There are many reasons why like to shop at Carrefour Laval. The food court, for one, ranks as one of the best in Quebec as far as I am concerned.
I recently dropped by for a bite en route to a meeting and I came across the newest addition to the food court: New York Fries. It is a simple kiosk featuring hot dogs, French fries and poutine, but judging from the lineup it appears to have caught the fancy of passersby.
MONTRÉAL, March 18, 2020 – Restaurants, bars and cafés are closing all over the city as everyone does their best to exercise social distancing and flatten the curve in the wake of COVID-19. The operators and owners of these establishments often do not have the resources to continue paying their employees during this time and have been forced to lay off much of their workforce indefinitely. These workers now find themselves in financially precarious situations, unable to pay their bills and support their families.
In response, volunteers set up the Montreal Restaurant Workers Relief Fund (MRWRF) to provide emergency economic relief to restaurant employees who are facing economic hardship due to COVID-19. MRWRF will provide aid by transferring direct financial relief to eligible applicants.
“We started this fund because many of us are restaurant workers,” says founder Kaitlin Doucette. “I saw many of my colleagues terrified about even how to get groceries for self-isolation. I wanted to create a platform to share wealth for people who had a couple of dollars to contribute, so we could pool that and provide immediate financial relief to workers.”
Though many restaurant employees are eligible for and may eventually receive government aid, it is unclear when they will have access to these funds. MRWRF spoke with many hospitality workers who are unable to meet their immediate financial obligations and require urgent relief. This is why the fund will be transferring money to restaurant workers on a sliding scale of $50, $100 or $150 based on applicants’ self-identified needs. The funds are not meant to be an income replacement, but are intended to contribute to workers’ immediate and urgent needs such as groceries and medication or other health and personal hygiene products; this is a wealth-share program and is contribution-based.
MRWRF encourages people to apply to EI and other government programs for lost income and funds needed for non-urgent matters such as rent and utility bills.
For more information, please see the website for MRWRF here gf.me/u/xrjmvm
Les Montréalais se rallient pour offrir un fonds d’urgence
aux travailleurs-euses de la restauration
MONTRÉAL, Mars 18, 2020 – Les restaurants, bars et cafés ferment partout dans Montréal pour s’assurer de garder une distance sociale et aplanir la courbe. Les propriétaires et opérateurs de ces établissements n’ont ou n’auront plus les ressources nécessaires pour continuer à payer leurs employés et se verront dans l’obligations de se libérer de leur force de travail indéfiniment. Ces travailleurs-euses se retrouvent maintenant en situation de précarité, étant dans l’incapacité de payer leurs factures et de supporter leurs familles.
En réponse à cette situation, nous avons créé le Fonds de secours des travailleurs de la restauration pour offrir une aide financière d’urgence aux employés de la restauration qui font face à une détresse économique due au COVID-19. Le Fonds apportera une aide financière directe aux demandeurs éligibles.
« Nous avons lancé ce fonds parce que nous sommes nombreux à travailler dans la restauration », explique la fondatrice Kaitlin Doucette. « J’ai vu beaucoup de mes collègues terrifiés à l’idée de trouver des produits d’épicerie pour s’isoler. Je voulais créer une plate-forme pour partager la richesse des personnes qui avaient quelques dollars à donner, afin que nous puissions mettre cela en commun et fournir une aide financière immédiate aux travailleurs.»
Beaucoup d’employés de la restauration sont éligibles et recevront de l’aide gouvernementale, or il est actuellement impossible de savoir quand ces fonds seront disponibles et quel seront les montants compensatoires offerts. Nous avons parlé à de nombreux employés de cuisine et de salles qui nous affirment être dans l’incapacité immédiate d’atteindre leurs obligations financières et requièrent une aide d’urgence. Nous transférerons de l’argent aux employés de restauration à hauteur de 50$, 100$ ou 150$ basé sur les besoins personnels du demandeur. Ce fonds n’est pas là pour remplacer les salaires mais pour aider les demandeurs à obtenir ce dont ils ont besoin dans l’immédiat comme l’épicerie, les produits de premières nécessités et les médicaments.
Le Fonds encourage les travailleurs à appliquer à l’assurance-emploi et autres programmes gouvernementaux pour dess pertes de revenus.
Pour plus d’information, rendez-vous sur le site gf.me/u/xrjmvm
Pour requête media:
Jessica Cytryn (514) 513-5377
Kaitlin Doucette (438) 883-8456
restofundmtl@gmail.com
@mtlrwrf
The company will deliver prepared meals to the locations of their choice across Quebec
MONTREAL, March 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WeCook Meals, the Quebec leader in fresh, home-delivered, ready-to-eat meals, has announced that it is offering four weeks of free meals to 300 health-care employees across Quebec, namely beneficiary attendants, nurses and doctors. WeCook Meals, which already has a solid delivery network across Quebec, is using its online platform for this initiative.
“Given the unprecedented situation, we wanted to support health-care workers across Quebec in our own way. Giving them more than 7,200 nutritious and complete meals that are ready to eat in two minutes is our way of expressing our utmost respect and offering them a big thank-you,” said Étienne Plourde, Founder and CEO of WeCook Meals.
“I welcome this initiative, which will undoubtedly help many employees in the health-care system eat healthily and quickly at a time when we are all facing extremely busy work weeks,” said Dr. Pascal Laferrière-Langlois, Anesthesiologist at Hôtel-Dieu d’Arthabaska in Victoriaville.
“In the current environment, employees in the health-care sector need to maintain their energy and concentration levels more than ever, which means high-quality food. I heartily congratulate WeCook Meals for providing them with nutritious, complete meals when they need them most,” said Catherine Naulleau, Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist.
Ordering details
Doctors, nurses and beneficiary attendants who wish to receive free meals for four weeks must submit proof of employment in the Guardian Angels Program section at the bottom of the WeCook Meals homepage at https://www.wecookmeals.ca. A unique coupon code will be sent to them so that they can place their orders online.
The first 300 people will be able to take advantage of the offer, and the meals will be delivered to the locations of their choice throughout Quebec.
About WeCook Meals
Founded in 2013, WeCook Meals (formerly Nutrition Fit Plus) is the Quebec leader in fresh, home-delivered, ready-to-eat meals. The Company’s delivery network extends across Quebec and Ontario and includes about 100 pick-up locations. With more than 150 employees working at its food production facilities in Saint-Hyacinthe and Dorval, WeCook Meals serves close to 20,000 customers through its online sales platform and prepares nearly 670,000 meals a year. WeCook Meals has 65,000 followers on Facebook and 26,000 on Instagram.
Media relations:
Mélanie Tardif, CPA, CMA
mtardif@rppelican.ca
514-229-6199
When I found out recently that the two Taverne 1909 signé St-Hubert restaurants at Place Bell and the downtown Bell Centre had come under the “wing” of St-Hubert I made it a priority to experience it with a friend. We did just that before a Rocket game and it was an experience I hope to replicate downtown.
Park Restaurant (https://www.parkresto.com) opened on Victoria Avenue in Westmount in 2012. For matters I cannot properly explain, it took me eight years to finally experience one of the city’s most talked-about dining establishments.
Joseph Cheaib was 10 years old when he first arrived in Montreal with his family from Lebanon. One of nine children, it became clear pretty quickly that his career path would end up involving the food industry.
It was the Cheaib family who started the hugely successful ethnic food retailer Marché Adonis. From a small store on Faillon Street, it has grown to become a powerhouse chain across Quebec and Ontario. In 2011 it was purchased by supermarket giant Metro.
Montrealers are starting to get spoiled vis-à-vis the food court experience.
First came TimeOut Market Montreal at Eaton Centre, featuring 16 eateries, three full bars, a cooking school, a demo kitchen and a shop brimming with goods and local artisans.
Now comes Le Cathcart Restaurants and Biergarten, a $1 billion investment from Ivanhoé Cambridge.
I was invited to both openings and to say I was impressed is an understatement.
As La Queue de Cheval Steakhouse and Raw Bar located at 1181 Avenue de la Montagne, marks 21 years in business, owner Peter Morentzos has some exciting news to announce.
In early 2020, the Q will open up in Toronto at 224 King Street in the base of a glitzy condo building. Morentzos will tell me more soon so stay tuned to this space, but the prime location is right next to the Royal Alexandra Theatre in the very heart of Toronto’s entertainment district.
I first met Antoine Zammit when he was a teenager attending Laurier Macdonald High School in St. Léonard. It appeared, even back then, that he had some true entrepreneurial talents. We kept in touch over the years via Facebook and email, but when he decided to open his own restaurant in Anjou he extended an invitation for me to come as a guest and give it a try.
The beautiful DoubleTree by Hilton Montreal Airport Hotel in Dorval opened towards the end of 2018 and not only has occupancy been high, but for the better part of the past year people I know were giving rave reviews about both its restaurant and bar known as the Sephamore.
What does the word “Sephamore” mean? This is the person you see on the tarmac of an airport guiding a plane by waving flags to its proper parking spot upon landing.
By Mike Cohen
Marché de l’Ouest (https://marchedelouest.com) features indoor and outdoor shops, with a large variety of horticultural products, meat, chicken, fresh fish, cheeses, tea, breads and pastries.
With over 36 retailers, the Marché De L’Ouest is the go-to place for the ultimate shopping experience and is considered a one-stop-shop in Dollard-des-Ormeaux. In the summer, you can visit the beautiful outdoor farmer’s market with fresh fruits and vegetables.
I recently spent a few hours at the place, starting off with a great breakfast at Rôtisserie Gicanu. Owner George Housakos, working with his wife Bozica and son Nicholas, is on the job seven days a week from 9 am to 6 pm. It has been a labor of love for 15 years. The first thing he does is get those trademark chickens spinning on the rotisserie and prepares for all the regulars to order their club sandwich and other favorites from the menu. I was impressed with how quickly and expertly he made me some bacon and eggs, with a pair of sausages, two slices of toast and tomato. “We do catering as well,” said George, who was a furrier before he got into the food business. I will be back to sample the chicken.
Next door I went to say hello to Antonio Russo at Piada. The specialty here is an authentic “Piadina,” an Italian flatbread sandwich that comes from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. I am also told he makes a mean cappuccino. At Coucou Café baristas Lina Jin and Suhan Shi specialize in latté art.
No time to cook? Eatz Chez Vouz offers healthy prepared meals! I chatted with Michele, who guided me through the wide array of appetizing side dishes.
The Marché even has a new concept store specializing in the “Keto diet” called “Ketotteria.” Check it out!
What a pleasure it was meet to Franco at Hansel & Bagel. “We are the oldest bagel store on the West Island, dating back to 1981,” he said while watching employee Nathan pull some piping hot bagels from the brick oven.
Boulangerie Patisserie MDO had some pretty yummy items in the display window.
Looking for delicious sausages? Saucisser de L’Ouesthas over 60 types of sausages to choose from– they also have gluten-free options!
Boucherie La Préférence always has the freshest meats! They can truly “meat” your needs! Cavallaro is always ready to serve you – whether it be Italian pizza, various cheeses, cold cuts and many more Italian imported products. Yannick Fromagerie offers a variety of specialty cheeses. Boulangerie
Le Marché de L’Ouest offers an array of flavours and multicultural dishes from various countries; Japan (Japango Sushi), Lebanon (Feuille de Vigne), Hong Kong (Szechuan Supreme), Thailand (Thai Noodles & Sushi), Greece (Marché Pêche Pêche) Peru (Enjoy the experience of Peruvian flavours at the new concept restaurant called “Passion Ceviche”. where Chef Jose will serve you as you are in a cozy place of his beloved city of Lima in Peru!)
and Italy (Boulangerie & Patisserie MDO). From the latter were told that Alfonso Salvo’s cannolis are THE talk of the West Island!
Première Moisson (www.premieremoisson.com) is also a part of the Marché retailers! Did you know that they are the first bakery to use local flour without any chemical input in their bread? Check out Bulk Barn for every kind of candy and chocolate you can think of!
You can even make your own wine at “Vin Go.”
Find everything you need at the Dollarama! There is also a specialized pet store that is ready to help you with all your needs: “Bailey Blu.” Need flowers? Head to the florist. Looking for jewelry?
Take your family and friends out for dinner at our various restaurants: Madison’s Bar & Grill, Dunn’s, Guaca & Molé, Restaurant Panama, Ben & Florentine’s, Mandy’s, Paradise Kosher, La Verita and Jukebox Burgers! Seasonally, the outdoor fruit and vegetable selection is superb! And yes, there is even an IGA.
Marché de L’Ouest is indeed the ultimate gourmet destination, located at 11600 De Salaberry, in Dollard-des-Ormeaux in the heart of West Island. Log on to get the complete list of merchants and much more. https://marchedelouest.com or call 514-685-0183.
I have lived most of my life in the City of Côte Saint-Luc so when it came time to go to a restaurant close by for dinner or pickup, the Famous Delly Boys always won out. Owners Sonny and Chico made some great smoked meat sandwiches and had other signature items such as the pizza burger. The iconic spot shut its doors for good in 2015 after 53 years in business.
Three years ago Emmanuel Darmond purchased the kosher Sorsky’s Deli at the Quartier Cavendish food court and he renamed it the Deli Boyz. “It is a nostalgic name,” Emmanuel told me when I stopped by recently for a bite. “The spelling is different and we do not use the word ‘Famous,’ and we think it has caught on.”
On December 15, 1999, John Drymousis and wife Carmela opened their first Lesvos Restaurant on Mount Royal Street, at the corner of Brébeuf.
John had been a waiter for years, but always dreamed of having his own dining establishment. Carmela was not in that industry at all, having earned a living the previous 12 years at the credit bureau of the Royal Bank of Canada. A decade earlier the couple had relocated to Fort Myers, Florida, where John had been offered a senior role by some Montreal businessmen at a 250 seat family restaurant. At the time their only child, daughter Mia, was a toddler.
I think one of the first food items I learned how to make myself was a grilled cheese sandwich. We had one of those grillers at home and all I needed was a slice of cheese, two pieces of bread and some margarine. Over the years I learned different variations: buttering up two sides of bread, slipping in the cheese and making it on the frying pan and or toasting two pieces of bread, applying the margarine then sticking it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
I have been to Kahnawake a few times in my life, but it was my curiosity over a tempting relatively new restaurant called Two O Seven Steak and Seafood which closed the deal for me to venture over the Mercier Bridge for dinner one night. I was joined by my friend Mel Leitman, his wife Connie Dorfman and his sister-in-law Marilyn Silverman.
