MARGARITAS MAKES MEXICAN MEALS MAGNIFICO

In Manchester, New Hampshire, Margaritas has all tongues wagging. It’s a fabulous restaurant totally dedicated to Mexican dishes, drinks and Mexican culture in ways that are close up and palpably pleasing, Owners, John  and Dave Pelletier love the country so much, they created a superb haven for immersing us in the country, cuisine and its causes with a variety  of surprises that are utterly impressive and inspiring.   With its 27 locations in New England, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Margaritas makes its invaluable  - not to mention tasty - mark in America.

Known for its drinks and wraparound big bar, Margaritas has created great exotic ones such as Russelrita with its creamy, smooth raspberry and strawberry flavours;  Pepino, that’s big on habanero lime, mint and cucumber and two more originals, called  Blood Orange is a real favourite. 

 Tortilla chips and salsa come free to your table.

I had the Naked Coconut that lived up to its name in such a refreshing way. Bartenders  make the margarita mix – all with fresh puree for the fruit ones. No bottled flavours here!  The wrap-around bar is so inviting and a popular hotspot.

I returned twice to Maragritas. I loved the cheese enchilada, beef taco, the crusty – oh-so-good mini chicken chimichanga.



 I have to encourage you to start with that cheese enchilada from the alacarte menu. It was divine with its sweetish cream sauce and the corn tortilla.

 The black beans are as good as the guacamole you’ll get in several dishes, such as the fajita salad and Enchiladas Banderas.  

The dessert I indulged in was mama mia amazing: Margaritas Famous Fried Ice Cream. It’s a huge ball-shaped delight of vanilla ice cream within a salty crushed pretzel shell. Covered in chocolate sauce or honey or both – if you want to go all out – this super sweet-and-salty creation is unforgettable.

 As you eat and drink, the Mexican music and décor adds further sensory pleasure. It creates an atmosphere that colourfully captures all the flavours in the food. 

Every piece of furniture, every tile, every vase, mask and statue and comes from the country. Spacious and seductive with its vivid colourful lighting, you’ll feel like you truly are in Mexico. 

Fabulous programs bring children into the restaurant to view the art, learn about the culture and even how to make guacamole during a presentation. Exchange programs to heighten awareness bring both cultures together; many Mexicans come here to present their craft.

There is so much going on at Margaritas to bring Mexican culture directly to Manchester’s folks. It the owners’ mandate that deliciously appeals to everyone who mixes at Margaritas.

The address is: 1037 Elm Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
Call +1 903-647-7717
The website is www.margs.com

CHEDDAR & RYE

 I'm in Manchester, New Hampshire, feasting on the best grilled cheese sandwiches which only the most imaginative of chefs could conjure up. Andrew Thistle, the owner of this totally tasty casual place with its 90s’ vibe. Andrew is an awesome creator; he conceives and cooks the most original combos in his grilled cheese goodies – many of them are named after 10 comic book characters. He uses 10 different cheeses from around the world along with a slew of options in there to to fill you up. There is gluten-free vegetarian and vegan numbers - all sandwiched between six different kinds of locally made bread.

I ordered the Two Face, made with home-made fig jam, caramelised onions, apple slivers and maple vinegar with bacon. It was delicious. I also had the Lex Luther sandwich. It consists of beer braised pork, house barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese and crispy onions. Choose  your fave comic book and order the sandwich named after it: Aquamarine (classic  tuna melt), There’s Venom, Ghost Rider, Green Hornet and others that add humour and taste to every bite. Andrew is soon to open up a wonderful whiskey bar beside Cheddar & Rye. Enjoy 4 tastings of great whiskey in this classic whisky bar with 300 plus bottles of America’s finest.

I topped by sensational sandwiches off with Andew’s delectable and highly unusual dessert. It’s called Black Canary. Scrumptious on the taste buds and in texture, it boasts the adage: dare to be different. Have you ever had a dessert made with bacon, potato chips, nutella and mascarpone cheese? It’s high time you did.? And to think this humble genius with his one-of-a-kind grilled sandwiches went to Les Roches, a prestigious chef school in Switzerland and was executive Chef and General Manager in loads of great restaurants. It all came down to gorgeously great non-greasy grilled cheese sandwiches with whiskey to whisk you off into more indulgent dreams.

Here's the website: https://cheddarandrye.com/
You can call (603) 232-3751

COPPER BRANCH

A Remarkable Restaurant Opens in Westmount

Starting in Montreal, Copper Branch now has restaurants in several parts of Canada. Renown for its complete commitment to plant-based cuisine, the company creates delicious dishes that reflect its forward-looking food philosophy. Each bite is an edible treasure where tantalizing taste and nutrition are in balance. Copper Branch contributes to bettering the world through healthy eating and various well-being projects it is involved in.

The Power of Hope, Inspiration and Hard Work

Byron Ruiz had been working in operations in Copper Branch. He believed in the company so much, and was looking for yet another challenge in the company, so together, with his life partner Christine Harries, co-owners, Michelle and Lorenzo DellaForesta  and with the blessing of Rio Infantino, president of Copper Branch, they opened up their own restaurant in Westmount, Quebec. They're all proud to be a part of the Copper Branch banner. Setting up the restaurant in Westmount demanded an intense renovation of the former framing store. Christine put her architectural engineering skills into high gear, and after about six months of rigorous work and everyone pulling together, the banner on a new Copper Branch location was happily hoisted.

Giving with Immeasurable Rewards

But the couple was not motivated by money to do this; rather it was brotherly love. Byron’s brother, Carlos had been diagnosed with T cell lymphoma, but his life-long hope never wavered. It had always been a dream of his to own a Copper Branch Restaurant – ever since the company first started in 2014.

Carlos Ruiz

“It is a gift for me to now be on board in a vital way with my family and friends supporting me all the time in the restaurant. My life really stopped when I got lymphoma and now it’s restarted. It is a total blessing for me to work close up and personal with it all – overseeing many aspects to our restaurant; I really love what Copper Branch is doing to better people’s lives. I also speak about cancer as well holding the Copper Branch banner. It has given me energy and a purpose. When I started here, my eating changed; lost weight and felt far more energized. The food we serve is prepared fresh and with much care. In fact, we are a community here – all supporting one another and spreading that key ingredient: love.”

Carlos with Christine Harries

A Menu that creatively involves the Customer

It’s kind of fun, but you can actually build your own dish with the many appetizing surprises Copper Branch has behind its counter. Substitute quinoa if you like in place of brown rice. I of course was mesmerized the healthy variety of offerings, and relied on Carlos to serve my companion and myself some of his recommendations. I totally loved the spicy black bean burger. The patty was made of black beans, sunflower seeds, sweet potato, brown rice and more. Its home-made South West Sauce was so tasty.  Perfectly shaped carrot keftedes that we dipped into aїoli creamy garlic set off other flavours of turmeric, fresh mint and fennel – to mention a few goodies in this number

Colourful and Inventive: the Taste of Health in Every Dish

Copper Branch offers four fabulous burgers and so many exotically tasty dishes. Even its sandwiches hold the promise of excitement. Imagine digging into the smoked tofu and grilled vegetable sandwich or how about the shitake teriyaki sandwich. I fell in love with the shitake mushrooms on first bite of the General Copper Bowl dish.  Carlos explained that these mushrooms are first dehydrated and then rehydrated. They were scrumptious and filling. I could have ordered a whole dish of them. 

New Astoundingly scrumptious Sandwich that Sent me into Lunch Lift-off Heaven
I returned shortly after the launch of Copper Branch's latest awesome addition: The  terrifically tasty maple bacon tempeh sandwich. I gobbled it up joyfully. Over nine layered ingredients and items go into this edible masterpiece, including, smoked maple tempeh, caramelized onions, Swiss Vegan cheese, BBQ mango sauce and sweet potatoes. The sauce is extraordinarily delicious; its addictive flavour brilliantly enhances the other items in the sandwich. The tempeh itself is marinated with tofu marinate, cinnamon and turmeric. Supremely healthy, YOU MUST ORDER THIS GOD-LIKE creation. 
I capped it off with the remarkable raspberry chia pudding that pours like a sauce into every spoonful. 

Five Power Bowls are offered with a base of several choices including brown rice, quinoa and Konjka noodles. Protein choices are exotic and include Tempeh, Smoked tofu, and Shitake. Flavours seem to travel the world: Greece, Asia, Mexico and the Mediterranean mix. You’ve got to try the basil dressing. It’s creamy and incredibly addictive. In fact, everything I had here was light, yet the variety of ingredients packed into each dish created a remarkable discovery experience for me. Layered with robust portions and flavours, each number had its own colourful presentation with interesting tastes – some spicy, some subtle, but never predictable or boring.

Carlos insisted I try the incredible gluten-free brownie made with cocoa and Zucchini. I was too full, so he handed it to me in his package and told me to make sure to heat it up with coffee. It was sensational! I also tried the cashew lime cheesecake; it was interesting. By the way, Copper branch coffee is an exclusive, organic home-made blend. It is Fair Trade, Swiss filtered and of the highest quality. It’s served with coconut milk, soya or almond milk. No lactose milk here. Copper Branch is a way of life. I’m on board.  

Good news!

They cater for personal and business events.

Copper Branch is located at 5003 Sherbrooke West, at the corner of Claremont in Westmount. Call (514) 379-4616.

They’re on Face book. Look them up at Copper Branch Westmount.

EATZ ENCORE

 A Scrumptious Ready-to-Eat Feast  

Eatz Encore stunningly satisfies all your food cravings with its imitable variety of made-on-the-spot connoisseur dishes.  The minute you walk into this cozy casual place in Westmount, Quebec, the Eatz Encore effect takes over. Soon you’ll be swooning in the nicest of ways. Your mouth will be watering; you’ll start smiling, then choosing from the vast selections of food on display. Soon you’re forgetting every problem you’ve ever had, not just because of the astoundingly delicious food, but also because there’s a huge human ingredient behind Eatz Encore’s doors. Genuinely warm family folk who run the place provide a welcome dose of divine dishes that perk up an emotional blahs.

Polish-born Krystyna Konefal who owns the restaurant has a warm, generous spirit. Despite the speed at which you get the food, there’s no stress here. Sons, Chris and Patrick join their mom, adding to this remarkably relaxed atmosphere – another beautiful ingredient at Eatz Encore.

Behind the Counter Kindness, Food Prepared with Love for Heavenly Taste Enjoyment

Greeting you is a mix of aromas from the endless eye-popping display of freshly made gourmet dishes with aromas  from Italy, Mexico, the Orient, India and Poland - to name  only a few of  Krystyna’s cuisine capabilities. She’s been cooking for over 30 years, and in 2003 she opened her multi-pleasing meal haven filled with different distinct dishes. It never gets boring here. You need at least one hour to visually take in all the goodies here; plus you can sample some.

Food for Health and Happiness

Mentored by Krystyna who was born to cook.  Chefs, Shipon and Milano create Eatz Encore’s palette-pleasing plates, 35 delightful dishes for your table here. And let’s not forget about the 65 or so different ready-go take home yummies already wrapped in the lower display case. It’s a royal feast, and best of all, the food you’ll be enjoying is chemical free, and get this…gluten-free  too in many dishes and desserts - all devoid of saturated fats, grease, sugar and all the other “false food” ingredients that you find in  many traiteurs and fast food outlets. 

This is not fast food; this is fabulous superbly healthy food ready to go right to your table in the restaurant or for take-out eating. Or when at home, call in and have it delivered. Their delivery menu has over 100 classic and exotic dishes! Is it any wonder Krystyna sometimes starts cooking at 3 am to make sure all her hungry customers can get their food fast!

I’ve returned several times to eat here. I can’t gloat enough over the General Tao chicken. Spicy and sweet, the tender chicken is perfectly seasoned.  But before you dig in, why not ask Krystyna to make you up a plate of her most incredible salads or veggie creations. 

You see them all at the counter. The quinoa is amazing. Hearts of palm, Kalamata olives baby tomatoes, feta and peppers of all kinds find their home in these healthy generous servings. And don’t’ forget prices go by the pound. You’re not stuck having to order different sizes.

You must try the cabbage rolls. I love both the veggie and meat ones. I’ve also taken home her quesadillas that are packaged and ever so low in price but big on taste. How about her burritos?

I preferred the jumbo tempura shrimp to her grilled ones for taste. Speaking of which, I also love her perfectly prepared tandoori chicken and the New Zealand orange roughy (fish) covered in almond slices. The salmon is sautéed in ginger with white lemon grass for simple yet optimum flavour.  It was so tender... absolutely wonderful!  None of Eatz’s dishes is soggy, drenched in a hodgepodge of everything with complex flavours. Krystyna keeps it simple. Wine vinaigrette made my salads superb, and the dumplings I took home were as delicate in texture as was the huge 2-inch thick hamburger steak I snagged for eating later at home. It was covered in sautéed onions. Wow!

Food You Never Have to Prepare; Just Answer your Door or Sit inside

Eatz Encore is a place of international gourmet surprises and that’s what makes it so much fun to keep coming back for more. The freshly-made meal repertoire is so vast, I call it Quebec’s Disneyland of delectable dishes. Eatz Encore is a perfect name for all the things it does; you can call in and pre-order what you want (once you get to know your favourites) and you can also count on at your door delivery. You can order lots of food or go for some small specialities too.  

Eatz Encore’s delivery menu has over 100 different gourmet dishes – too exciting to mention this time, but have you ever had stuffed Portobello mushrooms, lamb riblets, Hickory meatballs or knishes that could quell a hungry grouch? How’s that for tending to all the logistics of getting food to you fast. Of course, I just love going in there to gaze at all the goodies, sitting down, getting my favourites and trying new meals too. 

By the way, don’t miss out on the brownies; they almost melt in your mouth. The sugarless apricot cranberry cookies are incredible! 

One thing for sure, you can eat your way to heaven, but you’ll never feel heavy in the belly. Thank you Krystyna for making cold winter days as warm and wonderful as the soups she makes!!!

          The website is www.eatzencore.ca

 Eatz Encore is located at 4824 Sherbrooke West

              Call (514) 482-1778

ASHLEY’S RESTAURANT

 WORLDLY FLAVOURS IN EXQUISITE VEGETARIAN CUISINE

On August 22^nd 2017, something miraculous happened in the world. Ashley’s Restaurant landed in Montreal’s Notre Dame de Grace neighbourhood. Arriving with it was Ayesha Gidwani, a remarkably gifted chef whose vegetarian cuisine is tongue wagging wonderful.  Together with owners Chantal and Sina, Ayesha created a menu that has elevated vegetarian meals into Nirvana magic. Here Asian, Indian, and a moment with Mexican flavours turn casual dining into an exciting experience of discovery.

Twenty-five divinely-inspired dishes deliciously demonstrate Ayesha’s awesome talent and instinct for ingredient combos that create the “wow” factor.

Each food-fabulous creation attests to Ayesha’s long-time love affair with cooking.

“When I was a child, I was always playing in my mom’s kitchen back in India. She was a great cook, and I watched what she did.”

 Since moving to Canada (2002) after a 14-year-stint as a Bollywood costume designer, she became Montreal’s “it” girl for vegetarian cuisine, creating veggie menus for several restaurants – her biggest coup was as Executive Chef at Cantley Suites for six years.

“I live, breathe, walk, talk and dream about what I do. I am very passionate about cooking and I do it from my soul. Here, at Ashley’s I have created vegetarian and vegan options using flavour fusions from Asia, India and beyond.”

Novice Designer Makes a Notable Impression

The Zen appeal also resonates in Ashley’s décor. Sina was responsible for its interior design.  It's hard to believe that Ashley’s was his first design project; it’s nothing short of genius. The result is outstanding, even daring. “I wanted to create a cozy, authentic place using the old and new,” said Sina.  Seemingly incongruous elements – both organic and modern, blend beautifully. Its visual aesthetic conveys an eternal feeling of serenity.

 

Natural wood restfully warms the restaurant in every space: the walls, benches and irregular shaped tables. Leather, brick, ceramic facades, even a peek-a-boo tall black column distinctly enhance the dining areas. Highlighted by top hanging lighting, Ashley’s embodies fluidity in aesthetic appeal.

Sina went all out in the loo rooms. They’re outrageously whimsical and colourful.

             Take a peek.         

Menu Health in Exotic Ingredients

Never mind that the dishes come with some pretty funny names: Avo’Cuddle toast, Umami Burger, the Bodhi Bowl or Jungli Yogi Bowl, the irony is palpably pleasing. Each wondrous dish is composed of nature’s most coveted flavours and ingredients. Everything is naturally grown, devoid of sugar (natural maple syrup is used) and almost zero % gluten free. Common to almost every plate is the extraordinary variety of different foods that go into each dish. I counted an average of 20 different ingredients for each, including a maze of veggies, grains, mysterious Asian and Indian roots, peppers, berries, seeds, noodles and more. One of Ayesha’s signature sensations resides not just in the presentation factor but the many hidden layers of differing foods that add never-ending surprise to the eating experience of that particular dish. Herbs and one-of-a-kind Asian dressings – served on the side are blended to perfection; the taste is exquisite, the texture sometimes crunchy, such as in the three different chef-inspired macro bowls. Each instantly brings a wealth of vitality and exoticism to the name, ‘salad’. Sensually addictive and creamy gorgeous both in taste and colour is the main dish, “From Berma with Love”. One of four favorites and an Ashley creation, this meal consists of coconut spiced lentil curry on konjac noodles, hash browns, roasted chick pea tofu, onions, roasted chilli, garlic oil, smoked sweet potatoes, coriander and lemon juice. This dish is heavenly. If you could taste love, this is it.

Eating Splendidly

My companion and I started with two salad dishes. I had the Urban Hippie Bowl whose 20 ingredients included purple kale, pilaf quinoa with a fig, yellow beets, kombucha dressing, roasted tumeric papaya, faro salad, roasted chickpeas, apples crisps a smattering of nuts and pumpkin seeds and more – topped by a big orange dollop of harissa hummus at the centre of it all. How’s that for healthy!

My companion dove into the Jungli Yogi Bowl – a sure bet for healthy eating accented with Greek, Mexican touches: Kalamata olives, cilantro lime dressing, mango house chutney, and heaps of kidney beans with alfalfa sprouts, spelt salad and cauliflower rice.

What’s great about this place is vegetarians and vegans can dine together since options are always there for family members to choose. As a peanut-free establishment, 85% of the ingredients are also organic including the sunflower and olive oil in the dishes.

 

That could account for the totally non-greasy pan-fried leek and vegetable dumplings we ordered for starters. I loved the house tamari and sesame sauce. We gobbled up the four on the plate as fast as we munched away in surely the most extraordinary side dish I have ever tasted: Mumbai Bhel. 

Superb and inspired by Goddess Ayesha, this wonderful dish consists of the perfect blend of puffed rice, red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, sprouted mung beans, chick pea crisps flavoured in tamarind and coriander chutney.

There is nowhere else in Montreal to find such astounding dishes that are light yet filling and oh so healthy.

Ashley's is Awesome

I could go on and on about other dishes I have eaten here; suffice it to say Ashley always has healthy surprises. Whether you’re from Montreal or Timbuktu, you must eat here. How many times can you tell someone, you just tasted gluten-free fava bean crust and you really really liked it? Where else can you boast about biting into a chocolate beet brownie with organic chocolate truffle and roasted hazelnuts? 

                                         

By the way, did I mention there’s a class-A wine list and bar?

Menu prices are low. That’s another plus why the entire family can enjoy this place, and there are weekend brunches. 

Ashley’s is located at 5942 Sherbrooke ouest, Montreal, H4A 1X7.

Call (514) 369-7566.

BISTRO ON THE AVENUE

Taste Perfection in a Exquisite Setting

It’s rare to find a restaurant whose dishes are so seductively sublime, it’s able to reach the highest calibre of flavour purity. But Bistro on the Avenue has succeeded in doing this. By refusing to compromise on cuisine authenticity, its modern creations attain palette-pleasing paradise without excess. Simply put, you won’t want to eat anywhere else after you enter this den of delicious dishes. Cuisine class cooked with gourmet goodness. That’s what you’ll discover at Bistro on the Avenue.

Opening December 3^rd last year – thanks to owner Encan Obana – this remarkable restaurant quickly overtook 30 others – earning the rank of second best in the upscale area of Westmount, Quebec, where it is located.

                                                   Enjoy the glitter
As soon as you enter, you instantly feel special sitting amidst the royal-like Parisian decor. A stunning crystal chandelier glitters overhead, and on the walls - delicate crystal sconces are reflected in the floor to ceiling mirrors. This is neo-classical beauty basking within soft grey walls. Yet there isn’t a trace of pretension here.

A unique team of chefs produce pleasure on your plate
It all starts with the smiling waiters, who carry the spirit of Bistro’s truly caring staff. Most important, the team of four chefs have something so many restaurant chefs don’t: they are all team palette-players; they work together to bring their bi-monthly rotational menu to the peak of taste perfection.

 

Head chef, Bulgarian-born Nelly Nikola, a recent graduate of Montreal’s École de Métier, who has just returned from exploring Costa Rica’s cuisine in a 3-week stint working with the illustrious chef Randy Siles, is constantly on the look-out for freshness in produce, originality and new ideas. “We consult together, so we learn from one another. For example, Columbian talent, Johnny Miranda is a third generation family chef with over 20 years experience cooking all over the world. Our sommelier is from Afghanistan, and of course our Montreal chef inputs tremendously.”

Nelly stressed how much she values local produce. “Each dish we serve is an example of the team’s philosophy.  But locally, choose the main dish and marry the herbs without overwhelming the basic beauty of taste. Everyone has a different palette, so flexibility while maintaining freshness and taste balance is so important. We never mix lots of ingredients in one dish.”

Simplicity Creates Stunning Surprises
My friend and I recently discovered the place while casually strolling along Greene Avenue. I loved the bistro’s elegant interior. Would the food match such beauty?  I had the bacon, caramelized onion with spinach omelette for breakfast, and to date, I have never tasted such a divine omelette. It was thick, not watery or greasy. The melted Gouda cheese was generously applied, yet this omelette was not bulky or overcooked. It was exceptional. My companion ordered the strawberry, banana crepe swarming in warm chocolate, He is a crepe connoisseur, so when he raved it was indeed the finest to ever enter his mouth, I was impressed. We decided to return the following week to try some of the lunch offerings.

Unsurpassable Taste and Texture

We delved into several dishes from the menu. The result?  Never in my life have I ever had such fine tasting food. Bear in mind, I have been sent to France as a food critic, and I can honestly say, what I tasted there can’t compare to the taste pleasure at Bistro. Maybe, it’s because, here, they do not drown the dishes in sauces, and overcook the main staple, hoping perhaps that somehow presentation will supplant essential true-to-taste that Bistro on the Avenue has awesomely mastered.
I ordered the pasta with braised beef; it was mixed with home-made wide Pappardelle pasta. Very nice indeed. I also ordered the brisket whose sweetness enhanced the tenderly grilled generous portion of meat. I totally loved the veal picatta. It was flavoured in lemon juice, with white wine, capers, garlic and butter. This was a favourite for me, but it tied with the amazingly brilliant grilled chicken. So tender, so delectable, so perfectly flavoured and delicately balanced in lemon juice. On to another goodie: the shrimp burger. It was a pretty-looking paddy sporting a touch of coriander. Again, another taste bud winner!

 

I’m a frank food critic, so when I tried to find something wrong with a dish, I couldn’t. Something more to gush over was the service: on both occasions, it was superbly appealing, extremely patient and attentive.

Oh, Sweet Excellence… to sip and savour
Wines galore and so much more… at your table or at the bar. Bistro on the Avenue has a cute, unobtrusive bar at the entrance. It boasts an amazing collection of alcohol (over 36 kinds of vodka to mention just some of the varieties to imbibe) and a wine selection of over 50 international kinds. I had the 2015 Bourgogne Aligoté – a smooth white that harmonized with my shrimp burger; my companion ordered the interesting 2014 red Italian cuvée Ripasso. We ended the meal, sharing a banana crème brûlé, undercoated in delectable melted chocolate. It was deliciously sinful, but I was in heaven!

Every Monday, Bistro on the Avenue features Ladies’ Night with an awesome assortment of martinis. Tuesday nights are all-you-can-eat tartare, and Wednesday is all-you-can eat mussels.

Bistro on the Avenue’s address is:

1362 Greene Ave, Westmount, QC H3Z 2A5

Phone: (514) 939-6451

Email them at: info@bistroontheavenue.com

The website is: bistroontheavenue.com