Wednesday, June 20

food & freedom holiday in montreal

i have been home for a few days and that is how long it has taken me to calm down after my withdrawal from montreal, i had that good of a time.

( i hardly picked up my camera but i got a few shots)

it started when Tzurit picked me up on the hill, i love how much she loved the animals, it was the first time we met in person and i was nervous a little but as soon as she said can i pet the dogs i knew we would be alright. as we set off for montreal she put two maybe three huge brown paper handle bags from her amazing bakery in my lap, i was clearly going to start my food and freedom trip before we even left the driveway.

we drove through the  vermont country side as we chatted about our lives each asking one another questions, laughing, pondering and more laughing. we arrived in montreal and went up to our hotel room, then quickly set out for dinner the first night was one food disaster after the next but we still smiled, after all we where in montreal! the next morning we headed to Le Cartet for breakfast, i having my first baguette or bread of any kind since march and i enjoyed it fully! then on our way out Tzurit picked up chocolate since Le Carter has walls & walls of chocolate. she bought enough to to feed an entire nation but in her words, in case we are ever stranded on a highway  do you see why i love her so!  from there we went to Olivier Potier i spoke about this bakery before, we ordered our coffees, picked out many things from the bakery shelves and sat outside. the staff that took care of us was the sweetest guy he treated us like royalty and we kinda felt like we were for a moment. we sat outside tasting everything from financiers, almond croissants, apple tartatin and more, when i went inside to ask for a bag for what we did not eat, our kind waiter  shared such kind words with me to the point i hardly made it back to the table before big tears fell as i recounted to tzurit what he had shared with me. from there we decided to walk stopping in and out of stores before sore feet has us looking for a metro and when we did it turned out to be a maze, the longest subway station walk, we laughed so hard, took pictures. we stopped in more bakeries and stores before heading to the hotel room for a quick rest before going to Tzurit birthday dinner at Laloux, which was beautifully and simply decorated.

The next morning we started out at Olive Gourmand, one of my favorite places, can i just say how delicious everything is, Tzurit, loved it as well proof is we ate there two more times.  one afternoon, Aran who had just flown in for a workshop joined us along with mayssam the workshop organizer.  Tzurit and i headed to Mile End to look around and shop, we stopped into montreal famous bagel shop
St- Viateur and had bagels right from the wood fire, then coffee at Sparrow, okay there was a cast iron apple crumble too and a stop at my favorite vintage store Citizen vintage ( posted here before) where Tzurit scored a great jacket! then we discovered a little drogheria fine, a woman with an italian old world sexiness to her, a small kitchen with large pots creating her own sauces, olive oils and such, so perfect a place both in conception and details. That evening we had dinner with aran, mayssam at 400 coups it was delicious, i had a fresh cucumber soup i will never forget and the very talented pastry chef  Patrice Demers and owner spoiled us the restaurant it self is gorgeous! it was so great seeing aran in my hometown i think we both felt a freedom we are not used too because  usually we have a schedule & work to keep.

the next morning i picked up my mum and brought her back where she got to meet aran & tzurit what a treat this was. we had breakfast at  Le Carter, my last toasted baguette and more chocolate purchases by aran, my mum and tzurit.

I had one of the nicest times, felt very honored to have been invited by Tzurit, to be able to get to know her while having  big belly laughs, genuine moments of conversation.  instantly before we had even met in person felt like we where good friends and now i know for sure. Oh and incase you are looking for the bakery of your dreams Tzurit  has created it, twice-Tatte & Tatte Two

22 comments:

Cannelle Et Vanille said...

i love these images... can we go back soon? the food, the sunshine, the smell of old buildings, the accents...

shanna said...

So lovely. I want to live in this post.

Sanda Vuckovic Pagaimo said...

Looks amazing,hope to visit it once. Love you bag!!

Sweet Life Farm said...

Oh, Nadia, this sounds like the trip of my dreams… Such a special gift, time and laughter shared; a sweet way to celebrate your friend’s birthday. I can almost taste the delicious and exquisite food you were treated to. I loved hearing how naturally you and Tzurit found the rhythm of your friendship.

Though you took few pictures, the few you did take tell the story so beautifully. I adore the name “food & freedom” it is enough to inspire me to uproot from the farm for a few days. Thank you.

Tzurit said...

sweet friend, thank you so much for this lovely trip, it will forever be in my heart. Beautiful pictures. i Love you my friend! Tzurit.

mayssam @ Will Travel for Food said...

What a lovely post and your photos are gorgeous Nadia! it was so nice to meet you! Can't wait to see you all again! I miss you, Aran and Tzurit and am going through some major withdrawal symptoms right now! Come back soon, all of you!

sarah-jane down the lane said...

breaking bread with wonderful friends...how rich you all are...gorgeous pictures, felt like I was there at another table wishing I was sitting with you!

Sarah -x-

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful time filled with the best things...good friends, good food and a beautiful city. I really enjoyed seeing through your eyes. You always show the unexpected beauty in your photos ~

Sarah xo

Razmataz said...

Le Cartet is my favorite breakfast spot. 2 weeks til I have my breakfast there...I can;t wait...and that wall of chocolate..fabulous.

Jen said...

What a glorious trip--thank you for sharing. Wonderful pictures!

Ronnie said...

I'm glad you had a lovely time away! Also happy you're back (missed your posts) but sad for you that you're no longer in Montreal.
Ronnie xo

Juliana said...

Food and freedom... and friendship. These are the best trips! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Beauty in the eye of the beholder))))

kimberly said...

I can not WAIT to see it for myself!! It sounds absolutely divine~ So very happy you had such a wonderful time my friend.
xx

Anne said...

What a delightful collage of images! Found your charming blog via Country Weekend and will follow...

David @ Frenchie and the Yankee said...

Oh I cannot wait to go in August Nadia!
Thanks for the tips. And yes, Olive Gourmand is my favorite too.

Debie Grace said...

Beautiful, beautiful photos!! :)

Sharon Cheema said...

Your photos and words invite me to visit my hometown with new eyes, Nadia. Love the beauty and charm you see in the smae things I/we take for granted in Montreal.

the wild magnolia said...

it is a rare gift to enjoy a visit so much.

so happy for you.

Anile | Girlfriday said...

What a gorgeous post - I can really feel the positive energy of your getaway :) Sounds like such a wonderful time, reuniting with old friends and making new ones. Trips like this can energize a person for a long time afterwards! I grew up going to St-Viateur bagel almost every weekend, so I love that you stopped there :)

bellefleurdelis lotte said...

what a great post, and so many nice pictures from your holiday.

bellefleurdelis lotte said...

what a great post, and so many nice pictures from your holiday.