Montreal Eats: Garde Manger

There was only one restaurant I knew I had to eat at while in Montreal. I’m an obsessive  avid Food Network Canada watcher, and as soon as I saw my first episode of  Chuck’s Day Off, I knew that if I made it to Montreal I would have to eat at Garde Manger.

I checked it out on the weekend while I was wandering around Old Montreal, and passed by about three times before I realized where it was. As you can see above, there’s no sign outside, but as you can see below, this sign was just inside the door.

Garde Manger isn’t open for lunch, but the windows and door were open and N.O.R.E was blaring, so I went in anyway to see what was going on. A couple  prep chefs were getting ready for the night, and didn’t mind answering my dorky questions about the menu and letting me see where they film the show. It’s actually way smaller than it looks on TV, and the restaurant itself is quite petite.

I returned during the work week with four of my co-workers, warning them in advance that they’d likely blow their day’s meal allowance on dinner. I was nervous that a couple of them wouldn’t find anything on the menu that they’d like – they’re kind of just meat and potatoes guys – but as the prep chefs told me on the weekend, “…isn’t steak et frites meat and potatoes?”. So wise for a self-admitted hungover mess.

I ate a salade verte which had spinach, arugula, asparagus, and green beans with candied walnuts and a light vinaigrette, and beef short ribs braised in a rich barbecue sauce with carrots and peas. Amazing. The prep chefs also told me that the menu changes on a frequent basis, according to what’s in season.

Unfortunately, Chuck was on a publicity tour for the new Cooking Channel, the Food Network (US) spin-off channel, which just seems to be jacking all the best Food Network Canada shows. I guess we can share!