Inspirational Eats

Ben & Florentine Ruby Foo’s

A new Ben & Florentine Restaurant has opened at Ruby Foo’s Hotel on Decarie Blvd. The tables are all situated at the same level, and the washrooms are located in the hotel area. There is a ramp for wheelchairs at the back exit of the restaurant. Renowned for its must-try potatoes, old-fashioned stir-fries, and sweet and savory combos, Ben & Florentine offers a diverse and surprising menu that meets the highest quality standards. This marks the 67th restaurant for Ben & Florentine, which has locations in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and the Maritimes. I was intrigued by the selection of old-fashioned skillet items, opting for the maple syrup version, featuring one egg over easy with bacon, mixed peppers, red onions and a mix of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses. I was also eager to try their gourmandise: a half-waffle with almonds, chocolate chips and hazelnut and white chocolate. It was every bit as delicious as I was told, in fact, better. My dining partner ordered the healthy delight; two poached eggs, fresh fruits, rye bread and a choice of cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, brie and vanilla yogurt.

Info: benetflorentine.com.

The beloved Montreal restaurant Renoir at the Sofitel

The beloved Montreal restaurant Renoir at the Sofitel

Renoir, the signature French restaurant of the renowned Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile in downtown Montreal, recently underwent an extensive upgrade. The restaurant welcomes guests for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, inviting them to rediscover the art of exquisite French cuisine. It can now seat 80 people inside. The dining room and bar area are now separated, and there are also 80 more seats on the beautiful and seasonal outdoor terrasse. There is valet parking for a fee. The entryway is accessible, as are the washrooms.

An institution of the Montreal epicurean scene for the last 23 years, Renoir has long been revered for its fine French cuisine that infuses local Quebec ingredients with international flavours. Under Chef Olivier Perret, a Maître Cuisinier de France, “Ambassadeur de l’Érable” and Air France’s Canadian Signature Chef, Renoir continues to offer the refined French cuisine it has long been celebrated for.

We started off our dinner with some cocktails before turning to the appetizers. And at Renoir you can always count on something different. That was definitely the case with the Canadian lobster and sturgeon caviar, with sea water jelly, cucumbers and tangy cream for me and the Canadian pike quenelle and lobster bisque for my dining partner, who enjoyed the Quebec rack of lamb for the main course.

I opted for the roasted duck breast, confied leg and seared foie gras from Ferme Goulu. It came with carrots, pistachios, spiced jus and raspberry. Our server, Amy, concluded the service by bringing out the three dessert pastries of the evening. We went for the Frasier, a traditional French cake consisting of a sponge cake soaked in kirsch, filled with mousseline cream and strawberries (hence its name) as well as a decadent pistachio and cream.

Info: restaurant-renoir.com.

Chez Delmo

It has been 15 years now since Benoît Dessureault and Adam Bornell bid adieu to their careers in the print-media advertising business and purchased Chez Delmo, a French restaurant specializing in delicious fish and seafood. Located at 275 Notre Dame Ouest, near the heart of Old Montreal, Chez Delmo has gone through several incarnations since first opening in 1907 as a bar, gaming room and yes, a brothel.

It is hard to believe that we had not been there since 2016. I assure you it won’t be nearly that long a wait the next time. There is valet parking and easy access to the dining room, which is all at one level. We shared 12 large and delicious oysters, a perfectly prepared fresh Angus rib-eye steak à tartare, lobster and grilled scallops.

For dessert we shared a decadent portion of chocolate mousse.

Info: www.chezdelmo.com.