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Mike Cohen

Mike Cohen, born and raised in Côte Saint-Luc, has long been active in the community as a volunteer, journalist, and consultant. He profiles restaurants in Montreal and beyond. mikecohen.ca

Finally some good news for Montrealers on the smoked meat front via Dizz’s Bagel and Deli

    Dizz’s (originally a REAL Bagel) was a client of Quebec Smoked Meat. Steve Dizgun came up with an idea and he got on the phone with Billy Berenholc, owner of the nearly seven-decade-old Lesters Deli on Bernard Street in Outremont, as well as Mr. Smoked Meat, a purveyor of upscale smoked meat in the wholesale sector. Dizz’s offers you a smoked hot smoked meat sandwich between two slices of rye bread, with mustard, and a soft drink for $13.99.

    The iconic Zak’s Diner opens its fifth location in the trendy  Westboro Village area of Ottawa

      Readers of my stories on Ottawa will be very familiar with the fact Zak’s Diner has become a true “go-to” stop in the Nation’s capital. Established in 1986 by John Borsten and some partners, one of whom had a son named Zak, there are now five separate locations for this ’50s-themed eatery: the happening Byward Market, Elgin Street, Carleton Place, Kanata and now the Westboro Village area at the spot that previously housed the once popular Savoy Brasserie.

      Lloyd 5 @ 7 at the Marriott Château Champlain is a top choice for Montréal En Lumière

        Montréal En Lumière takes place  February 16 to March 5, 2023, under the theme Discover the best of Montreal in winter! While some 40 Montréal restaurants and venues will be welcoming international and local chefs and producers,  I wish to commend the team at the Marriott Château Champlain for giving the media an advance preview of the special menu at the still relatively new and very swank Lloyd Restaurant. 

        Pizza Salvatoré revels in the success of an extraordinary expansion plan

          Pizza has always been one of my favorite dishes, so when I was driving along Sources Blvd. in Dollard des Ormeaux recently and spotted a storefront at Centennial Plaza with the name “Salvatore,” I was naturally curious. Was this a new take-out place?

          Upon some quick research, I was surprised to learn that this is a growing chain in Quebec, with 61 Pizza Salvatoré franchises and counting.  Thus far there are a handful of locations in and near the  Greater Montreal area, including  Dollard, St. Leonard, Laval, Repentigny, Terrebonne and Mascouche, as well as the South Shore. They have expanded to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with Ontario (London) next on their radar screen.

          Rock’n Deli chain continues to grow and featuring Halal certified smoked meat

            In 1992 Vicky Arghiriu and Ihab Kolta were a newly married couple working for competing companies, Bell Mobility and Rogers. That did not sit well with their superiors and they were let go. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Family members encouraged them to start their own business. So, when they learned that a small restaurant called Deli Connaisseur at Alexis Nihon Plaza was for sale they took the leap into an entirely new venture.