast, cheap and easy to navigate. Underground trains make stops every five to 10 minutes, taking passengers to 68 stations across the city. A single fair is $2.75; a three-day pass, $17, is also good for buses. Several police officers assured us it was safe at all hours. Montreal also enjoys a reputation for being well-kept. A recent survey by Mercer Human Resources Consulting rated it the 10th cleanest city in the world. Beware; this city takes its clean image seriously. As of last spring, anyone caught flinging trash on the ground faced a fine of up to $1,000! In addition to its cleanliness, Montreal prides itself on diversity, reflected in its assorted ethnic neighborhoods ranging from Chinatown to the Latin Quarter (also great areas for finding fun and unusual gifts). One afternoon, we wandered into the Mile-End neighborhood and stopped in the Fairmount Bagel Bakery where it's nothing but bagels and matzahs. It has been in business since 1919. Employees roll the bagels by hand, boil them and then bake them in wood-burning ovens. Scrumptious! No wonder they turn out more than 1,500 a day. We walked across the street to a small market selling imported cheeses, marinades, olive oil and specialty chocolates, striking up a conversation with owner Luigi DiVito. When we asked what he thought distinguished Montreal from other Canadian cities, such as Toronto, he said, "People are very open, very friendly, very welcoming. There's more life here. We like to live. The food and restaurants are amazing." Our stomachs agreed. Montreal is known for its fine cuisine, and with close to 6,000 restaurants, the choices are daunting. While French-style restaurants and bistros were once the mainstay, diners now find a hearty selection of Middle Eastern, North African, Asian and Latin-American eateries, to name a few. Our hotel's concierge proved especially helpful in narrowing the choices. While we found prices comparable with large metropolitan cities, many Montreal restaurants offer table d'hote or fixed-price meals. You can get a three- or four-course meal for slightly more than the price of an a la carte main course. After a week of experiencing Montreal and its popular attractions, we left enamored and singing a decidedly different tune: Even if you can afford Paris, try Montreal. http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/FEATURES05/710280350

Montreal: Affordable Winter Base for Families The blackboard menu is in French and all around the little cafe, people are chattering in French, nibbling on croissants and sipping cafe au lait. But we're a lot closer to home than Paris. Welcome to Montreal, just a scant hour-long flight or a 370-mile drive from New York, or an hour's drive from the border of Vermont. Most everyone, it seems, speaks English, as well as French, so there's no need for my 16-year-old daughter, Melanie, to practice her French, she says happily. Another plus: Though there are no bargains here for Americans anymore now that the Canadian "loonie" is about the same value as a U.S. dollar, at least we can soak up the foreign ambiance without spending so much in Europe where the dollar is so weak against the Euro. Especially this time of year, you can find hotel rooms starting at $135 a night (http://www.findyourmontreal.com). Mel and I have come to Montreal for a mother-daughter weekend getaway and a look at McGill University, one of four in this oh-so-cosmopolitan city, which visitors can't help but love. Even our taxi drivers wax eloquent about their city - the restaurants! (There are more than 6,000 offering everything from French to Ethiopian to Montreal's famous bagels.) The museums! (There are more than 30. Visit http://www.museemontreal.org for the Montreal Museums Pass.) The theater, dance companies and festivals that go on all year! (There are more than 90, including the popular la Fete des Neiges de Montreal in January.) The shopping! (Simons, http://www.simons.ca, on Montreal's famous Ste-Catherine Street, we discover, is a good bet for young fashionistas on a budget. Such a clean city! So many parks; there are 1,009 of them and scores of green spaces. Let's not forget the 21-mile Underground Pedestrian Network that connects everything from metro stations to restaurants to skating rinks, office buildings, hospitals, libraries and nearly 1,000 retail shops. With ski areas just an hour away, I think, Montreal would prove a good, affordable winter base for families whose members aren't equally passionate about the slopes. Mel and I are ensconced in one of the city's many boutique hotels, the 59-room HotelXIX Siecle (http://www.hotelxixsiecle.com), which was built in a 19th-century bank building just a short walk from the historic cobble-stoned streets of the Old Port on the St. Lawrence River where this city began. And I love that breakfast is included. I promise Mel if she goes with me to the Pointe-a-Calliere, the Montreal museum of Archeology and History that tells the story of this city from its first Native-American settlers - our next stop will be Ste-Catherine Street where she can shop till she drops at street level and at the three interconnected malls underground. She liked the museum more than she expected - thanks to the terrific multimedia show and its excellent introduction to Montreal, from the first North Americans to the arrival of French settlers in 1642 and then later, the British. The museum is actually built atop authentic archeological remains, enabling visitors to take an underground archeological tour. Models set in the floor reveal how Place Royale evolved through the centuries and the exhibits include displays of artifacts found here, including dice, crockery, old combs and beer caps. Virtual historic figures also pop up to chat about their era. Even kids who hate museums can't help but be intrigued - and leave with a much better understanding of the cultures that have melded to make this city what it is today. Last modified: October 07. 2007 9:33AM

Le Journal de Montréal 05/09/2007 La chaîne américaine Hooters, qui connaît du succès aux États-Unis avec son concept ailes-de-poulet-épicées-serveuses-sexy, s’apprête à faire une percée au Québec dans le marché déjà bien garni des restaurants de fast food. «Nous prévoyons ouvrir quatre restaurants d’ici à cinq ans dans la grande région de Montréal», souligne Sam Meghani, responsable du développement de la chaîne au Québec. L’investissement pourrait atteindre 5 M$, avec une moyenne de 1,2 M$ par restaurant. Il a acquis de Hooters - une chaîne de 435 restaurants basée à Atlanta - les droits commerciaux pour développer le marché québécois. Mais pourquoi le Québec? «C’était le seul territoire (province) disponible. Au Canada, toutes les provinces sont quadrillées de Hooters», répond Sam Meghani. Concept original Cet Américain d’origine pakistanaise vient tout juste de déménager au Québec pour voir à ce que le «concept Hooters», pour le moins original, soit respecté à la lettre. Dans les restaurants de la chaîne, les «filles» ont de 18 à 25 ans et sont vêtues d’un «uniforme» suggestif qui semble plaire à la clientèle masculine. Pourtant, Hooters s’affiche comme un restaurant familial qui propose à ses clients affamés des hamburgers gigantesques et des gâteaux au fromage au caramel fondant. «Nos filles n’ont pas nécessairement de grosses poitrines. Elles portent simplement des vêtements à l’image de la chaîne. Il ne se passe rien de dégradant dans nos restos», dit Sam Meghani, qui ne s’offusque pas de voir ses «filles» servir la clientèle vêtues d’une camisole et d’un short moulants. La publicité vante même «le mariage de la bonne nourriture et de la bonne bière froide servies (!) par une belle fille de Hooters». La chaîne ne manque pas d’imagination: elle propose à ses clients d’acheter le calendrier Hooters où apparaissent en tenue très légère ses employées modèles du mois. «Le calendrier Hooters: la seule façon de sortir avec l’une d’elles!», peut-on lire à l’envers du menu. Par ailleurs, les investisseurs intéressés par ce menu à la sauce américaine doivent avoir les poches bien profondes. Sur son site Internet, Hooters rappelle qu’un investisseur doit pouvoir ouvrir de trois à cinq restaurants sur son «territoire» et avoir des liquidités de 2 M$ US. Une franchise se vend 75 000 $ US, et l’investissement pour chaque restaurant varie de 800 000 $ US à 1,5 M$ US. √ Un premier restaurant de 210 places ouvrira ses portes le 17 septembre à Greenfield Park, sur la Rive-Sud.

Montréal dans la liste des dix destinations culinaires de Travelocity Martine Bouliane La Presse Le site Internet de voyages Travelocity a inscrit Montréal à son palmarès des 10 destinations tout indiquées pour les gourmets en 2007, aux côtés de Rome et New York. Seule ville canadienne à y figurer, Montréal est l'une des sept destinations nord-américaines à se trouver dans ce palmarès. Travelocity insiste sur le fait qu'on peut manger de la cuisine française et des spécialités de plus de 80 pays, dans les 5000 restaurants de Montréal. Il est suggéré de goûter au sandwich à la viande fumée ou à un bagel et de fouiner dans les marchés. Parmi les autres destinations de ce côté-ci de l'Atlantique se trouvent La Nouvelle-Orléans, avec ses plats créoles et cajuns, et Las Vegas, pour son côté excessif même au niveau culinaire. New York figure également sur la liste, notamment pour la nourriture qu'on peut y acheter dans les rues, comme les bretzels et les marrons rôtis, et son nombre étonnant de restaurants. Trois villes européennes font partie de ces suggestions de destinations culinaires, à commencer par Rome, où sont servies des spécialités des différentes régions de l'Italie, délicieuses autant dans des petits restaurants que d'autres plus huppés. En Espagne, Barcelone est apprécié pour sa cuisine catalane bien particulière qui s'inspire de la cuisine méditerranéenne. On y note que Londres se refait une réputation en matière de cuisine et que la ville peut compter sur des établissements pour les gourmets, qui ont pignon sur rue depuis plus de 300 ans. Fait à noter : aucune ville française, pas même Paris, ne figure sur la liste de Travelocity.

Le Madison du Vieux-Port Architectes: Panzini Architectes Fin de la construction:2008 Utilisation: Centre de conférences et de la mode Emplacement: Vieux-Port, Montréal ? mètres - 5 étages Description: - Le projet comprant une salle de 2000 m², des restaurants et un centre de lancement et présentation de mode. Trois images

Nom: Univers Condos Hauteur en étages: Phase 1 : 45, phase 2 : entre 25 et 35 Hauteur en mètres: Site internet: http://www.devmcgill.com/fr/univers Autres informations: * La phase 2 aura entre 25 et 35 étages (selon les ventes) * Possibilité, aux premiers étages, d'avoir un hôtel boutique, des restaurants et une épicerie * L'accès directe au RÉSO est à confirmer * Intégration de jardins horizontaux et verticaux et mise en place d’espaces verts à plusieurs niveaux Aperçu du projet: Autres images: Vidéo promotionnelle: [video=youtube_share;8toUGJBjgNw]http://youtu.be/8toUGJBjgNw