The Cosmopolitan Blog

What makes large tragedies tragic are the personal stories behind them. On 9/11, i remember being glued to the television in Boston, watching these images all day, and never really being able take it in. It wasn’t until a few days later, that i heard the story of the small company (20 or so) in one of the towers. I work in a 20-something person company, so i know how quickly a place like this becomes like your family. The company owner had gone golfing that morning. Everyone else had gone to work. He was saved. They weren’t. In one moment, he had lost his entire family. There are no words for a story like this. It’s only when i heard that story that the pain became real and i balled uncontrollably for a long time.

Today i was watching a documentary called “at the moment of impact” about one of the worst plane crashes in Montreal in 1963, killing 118 people. At the start, we’re told the story of the “Murray Hill Limousine Service” of Montreal, who prides itself for always getting their passengers to the airport on time. That day, drivers remembered it for the worst traffic jam throughout downtown Montreal had ever known. One of the drivers was carrying a coach of 18 people to catch the 6.30pm plane to Toronto, and he used all his skill to get the passengers to the airport on time. He even used the incoming traffic lanes when he could. He got them to the airport at 6.10. The airline, hearing that 18 people had made it, agreed to keep the gate open. The driver of the limo was so happy, partly because of the generous tips his 18 passengers had given him in recognition for his efforts. 23 minutes later, all his passengers were dead.

The story of the CEO in New York, the story of the Murray Hill limo driver. These are real personal tragedies that happen everyday, and that we rarely hear about. A pain that cannot be described in words. It makes you grateful for everything you have. Every morning, when i wake up, i spend time thinking of the things i’m grateful for, i try to find something unique everyday. On days where i can’t, these are the kind of personal stories that help me remember.

This is my no1 favorite place. Period. The fact that this Iranian / Persian restaurant’s main clientèle are all Persian should tell you something: it’s not a tourist trap or a hyped up commercial venture. It’s a hole-in-the-wall place, but just walking in makes you so hungry, the smells coming from this family-run restaurant and kitchen are amazing… The menu has all the essentials. It’s hearty, large portions, perfection!! …and it’s so cheap, you have a complete meal for $10!! (and i’ve taken some home for lunch the next day, cuz i had too much on my plate).

it’s like going home to your mom’s for dinner (and i’m not even Persian!!)

The rice is so savorful, with the saffron and melted butter, i’ve not tasted anything like this before in any other Iranian restaurant. The dish you MUST try is the Crazy Chicken (seriously, that’s what it’s called). Ask for the boneless version. It’s grilled, but has saffron and lemon and it’s so moist it melts in your mouth. When they ask you if you want soup or salad to start (yes, it comes with every main course), say soup, regardless of if it’s summer. I’m not a big soup fan, but this is SO good. It’s very hearty and thicker than your average soup, but it has lentils and noodles, and a hint of vinegar and it’s so tasty, it’s really, like the best comfort food you could get.

I’m so lucky to have this place next door to me.

Edit - 16 July 08: Thanks to my loyal readers for pointing out the lack of an address… DUH!… Here it is:
820 Avenue Atwater - Montréal, QC - Tel: (514) 933-0933.

You’ll spend on average $10-$16 per person. There are soft drinks, but no alcohol, and you can’t BYOB. They take cash only, i believe. You can also order take out, and if you ask nicely, they’ll call a cab for you and deliver it to your place (you pay for the taxi, obviously).

My mom is french, so French is my mother tongue. But I grew up in London, so by the age of 4, i knew both languages, my parents had made sure of it. For many years after that, I was told how lucky I was to fluently speak 2 languages, and how it’s an advantage because it helps in a child’s development and in her abiliity to learn more languages more quickly later on in life. So do Montrealers know how lucky they are? By its very history and location, Montreal is a fully bilingual city.

For those of you who don’t know, Canada has 2 official languages, English and French. English is predominent in most of the provinces in the West, all the way to East to Ontario. Quebec province is mainly french, but, Montreal, even though it’s in Quebec, is also a few kms away from Ontario, so both languages are common.

Sure, the city has a french side and an english side, but you can speak either language in either side and you will be understood. What’s amazing (my friends in the States and in Toronto still don’t believe me on this one), is that you can live in Montreal very comfortably even if you only know one of the 2 languages. All shopowners, taxi and bus drivers, business owners, everyone is bilingual. All products, restaurant menus, official paperwork, everything is written in both languages. There are parts of NDG and Westmount (areas of Montreal), where you have to search to find the french speaker, and there are still areas in Old Montreal and in the East where a shop owner will answer you in french even if you spoke to him in English, for sure, but that’s not the norm.

So, seriously, do they know how lucky they are? I don’t think so. The fact that my friends who live 3 states away in Massachussets or even those who live in the same country (in Toronto, in the neighboring province!) don’t know this, to me, means that Montreal, in it’s advertising, reputation and history does not count this as an advantage, or something to brag about. Unfortunately, I feel that language is this city is always used as a political argument or weapon (long story, i won’t get into the politics in this post), it’s always like a competition, it’s always a cause for controversy (such as deciding which school you can go to depending on the main language of your parents or where you were born).

Somehow, in Montreal, you’re constantly having to pick sides, you’re either an Anglophone or a Francophone… WHY??? I mean, sure, assert your identity and claim your preferred method of communication. Absolutely. But once you’re done with that, be proud of living in a city where there is a 2nd important language, embrace your differences!

Did no one every explain to you that 1+1=2 (and even sometimes 3: the concept of synergy, that together 2 things can have a greater effect that if they were separate, i.e. where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts)?

I don’t care how separatist you feel, surely no one can deny that having 2 languages (and thus 2 cultures) is a benefit. No, it doesn’t not mean that one will swallow the other, if you play it smart, if you value each other, your differences and your similarities. It was a benefit to me to learn 2 languages as a child, it’s a benefit today still to have Montrealer kids learn both languages, it’s a skill that will help them in their lives later on. Learning to live with someone who doesn’t speak the same language, that doesn’t have the same culture, learning this without having to leave your own city, that is priceless.

So, Montrealers, do you know how good you have it????

Miso has only been in existence for about 2-3 years now, but has become a popular eatery. Even though it’s across the road from a more famous and more expensive sushi place, what sets Miso aside is the fact that it really delivers on its claim of offering Fusion Asian food.

The Food
They have an extensive sushi menu, with a choice of preset platters as well as an a la carte mix-and-match where you can pick your favorites. Their sushi chef is extremely creative and talented, and it’s worth considering sitting at the sushi bar if it’s sushi you came for, and order some of Miso’s own sushi creations… or even ask the chef to create a plate for you.

The creativity goes all the way down to the dishware, the plates themselves have very different shapes, one in particular, designed to increase the romance of a tête-à-tête, the plate is in the shape of a curved bridge that goes from one end of the table to the other.

For those not interested in sushi, there is an extensive Asian menu with all the classics like Chicken with Peanut Sauce or Fried Calamari. This is what makes this a great place for large groups, because of the extensive types of Asian cuisines, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese… something for everyone!

So that’s the good news. The bad news is that, having been a regular since the restaurant’s opening 2-3 years ago, I find that their success has gone to their head a bit. As an example, the Peanut Chicken (one of my favorite dishes, even know, their peanut sauce is truly divine) used to be priced at a reasonable $15 or so, and as now increased to closer to $20, BUT with a reduced portion size. Another example is the fact that they used to give you a free bowl of edamame (soybeans boiled whole in their green pod and served with salt) as you sat down, but now, you have to order it and pay for it as an appetizer.

On a side note, I highly recommend their tiramisu, but beware, it has nothing to do with a real tiramisu, yet it’s a chocoltey minty piece of heaven!

About the Service
Service is great, has never disappointed me in the 6-10 times I’ve been there. On Fridays and Saturdays, the sushi might take a little while to get there, especially if they chef has to get creative, but the atmosphere is enjoyable enough that you won’t get bored. Ordering from the regular menu is really quick.

More Info
Drinks-wise, their wine list is extensive, but i recommend their warm sake, the large portion is VERY large, an entire bottle for a reasonable (not cheap) price. For those in the area, you can order online straight from their website (so, no delivery charge), they just call you to confirm your method of payment. I live close by and got my sushi platter in under 25 minutes on a weekday evening.

Prices: $30-$45 per person, excluding taxes and tip, more for specialty sushi.

Hours: Sat-Sun: 11:00am-3:00pm, Mon-Fri: 11:00am-2:30pm, Sun-Wed: 5:00pm-10:00pm, Thu-Sat: 5:00pm-11:00pm - Terrace available during the summer months.
4000, rue Ste-Catherine O corner Atwater, Montreal, Québec H3Z 1P1 (Westmount)
514-908-6476 Tel.: 514.908.6476
www.restaurantmiso.com - info@restaurantmiso.com

For now, I’ve settled in Montreal, and it’s a food lover’s heaven… It’s got the best of London and New York at a much more reasonable price. There’s trendy, there’s fast, there’s slow, there’s I-go-there-to-be-seen, there’s ugly, there’s delicious and not so delicious. There’s every cuisine you can dream of, and generally, there’s very, very good service… Most Montreal waiters haven’t yet discovered that they work in a trendy enough city that they can have some attitude ssshhh, don’t tell them.

So I’m gonna post my restaurant reviews here, although I do usually have them published other places too… I’ll place the links as I get them.

If you’ve been to one of the restaurants I’ve reviewed and you agree with my review, then great, let me know. But if you don’t agree, then PLEASE tell me, there’s nothing I want more than a reason to go back to a restaurant to prove you wrong!! I’m kidding….