Canada: Québec Province: Montreal: Bell Centre

Waynesworld
Ontario

Worth visiting!

My first visit to the Bell Centre, Montréal

Hi, I drove my 16 year-old son and 2 of his friends to a rock concert at the Bell Centre in Montréal last Thursday night. The warm-up band was The Mars Volta and the headliner was Red Hot Chili Peppers. Great concert! I’ll comment more in a 43T entry. The concert review the following day said that 16,900 people were in attendance! We were loud, that’s for sure…and we passed the message on to the band that we loved their music!

I was very impressed by “Centre Bell” (en Français). I thought it was very beautiful and many things in the arena main seating area looked quite similar to Scotiabank Place in my own hometown. I really liked the atmosphere in the exterior lobbies on level 1 and 2, it was first class, with nice subdued lighting, carpeting and friendly staff. The food was nice and hot but very expensive. A large coke and a slice of pizza was $9.25 CAN! The seating is comfortable but there isn’t a lot of leg room. I found that I wasn’t able to stretch my knees out at all. Overall though, I could see that this would be a wonderful experience to watch a hockey game there.

As for Montréal, it’s a truly beautiful, cosmopolitan North American City, not a typical one. I forgot just how large it is. When we arrived, the traffic was very congested, stop and go on the autoroute #40, especially near the Decarie Expressway exit. My son wanted to drive there (NOT!) hahaha….I know some adult friends who won’t even drive in Montréal. The drivers are aggressive, but mostly predictable, I only encountered one slow driver that whole evening, haha.

I regret not having time on Thursday, to walk around the downtown area before or after the concert. As it was, we returned home around 2:30am!! It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from downtown Montréal to the west end of Ottawa.

Comments:

Beaulotus is very busy
Modena

RHCP

will be performing in Stuttgart in November!

Your entry made me feel like bringing my 10 year old to watch the concert…

I love Montreal, it’s a beautiful city and the people really friendly. And I wouldn’t eat pizza if I were you, I like their putin (?), the fries with melted cheese!

Waynesworld
Ontario

I'm sure you would enjoy their show, beautlotus.

They have so many well-known popular songs, not just their more non-commercial type songs. As I mentioned, the bassist and guitarist of RHCP are both very talented. It was one of the best concerts I have seen in years.

Montréalers like their pizza “all-dressed,” which means a combination of peppeoni, mushrooms and green peppers. They just have a different title for it. So you’ve been there!

I have a confession to make, beaulotus, all 4 of our family members enjoy the fattening and artery clogging Québec “poutine.” French fries, topped with white cheese curds and hot brown gravy! hahhaaha….if you like cheese and gravy on fries, you love poutine! ;)

Beaulotus is very busy
Modena

yes yes!

It’s poutine! And I’ve forgotten what I really love about it – the gravy!!! I’m a sucker for gravy…

But where pizzas are concerned, I like them really thin and just Magherita. Simple girl, simple taste :-).

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Oct 17, 2006, 08:44PM PDT

Waynesworld
Ontario

Laughing! Don't forget the cheese curds melting!

hmmmm…everyone in my family loves that Québec inspired “Poutine.” Fresh French fried potatoes, covered with white cheese curds and hot gravy. The mixture is a real delight, the gravy melts the cheese curds all over the French fries. To be sure, an artery clogging feast! ;)

I’m going to have to do some research to see where Poutine actually originated.

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Oct 17, 2006, 10:55PM PDT

OK, deal... - Waynesworld

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Oct 17, 2006, 11:15PM PDT

Oh, San Diego County is the avocado capital? :)) - Waynesworld

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Oct 18, 2006, 12:11AM PDT

Waynesworld
Ontario

Check this out!

http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Poutine

Apparently, Poutine may have originated back in 1957, in rural Québec! The pronunciation in the article is correct, in English, people call it “poot-TEEN.” The first part of the word is spoken quickly, with a bit more emphasis on the second syllable. In French, the emphasis is still more pronounced on the second part of the word and sounds something like, “poot-INN” or some people might almost hear a subtle “s” in the pronunciation, “poot-sINN.”

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Oct 18, 2006, 12:28AM PDT

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Nov 30, 2006, 06:46AM PST

Waynesworld
Ontario

OK...I'll try to think of a list.

Québecois Food

-Tortière (meat pie)
-Tarte sucrée (Sugar Pie, close to Pecan pie)
-Poids des corchon (Pigs feet -pork hocks)
-Fêves au lard avec jambon (Baked beans ‘n ham)
-Poutine
-Soupe aux pois (Pea Soup)

Other

-Saskatoon Berry Pie
-Split Pea Soup (Québecois also)
-Ice Wine
-Hot apple cider
-Maple syrup specialties
-Beavertails (yummmm -flat pastry with flavouring)

There are more, but that’s a good start.

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Nov 30, 2006, 05:15PM PST

roxi
West Vancouver

Good list, Wayne!

I’d also add Nanaimo bars (shown here), prairie oysters, flapjacks, reindeer jerkey, Bismarks, butter tarts, and back bacon.

The chocolate bar is also Canadian, invented by New Brunswicker Arthur Ganong.

Waynesworld
Ontario

Nice pic, lol.

yummmmm….thanks for adding to the list, Roxi. How could I forget about back bacon, after the MacKenzie Brothers’ TV skit and movie?

Ganong chocolates are still around, thanks for that interesting comment that Arthur Ganong thought up the chocolate bar.

Have a wonderful week!

food is so regional - roxi
food is so regional - roxi

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Jan 19, 2008, 04:05PM PST

Nanaimo Bars - joie de vivre

Carrie Marshall
Banciao

I can't believe you guys

are talking about Canadian food and no one invited me! Many people think that Canadian cuisine doesn’t exist but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Although I will admit that most of our purely Canadian recipes are actually French Canadian.

Since I’ve been away from Canada for so long, I can tell you exactly what Canadian foods make my eyes water at the thought of. Poutine is high on my list. Canadian chip trucks are legendary in Ontario and Quebec and its not uncommon for us to eat our fries with mayonnaise.

How about anything made from fresh Canadian maple syrup? We have loads of different recipes that call for maple syrup. “Tire” is a favourite of mine – hot maple syrup poured on snow and allowed to harden. It’s positively sinful.

Quebecois French Onion soup is also a yummy treat, as well as our Yellow Pea Split soup. My aunt makes a special meat toutiere that is out of this world. The recipe was passed down to her from her great grand mother.

What else? Beavertails are a scrumptious pastry type conconction with sugar on top. Most of us enjoy this on cold winter days while skating on the Rideau Canal.

Waynesworld
Ontario

Way to go, globetrotter!

You’ve hit everything on my list and more, I made my list before I saw your post.

Beavertails, yes!!! French Onion Soup, Yesss! Patates Frites (Potato French Fries), Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm…..all high calorie, too, hahaa.

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Nov 30, 2006, 07:36PM PST

Waynesworld
Ontario

Maybe only the cut is different.

At our roadside “chip wagons,” the fried potatoes are cut about a half inch square on each side, maybe a bit thicker than in the USA.

Beavertails are a flat deep fried pastry about 12 inches long and 6 inches wide, with lemon, brown sugar and sometimes jelly or jam on top. There’s also a cheese one, I think. So bearclaws have a filling? yummm

Carrie Marshall
Banciao

Great minds think alike

Your list is great and has me drooling for homecooked goodness.

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Nov 30, 2006, 07:40PM PST

Waynesworld
Ontario

Real maple syrup on pancakes or French Toast, nothing like it!

You’ll have to buy a small bottle or tin of 100% maple syrup. ;)

Stacey, the secret to the delicious Québec style homeade tortière filling is a mixture 1/2 ground beef and 1/2 ground pork, for a bit more moistness and flavour. As you may know, ground pork is more moist than ground beef, but it’s definitely not kosher. a meat pie of 100% ground beef is a bit drier and less tasty than the half and half mixture.

Carrie Marshall
Banciao

Well

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Kudos to you Wayne!

Waynesworld
Ontario

Thanks, but there are lots of cooks in my family.

Every year, we have French tortière around Christmas time. I have no idea why we don’t do it year round, hahaha.

Wouldn't you know it? - Carrie Marshall
Good luck with your tortière! - Waynesworld

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Dec 07, 2006, 12:24AM PST

Heyyy... - Carrie Marshall

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Dec 07, 2006, 06:23AM PST

You really are a - Carrie Marshall
As for me, I would love to watch globetrotter make tortière. - Waynesworld
Ha! We'll see about it. - Carrie Marshall
Smiles - Waynesworld
Sounds lovely - Carrie Marshall
All the best of the season to you as well. - Waynesworld
And glad tidings to you too. - Carrie Marshall
Hi, globetrotter, hope you're doing well. - Waynesworld
Where's the snow? - Carrie Marshall
It snowed 10cm about 3 weeks ago... - Waynesworld
This is the best christmas gift - Carrie Marshall

Carrie Marshall
Banciao

It took me long enough.

Any mention of food usually brings me running. Did you notice I was around a little more than usual over Thanksgiving? I yearn for normal food, and a discussion about it is better than nothing at all! lol

I’ll check with my aunt about her tortiere recipe. Canadian maple syrup is out of this world and it’s actually sold over here in Taiwan (although it’s ridiculously expensive for a small mini bottle of it). I was also able to find it in NorthEast China so maybe you’ll be able to find some in your neck of the woods too.

Enore
Stockton

I used to go up into Canada fairly often...

...working.

I usually ate at McDonald’s, eh?

Hey, don’t look at ME that way. I eat where there’s truck parking…

Waynesworld
Ontario

The McDonalds fries in Canada is the same as in the USA

It’s the roadside “chip” wagons and “chip” stands that have the nice, freshly deep fried large cut french fries. The hard-core chip wagon patrons put white vinegar and salt on their french fries when the box is half full, then the server finishes filling the pale white cardboard container to the top and more vinegar, salt and ketchup is then added on top, in that order. If you put the salt before the vinegar, then the vinegar will wash away the salt! ;)

One thing that is different at Canadian McDonalds are the sizes. A large fries in Canada is only the size of the medium fries in the USA. Also, a large soft drink (pop) in Canada is the same as the medium-sized soft drink in the US.

Mychaelah
1 place

Oh Canada

I miss Tim Hortons blueberry muffins and double doubles.

Waynesworld
Ontario

Hi, Mychaelah, as you know...

...Tim Horton’s has a cult following in Canada. It is probably the most “Canadian” of all franchise stores. I think it is scary popular (yes, the double-double; I’m a double milk-single sweetener).

The muffins used to be better there about 5 years ago. They used to make fresh muffins, but Tims started using frozen batter or something in the past few years. The muffins are just not as good as they used to be. Also, the donuts, might not be the best in town. What REALLY makes Tim Horton’s work is their delicious coffee (and the Iced Cappaccino, lol). I don’t know anyone who says they don’t like Tim Horton’s coffee. It’s a fairly mellow, unharsh blend, I think. Some places like Starbucks, have really strong coffees, but Tims has this one type of blend that is an “A” in flavour.

Carrie Marshall
Banciao

You should go to Tim Horton's

aka ‘Timmy’s’ as we Canucks affectionately call it. Plus, they have drive-thru windows OR you can park and eat.

Enore
Stockton

Do they have truck parking?

Waynesworld
Ontario

18 wheeler?

There’s a big public parking lot right across the street from the Bell Centre, that could probably accomodate your truck.
Do you ever do any runs to Montréal?

Carrie Marshall
Banciao

You betcha!

I assume you’re not talking about a pick up truck. ;) If we’re talking semi’s, there are loads of giant ‘truck stops’ along the highways. You can park and have your choice of Timmy’s, McDonald’s or Burger King plus a fill up and a nap. Happy truckin’!

The Burger King near our home closed down. - Waynesworld
Kanata? - Carrie Marshall
We don't do it, haha...we eat a lot of chicken. - Waynesworld
You did - Carrie Marshall

ToddieM
Diamond Bar

There was a Burger King not too far from my old home in Chino Hills that also closed down.


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