Adieu Montreal!

Images Boréales Galerie

Hubby and I were so enamoured by all the artwork at Images Boréales, a gallery of co-op Inuit art in the old city, that we stopped in for a second time enroute to the airport, and picked up a gorgeous basalt figurine and a few arctic handicrafts. And no, no polar bear skins in our luggage!!

Governor's House: Château Ramezay Museum

We spent our final morning in Montreal at the former governor's residence-- Château Ramezay-- which is now a museum dedicated to the city's history.

Les Touilleurs

I made the requisite pilgrimage to Les Touilleurs-- the temple of cookware for chefs and budding gourmandes in Montreal. I was like a kid in a candy store, but restrained myself admirably and left with a couple of hand-made Québécois maple wood utensils and locally woven linen kitchen towels.

Arsenal

Hubby transfixed by the Arsenal of the Mont-Royal Fusiliers.

Public art

An incredible mural in a Mile End parking garage by an artist's collective.

Architectural signature

We continued walking through the Mile End and Plateau neighborhoods and spied Montreal's signature architectural element-- the elevated external stairs-- everywhere.

Masala à Poisson du Bengale

At one of the spice stands at Jean Talon market, a Bengali paanch phoron and turmeric mix was included in a medley of international spices (along with Turkish, Cajun, and Provençal) for cooking fish! :)

Produce a-plenty at Jean Talon market.

Marché Jean Talon

We started our last full day in Montreal at the famous Jean Talon farmer's market. It is one of four municipal markets all around the city. There are permanent stalls with fresh seafood, meat, cheese, spices, and baked goods set up along the periphery of the market, and the fruit and vegetable vendors setup under tents in the middle.

Pho Bang New York

Pho and summer rolls for dinner at PHO BANG NEW YORK in Montreal's Chinatown; which incidentally is over-run with Vietnamese noodle houses*. Why the name?--No reason other than the owner thought it just sounded cool!

New York or Montreal, the oxtail broth was perfectly scented with star anise, white pepper, lemongrass, coriander, and mint.

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* We scoped out just four-- Pho Cali, Pho X.O., Pho Bac, and Pho Bang New York-- and ultimately followed our noses into Pho Bang.

Tea time; not quite...

This afternoon, we stopped for hot chocolate at the delightful Suite 88 Chocolatier on Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest.

Montreal Chinatown