By Sherel Purcell
An island in the St. Lawrence River, Montreal is the perfect inEXpensive EXile. The world’s second largest French speaking metropolis sports a culture that values women of all ages. Montreal EXists for pure pleasure: fine French food, music for all tastes, unique festivals, museums, excellent walking tours, good value accommodations and safe, reliable transportation. Almost everyone speaks English, many with a cute and sEXy accent.
Getting here: For a kinder, gentler arrival there’s a scenic seven hour train trip from New York’s Penn station that takes in Lake Champlain and the Hudson
River Valley. From Toronto, it’s a four to five hour journey downtown to downtown through small towns, woods and farmland - perfect for those in EXile. The first class Via Rail service includes a hot meal, wine and chocolate truffles!
Eating here: While overdosing on chocolate is a necessity for EXers, it’s not the only remedy. Montreal is a haven for unique comfort food like poutine, a highly addictive concoction of french fries and chicken gravy/sauce topped with melting cheese curds. Optional EXquisite toppings include smoked meat, ground beef or chicken. At Au Pied de Cochon on Mount Royal you can even get poutine fois gras.
For desserts try the sugar pie - tarte au sucre or pudding chomeur - a moist sponge cake loaded with caramel sauce. When you're ready for more nutritious fare, visit Clafouti’s just off Victoria Square for good lunches. Ditto St.Viateur Bagel Cafe for their legendary pesto & goat cheese bagels. Premiere Moisson Bakeries with 16 locations provide a hearty lunch of tasty, healthy buns stuffed with pork and brie or tomato and
bocconcini.
EXplorers hit the convivial lunch counter at legendary Schwartz’s on St. Laurent for smoked meat sandwiches, coleslaw and black cherry coke. For dinner, look for "Apportez Votre Vin" signs (bring your own wine) at the casual Plateau restaurants along Prince Arthur and Duluth. Try the Mex - Brazilian favorite, Lele de Cuca on Anne Marie just east of St. Laurent or the Vietnamese TA Do at 300 Duluth.
In EXile? The Plateau, Mile End, Latin Quartier, Downtown and Old Montreal neighbourhoods offer hours of solitary wandering where one of a kind shops and inviting cafes abound. Further afield in the east end, the Jardins Botanique provide acres of exotic gardens for serene musings.
