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.
MTL Resto Rap
Every neighborhood has a cozy dependable pizzeria in Montreal. The West Island has a handful of great pizzerias. I discovered Athena Pizzeria in Pierrefonds-Roxboro close to Boulevard Sources. This fine eatery is no stranger to the loyal patrons of the area. If you bowl at Bowl-O-Drome, you will most likely grab a sub or pizza at Athena Pizzeria.
La Molisana is renowned for its fine Italian cuisine. This includes homemade pasta, veal, seafood and authentic pizza baked in their splendid wood oven. 40 years later the restaurant thrives.
Next spring, Restaurant Calzone will celebrate 25 years of successful operations in Kirkland. This is a family-run business, with Tony Spinelli, his son Mike and son-in-law Shayne Fuller at the helm.
Blandino is a neighbourhood Italian-inspired seasonal brasserie using fresh market produce with local inspiration. This staple Midtown restaurant is named and pays homage to Carmelo Blandino.
The good folks of Le Burger Week send us some burgers from B12 Burger for Le Burger Week 2022 which ran from September 1-14. Our food delivered by Doordash.
I dropped by the new Wellington Bagel Sandwicherie recently. Chef Derek Curzi and his team offer the best gourmet sandwiches on the block, such as mouthwatering porchetta, Montreal smoked meat, the famous Wellington beef, crispy chicken cutlet, tender juicy chicken parmigiana, their iconic Chicago all-beef hot dog, freshly baked in-house pastries and always hot out of the oven bagels.
"Copper Branch is the largest vegan restaurant brand in the world, and we are happy to welcome it into the Foodtastic Family," said Peter Mammas, President, and CEO of Foodtastic. "We look forward to working with all our new franchisees and emerging through this pandemic with a revitalized leader in the plant-powered restaurant space. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of acquiring quality Canadian brands with growth potential."
Jonathan Dresner, who is behind the concepts of Notre Boeuf de Grace and Pigeon Café, has another winner on his hands in Burger Fiancé.