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Fine dining finds a home at the new TAG E-Karting and Amusement Center in St. Thérèse

    Notable Quebec race car driver Alex Tagliani recently opened his new  $18 million TAG E-Karting and Amusement Center at Plaza St. Thérèse… The Center features nine activities including a combination of the multi-level layout of three electric karting tracks, a laser tag game arena, six ax-throwing lanes, six bowling lanes, a Triotech 7D interactive cinema, a multi-sensory virtual reality experience, numerous modern arcades, and an interactive children’s floor—all under one roof.  And it was all founded by Tagliani, the owner of TAG Autosport and a  large partnership with a number of entrepreneurs well-known in the business sphere.

    Mike Cohen experiences the lightning-fast formula at the growing Pizzeria Bros chain

      Since Pizzeria Bros debuted on Côte des Neiges a year ago I have driven and walked by umpteen times. I finally stopped by to sample the food and thanks to team leader Jared Maraj and his co-workers Mikael Loyat and Harjot Singh I came away with an excellent first impression. This chain can best be compared to the Subways of pizza. However in this case Pizzeria Bros provides a fresh thin crust pizza with quality ingredients in a quick-service setting.   The dough, sauces and dressings are all homemade and pizzas cooked in high heat ovens in only 90 seconds.

      Miranda Medeiros tries 49th Parallel coffee and Lucky’s Doughnuts

        A beloved coffee franchise from British Columbia makes its way to Montreal. The 49th Parallel opened its doors in Old Montreal this summer with delicious and sustainably sourced coffee along with to-die-for doughnuts.

        The 49th Parallel serves a diverse coffee menu using beans from their own cutting-edge roastery. Not only is this spot a no-brainer for a good cup of coffee but it is the scene for some premiere gourmet doughnuts made fresh throughout the day. These doughnuts are hand-crafted culinary delights from Vancouver-based Lucky’s Doughnuts.

        Mike Cohen and Tony Medeiros wax nostalgic at Cattlemans Retro via the Q-ZN ghost kitchen

          Q-ZN, as it is cleverly called, recently opened in the industrial sector of St. Laurent. When Dan and his partners, Jason Nishmas, Jason Martin and Steve Merling, were putting the concept together and approaching restaurants he began waxing nostalgic about Cattlemans. Before you could say “pepperoni,” a plan was in place. He approached the owners of Quebec Pizzeria in Laval (order.quebecpizzeria.ca) and with the blessing of the Blutman family, he gave them the Cattleman’s (now reborn without the apostrophe to please the language police and known as Cattlemans Retro) pizza recipe.  The Papa family from Quebec Pizzeria nailed it.

          Miranda Medeiros attends the grand opening of Benny & Co. at 201 St-Jacques Street in the Old Port

            Benny & Co. is the triumph of generations of hard-working Quebecers. The seeds of this local franchise were first planted back in the 1940s where the Benny family would raise chicken on their family farm where they began making their renowned rotisserie chicken. Using their own family recipe, their delectable chicken was then shared with the public when they opened their first restaurant in 1960. Since then, generations of Benny’s have taken up the helm and now have expanded the farm into a 68-branch franchise, with the newest location in Montreal’s Old Port.

            Duc de Lorraine: Mike Cohen gets a small taste of France at the oldest French pastry shop in Montreal

              Every so often I wind up at a culinary establishment where I ask myself the question, “How is it possible that I have never been here before?”

              Such is precisely the case for the iconic Duc de Lorraine, located on Côte des Neiges Road just off Queen Mary. Since 1952, this truly magical spot has served French pastries, seasonal cakes, viennoiseries and macarons, using traditional recipes by great French pastry chefs. Victoria Sørensen became the owner 12 years ago and she clearly has the magic touch for this is a restaurant, catering service, dessert emporium and a pastry shop all rolled into one.

              Benny&Co. products available exclusively in IGA grocery stores

                Benny&Co. is proud to announce the launch of its products available exclusively in the 296 IGA grocery stores across Quebec.

                Many consumers live in the age of convenience. For some families going to a restaurant can be a tall order. Sometimes restaurants such as Benny&Co. are not located close to their homes. Quebec is the rotisserie chicken capital for food lovers. Benny&Co. a family-run business is expanding to meet demand the appetite for chicken. Culturally, chicken is a safe food for many ethnic groups. The chicken business is growing stronger in the past year in the USA as well as in the Quebec market. There are many cooking options with chicken. The chicken line is great economically. There are many supper ideas and time-saving recipes that will keep everybody happy.

                Tony Medeiros Interviews Sara Bilodeau From 49th Parallel Café

                  Coffee connoisseurs rejoice, Montreal is about to get a new café from British Columbia. 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters has chosen to expand outside BC and picked Montreal as the first café expansion. MtlRestoRap’s Tony Medeiros had the opportunity to interview Sara Bilodeau the Café Director for 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters Quebec. She is very excited about the new location in Old Montreal this summer. 49th Parallel is going to be a very popular destination for coffee lovers. In addition to their coffee, the brand is bringing with them their oh-so-delicious Lucky’s Doughnuts (Beignes Lucky’s)! With mouthwatering doughnuts and irresistible coffee, Montreal’s first-ever 49th Parallel Café is set to become Old Port’s new go-to café this summer!

                  Mike Cohen celebrates Arahova Souvlaki’s 50th anniversary with dinner and a little bit more

                    Back in 1966, Christos Kalogrias came to Canada, leaving his native Greek village of Arahova. He was only 26 years of age and had some family here. His first job was in manufacturing, earning 95 cents an hour. In order to build some savings, he relocated to Thompson, Manitoba to work in a nickel and mining company, returning to Montreal in 1971 with enough money to open his own restaurant on St. Viateur Street. In June, Arahova Souvlaki celebrated its 50th anniversary.

                    Mike Cohen lands in burger heaven at Notre Boeuf De Grâce

                      The appropriately dubbed Notre Boeuf De Grâce (https://www.notreboeufdegrace.ca) was an instant success and expansion happened quickly today there are nine locations (NDG, Downtown, St. Laurent, Pointe-Claire, Laval, Terrebonne, Le Village, Le Plateau and Saint-Jérôme) and one more in Blainville on the way later this summer.

                      Mike Cohen samples some selections from Pizzéria No. 900 Napolitaine

                        One of the truly growing pizza chains in Quebec is Pizzéria No. 900 Napolitaine. There are now 25 locales across the province and if you are making a pickup you will not have long to wait as the pizzas are cooked in their special ovens in a remarkable 90 seconds. The oven is at 900 degrees Fahrenheit, hence the name of the chain.

                        In Memoriam: Mel Leitman

                          The team at MtlRestoRap is in mourning following the sudden passing of our sales coordinator Mel Leitman, on Monday, March 22, 2021.

                          Mel joined MtlRestoRap in the fall of 2019. He was a perfect fit given his endless array of contacts in the restaurant industry. He was the beloved soulmate of Connie Dorfman; cherished father of Allison Dorfman (Rob), Heidi Dorfman (Jason), Rob Leitman (Harriet), Jeff Leitman (Mia), Tracy Leitman (Craig); treasured Zaidie of Alexa and Chloe Hamou; Brooklyn and Jax Toledano; Jenny and Madelaine Leitman; Elizabeth Leitman; Hudson, Cooper and Delaney Coulls; devoted Brother of Jack (Lily), Larry (Marie) and Patti Leitman; and brother-in-law of Marilyn and the late Perry Silverman; son of the late Ruth and the late Al Leitman and son-in-law of the late Ben and the late Sylvia Silverstein.

                          Glenn J. Nashen discovers more than a good dinner at Casa Grecque in Chomedey

                            I was looking for a tasty, family-friendly take-out dinner and Casa Grecque in Chomedey was my next pick. My family and I love plentiful Greek salads and tangy appetizers, particularly during long, cold Quebec winters when delicious, plump red tomatoes are not in abundance. What I found at this spacious, well-decorated restaurant in Chomedey at the corner of St. Martin Blvd. and Daniel-Johnson Blvd. was far more than I could have imagined.