Canadiana: Sunny Montreal Weekned

The exile continues through March as I brave the seems-like-forever-winter solo in Montreal. My days consist of listening to CBC radio, watching lone flakes of snow fluttering through big bay windows, cooking up food projects and snapping pictures of different landscapes. With cheese making on my mind I fantasize about change. Upcoming adventures and the spring season to come...

Yesterday was an exceptionally beautiful day. After spending the night in Mile End (home of Mordechai Richler, Leonard Cohen and Schwartz's Deli) and lamenting the loss of an hour of sleep, my 2 locally based sisters and their gentlemen, planned a brunch adventure and neighborhood jaunt. Here are some of the highlights:

The day begins with my favorite meal. Breakfast. Drinking cup after cup of mediocre coffee we reread the menu, taking forever to figure out what to order. In typical Rotstein fashion, the sisters are debating who will share what with whom and who gets the sweet vs. savory meal. Omelet? Blintzes? French toast or pancakes?
[There is nothing better than the smell of frying onions.]



After a starchy Following the starchy beige breakfast (delicious but lacking in any fresh vegetables or fruits), we head out to explore, bright sun pouring into the street. A plethora of vintage clothing stores and funky boutiques line the hopping side streets along Mount Royal Avenue. I spotted (for when the $$ returns) some fabulous Montreal t-shirts decked out with awesome graphic depictions of the Orange Julep, Poutine, and various Mtl street scenes.

Bagels. I won't go into the long drawn out and uninteresting 'fight of the bagels'. (not to be confused with 'flight of the bagels'). I am a Montreal raised lady but personally prefer my bagels from the ovens of Absolute Bagels, Bergen Bagels or yes, La Bagel Delight. Sorry.

Post Past: Ricotta stuffed French Toast

So we are landed immigrants in NYC for the next week or so. Strange feeling to be back here with a 3 month lag. The good news is that nothing really changes.
Crowds, tourists, stalled subways? Check. Four random people blessed me when I sneezed. Feeling the love.
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Post past: Ricotta French Toast

Char had been inspired by a food network treat and recreated it for us the Sunday before we left MN. I have had visions of French toast since then... This is my adapted version of the delightful brunch treat:

• 2 slices of bread per person (brioche, Challah, cinnamon raisin bread...)
• 2-3 eggs beaten in a bowl with a cup of milk or half&half, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar to taste.
• fresh ricotta, raw honey, berries (fresh preferable) or other seasonal fruit.
• Frying pan, butter or canola oil for frying.
  

1) Make a sandwich of the bread, ricotta, berries. Spread with raw honey if preferred.
2) Beat egg mixture till frothy and all ingredients are well blended.
3) Heat and grease pan.
4) Dip each sandwich in the egg mixture and coat well.
5) Fry french toast on both sides till crisp.
6) Serve with additional fruit, dust with powdered sugar.