Laurier BBQ closes doors
Popular restaurant opened in 1936
The Laurier BBQ restaurant closed its doors Tuesday. The Outremont landmark — partowned by British chef Gordon Ramsay for six months ending in February 2012 — is the property of Montreal businessman Nick Nakis and has been a popular dining spot with Outremont families since it opened in 1936. Nakis could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Croissant festival
If you enjoy a good croissant, take note of a croissant festival taking place Saturday in 14 bakeries in Montreal and nearby communities. All artisanal bakeries, these enterprises are either reducing their croissant prices for the day or offering two for the price of one. Their hope is that the public will recognize the superior quality of traditionally made croissants compared with the machinemade versions sold in supermarkets. Prices will vary, store by store, ranging from 85 cents to $1.75.
Only plain croissants will be offered at La Fête du croissant. The event is designed to demonstrate that these baked goods are made only of flour, butter and water, says Plateau organizer and baker Franck Dury-Pavet of Fous Desserts.
He initiated the festival last year and sold 1,800 of his plain croissants in the one day. He anticipates tripling that total this year because some of the 14 participants have other branches, making a total of 20 participating bakeries. Objective of the festival, Dury-Pavet said, is to educate the public about the traditional method of making a product he calls “noble, symbolic and convivial.”
Participating bakeries are located in various districts of Montreal, St-Lambert, Longueuil, Delson, Boucherville and Granby. Their names follow; for addresses, visit their websites.
Montreal: L’Amour du pain; Arhoma; Chouquettes et cie; Les Co’Pains d’abord; Fous Desserts; Mamie Clafoutis; Marius et Fanny; Mr. Pinchot; Petite boulangerie. South Shore: L’Amour du pain; Chouquettes et cie; Ô Gâteries; Pâtisserie Aux Beaux Tilleuls; Tartes et clafoutis. Laval: Marius et Fanny. Info: 514-273-9335.
Think summer veggies
It’s not too early to sign up for a weekly basket of fresh, organically grown vegetables, fruit, eggs, bread and cheese, according to Equiterre, the Quebec organization that groups organic market gardeners. Almost 100 farms located throughout Quebec have signed up to take customers for baskets through the Community Supported Agriculture program and will start deliveries in June.
The delivery period will range from 12 to 22 weeks, depending on the farm. A family-size basket costs about $350 for the season. Drop-off points will again include some Metro supermarkets, up from three last year to 15 this summer. And three commuter train stations will be drop-off points this year: Candiac, Ste-Catherine, and Vaudreuil.
The website needs navigation skills. To sign up, visit Equiterre.org and click on English, #2 and Read More, Sign Up Now, Carte de tous les points de chute, Emplacement, Montreal, then your district, Panier d’été, your drop-off point, and finally you will be offered a farm that services that point. Info: 514-605-2000.
Israeli cuisine
Cookbook author and Israeli food lecturer Janna Gur will cook a meal from her popular cookbook, The Book of New Israeli Food: A Culinary Journey (Schocken Books, 2008, $40), April 25 at 6.30 p.m. at Appetite for Books, 388 Victoria Ave., Westmount.
Her four-course meal, including a copy of the book, is priced at $125. BYOB. Gur, who edits a Hebrew food and wine magazine in Israel and appears frequently on Israeli TV, is a specialist in Israeli and Hebrew cuisine.
To register, call 514-3692002.