Who knew, despite being disappointed in Paris three years ago, that our faith in French food would be restored over a weekend in Canada? Last Friday, we drove up to Montreal after securing a nice hotel deal from Priceline.com. Our plan for the long weekend was just to relax and explore the town. But nothing could have prepared us for the mind-blowing (and artery-clogging) dining experiences that awaited us there. On Saturday, after exploring the old buildings and eclectic shops in Vieux-Montréal, we arrived promptly for our reservation at Toque!, one of only two 5-diamond restaurants in Montreal. The 7-course tasting menu there by Chef Normand Laprise took us on an incredible gastronomic voyage blending different flavors and textures with flowers, foams, and freeze-dried “flakies.” Among the most memorable dishes were a refreshing razor clam appetizer with apples, radishes, lime juice and wasabi foam served on its shell; a frozen goat cheese dessert as smooth as ice-cream paired with strawberry flakies; and an unforgettable melt-in-your-mouth foie gras served with poached pear. The meal set us back a small fortune, but alone was worth the entire trip. On Sunday, we visited the Biodome, the former Olympic stadium now converted into a series of indoor ecosystems with various animals like chubby prairie dogs, chubby penguins, chubby porcupines and of course a chubby beaver (they really grow ’em fat in Canada). We also checked out the Insectarium and Botanical Gardens, which showcased an impressive Chinese lantern exhibit that evening. Exhausted from all the walking, we agreed to sitting at the bar when we got to Au Pied De Cochon. Literally meaning “The Pig’s Foot,” the restaurant is truly a bastion of carnivores. We had front row seats to the kitchen itself, as we watched the staff toss slabs of foie gras onto the busy grill and plate each dish like an objet d’art. I had the “Duck in a Can,” which includes half a duck breast with demi-glace, foie gras, roasted garlic, and choux emburre (braised buttered cabbage), all gently cooked inside a can for 27 minutes and opened right at the table. Melody went for the Foie Gras Duo, pairing a foie gras burger with poutine – the classic Quebecoise comfort food of french fries, cheese curds, and gravy raised to near-haute level with more foie gras. We had to take it easy for the rest of our trip, visiting family friends and trying some local delicacies like bagels and smoked-meat sandwiches. By the time we drove back on Tuesday, we were ready to swear off fatty foods to let our cholesterol levels come back down to non-fatal levels… at least, until our next trip to this foodies’ paradise. 🙂