.. and so with thanks to Viarail engineers, we left the cottage on Wednesday and returned to Toronto in time to catch a PorterAir flight to Montreal.

(as an aside, j’amie Porter Air! … it’s such a civilized way to fly and best of all you avoid the nightmare that is Pearson International)

3) our plane arrives in Montreal

4 & 5) heading over to the Island airport

In Montreal we booked a three night/four day stay at the hotel in the City – Hotel Le St.-James. In a word, the experience was magnifique, and if you ever get the opportunity to try this premier establishment, take it. The hotel was painstaking restored in 2002 by a husband and wife team who scoured the world to appoint it with fine paintings, art and antiques. It is in a former bank building right in the heart of vieux
Montréal.

6 & 7) the livingroom of our suite


8) the oh-my-god comfortable bed; 9) the tub

10) looking down to the master bathroom; 11) the phone system was very cool and controlled everything in the room


12) tiny windows though; 13) G awaits the funky old elevator to get us down to the lobby from our floor

We really did not do much while in Montreal but relax, stroll the old city looking for art, condo hunt a wee bit and we did enjoy a great spa treatment in the Hotel at Le Spa. You must add a visit to this Spa to your bucket list as it is literally inside the old bank vault. You have your own private changeroom complete with mini sauna and steamroom and it was really a once in a lifetime experience to have a massage in such odd yet fascinating surroundings. You can see a picture of the room here.

14) City Hall is getting a face lift; 15) walking in the old town

16) ever seen one of these? … an alcohol tester in Marche Bonsecours; 17) I like these sculptures outside City Hall

18) Marche Bonsecours; 19) a visit to Montreal is never complete without a stop to Premiere Moison

On Thursday night, we had the hotel arrange dinner for us at Le Local, which was rated by Enroute Magazine as one of the Top 10 new hotels in Canada last year. Another, which I must do a post on sometime is The Only on the King which we’ve tried twice now.

20) trout sashimi with dijon caviar mayo; 21) golden beet salad

22) the main course before; and, 23) after we finished with it


24) well worth the money spent on this fine bottle of wine


25 & 26) the rib battle remains – mine (left); G’s (right)


27) moi in the conference centre; 28) G amid the coloured glass in the conference centre


29) at the harbour, Prime Minister Martin’s old group – Canada Steamship Lines; 30) that’s parking these two ships close!

31 & 32) walking along the Harbourfront

On Friday night, we decided to try the tasting menu with wine pairing at XO, the Hotel Le St-James’ posh restaurant. We both agreed, it was one of the best meals we’ve had in many years in terms of a tasting menu … on par with the meal we had at (the now sadly closed) Accolade in the former L’hotel in Toronto. The serving team here were exceptional in the ‘art’ of their profession … there seemed to be 4 staff for each table and courses were delivered and removed in tandem. Seven courses with 6 wine pairings will set you back CAD$485 … and worth each and every penny. Below, some photos of the food … each worse than the previous one as my camera is not good as the light gets dimmer.

33 & 34) XO outside and in

35) the chandelier and upper seats

36) Fresh Florida shrimp / fennel / mango / lemongrass /Granite/ginger yogurt spuma / “Bibb” lettuce / black

liquorice powder … this was FABULOUS!; 37) Spanish mackerel with artichoke / seaweed / squid ink paste

38) Hand cut Tagliatelle / carrot confit reduction of coffee and soy / marjoram / roasted almond pesto; 39) Beef on beef / tartare / carpaccio / fresh hearts of palm / veal tongue / quail egg / truffle vinaigrette

40) Atlantic halibut / braised veal cheek / peas / morels / baby leeks; 41) peach consomme / pistachio sponge

42) the wee sweets to finish things off

43) Notre Dame Cathedral