Under a Red Roof

Montreal III

August 26, 2012 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Traveling by Colleen | Permalink

For my final post on Montreal, welcome to our home away from home, Rue Tourville, tiny and easy to miss.

A cool painting hanging on the wall of our rented abode and one of the highlights of the trip: CIDER! This is ice cider, some of which is made from apples allowed to freeze on the tree before fermentation, while others are made from juice that is allowed to freeze. In either case, it is delicious. The hubster and I decided it is the port of apple ciders, sweet and kind of potent, meant for slow sipping (or pouring over ice cream!). In addition to this rather fancy bottle, I also nearly drank my weight in regular hard cider (dry not sweet), though to call it regular is a shame, because damn, Canadians really have a way with it, and as a big fan and consumer (second only to my love for whiskey), I feel I can say this with some authority.

More shots of our abode. Silly and a tad glamorous at the same time.

Saint Zotique, a neighborhood jewel.

Red mail boxes. Classic.

These are the buildings in the neighborhood.

Place Saint Henri Metro Station, dreamy.

He played Led Zeppelin in the most unexpectedly beautiful way, and I felt lucky to hear it.

Cafe Saint Henri, really good coffee in divine light.

The Marche Atwater, a very cool public market reminiscent of Seattle’s Pike Place, though this seems to be strictly for food,

like dark chocolate cake,

and macaroons. The pink was my favorite. I like it when pretty and yummy collide.

And then poutine (twice: once the traditional way, the other with spicy peppers and sausage, the best), with beer for the hubster and cider for me, but you saw that coming, didn’t you?

Winter is coming…

Merci mille fois, chere Montreal!

Tags: Montreal, Traveling

Montreal II

August 26, 2012 in Eating, Exploring, Traveling by Colleen | Permalink

Bonjour de Montreal! We’re at Faberge, a super yummy breakfast spot that we would have fallen head over heels for even if we didn’t happen to know the awesome chef, Greg’s cousin (once removed), Aubrey. We had the best fried chicken and waffles. I say that with a sad face, I might add, because it’s so dang far. We need to get to work on a local solution. Stat!

With full bellies, we spy some fabulous roof toppers on our way to Mont Royal, a beautiful Frederick Law Olmstead Park. For Portlanders not in the know, he’s responsible for Laurelhurst, too!

A very green alley with the requisite pigeon.

Monument to Jacques Cartier. He arrived in Montreal in 1535.

Montreal and the Saint Lawrence River from Mont Royal.

A hop, skip, and a jump away is the Montreal Olympic Stadium.

Quite possibly, the most beautiful mural I’ve ever seen.

L’Ecole Nationale de Theatre on Rue Laurier, Mile-End

Richard Morin, Artist

A benefit to speaking the language. This says, “The cow that farts.” Cheeky!

Oh dear, welcome to Cacao 70, aka chocolate nirvana. Every kind of chocolate. Every kind of way. I’m looking to the side because she is bringing more! There were waffles, chocolate fondue, chocolate beads with crunchy middles, a little chocolate shake, strawberries, bananas, and that weird thing on the right? Where we roasted marshmallows, of course! Oh, and right when you sit down, they bring a tiny mug of hot chocolate, just cuz. Sigh.

The Toi Moi et Cafe had a latte nearly as big as my head and really good food.

Beautiful ubiquity.

The Canadian Center for Architecture!

This fan was overwhelmed by the collection of architectural drawings and models,

and deeply saddened that they didn’t allow photographs, save of the building itself. But I won, anyhow, because the poster advertising the James Stirling exhibit had precisely what I wanted, so a photo of a photo. Not too shabby.

Tags: Montreal, Traveling

Not too Hot to Trot…

August 19, 2012 in Eating, Exploring, Friendship by Colleen | Permalink

Okay, step one. Open this link. Press play. Repeat. That’s the vibe I had all weekend, chill and happy. Because life is sweet!

Especially when eating Salted Caramel and Cinnamon Snickerdoodle ice cream on a sweltering August afternoon.

Or hanging with Milo.

Reading a book on the back porch (The True Deceiver, by Tove Jansson), oh yeah, that’s it, too!

Enjoying kombucha culture with Bert? Yup. Though Lori is not impressed, yet.

Cutting loose and driving like a badass, nearly lapping the granny, er, dude, ahead of me. Good times, despite it not being enviro-friendly.

Eating a malasada.

Listening to Hawaiian music at Uwajimaya

with some of our favorite peeps.

Not too hot to trot, not too hot at all!

Mon Oncle

August 13, 2012 in Drinking, Eating, Exploring, Loving by Colleen | Permalink

My uncle paid us a visit this weekend, one of those run and dash and laugh and talk all over the town kind of trips, summer idealized. The light was like a fil-um with three lovely stars. It was hot and blue, and we couldn’t stop smiling. We took in the sights and a beautiful car. We ate at new-to-us places and visited old ones with very new eyes. I baked a lemon slice pie, and it smiled at me, grateful to be part of something so magical, three days that were beyond grand.

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Portland, Restaurants

Mmm…

July 18, 2012 in Cooking + Baking, Eating, Watching by Colleen | Permalink

A quick and easy cake for summer, with raspberries from our own patch!

Raspberry Sponge Cake

2 eggs

1 cup flour

1 t baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2/3 cup fresh or frozen raspberries

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar

milk

1/4 t almond extract

Cake:

Sift flour and baking powder; set aside. Beat eggs in a medium bowl until thick, 3-4 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating another 4-5 minutes, until very fluffy. Add the almond extract and flour mixture; beat on low until combined.

Heat milk and butter in a small saucepan until butter melts. Add to batter, beating until combined. Pour into a greased 8″ or 9″ square pan. Scatter the berries over the top. I think blueberries would work, too, something light, as they will sink to the bottom, so be sure your pan is greased really well. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan.

Glaze:

Sift powdered sugar into a small bowl. Add almond extract. Add milk until glaze is thin enough to spread in a layer over the top of the cake, 1-2 tablespoons.

Enjoy!