December 16th, 2011
Fresh Peas
We’ve always loved Le Pois Penché for a quick stop on our downtown shopping jaunts, but the recently revamped menu and wine list has made the elegant eatery into a destination for a leisurely dinner or after-work drinks and bites.
We recently re-visited the restaurant to sample some new dishes highlighting locally-sourced organic ingredients. Far from the heavy brasserie fare of old, the expanded list of appetizers includes an incredible raw bar, a scrumptious salmon tartare with avocado and wasabi ($16) and a velvety smooth Cream of St. Jacques scallop soup with toasty almond crunch ($9). Don’t worry, if you’re true to traditional brasserie meals, you can still find a divinely rich foie gras with Quebec cider and caramelized apples ($24) and a satisfyingly savoury osso bucco milanaise atop a decadent risotto with parmesan and citrus zest ($29).
Now we’re stopping in whether or not we’re in the neighbourhood. —Jennifer Nacshen
Le Pois Penché, 1230 de Maisonneuve Blvd W., Montreal, 514-667-5050, www.lepoispenche.com
