La Arepera du Plateau

http://www.arepera.ca 4050 Rue de Bullion coin Duluth

Entrance of Arepera. Rue de Buillon corner with Duluth

If you have ever wondered what's like to eat traditional Venezuelan food, this it the place for you. And yes, there is food for all different eating habits. Whether you are a carnivore, a vegetarian or a vegan you will find something to stimulate your taste buds. Also the arepas are 100% gluten free.

An arepa is a traditional Spanish dish, very common in Colombia and Venezuela, made of ground corn dough. All arepas are made in-house and they are served as a side dish or as the main dish. When the arepa is served as the main dish they are cut through the middle (like a bagel)  and filled with different combinations of meat, plantain, bean or cheese.

The decor is full of tropical colors. 

As soon as you walk in, you are exposed to a smorgasbord of tropical colors, smells and traditional Venezuelan music. You get a true sense that you are in a small restaurant in Latin America. The servers are friendly and efficient; they greet you as soon as you come in, give you the menu, water and as soon as you are ready, they take your order with their pocket i-pods. If the owner has two minutes, he might come and warmly shake your hand, occasionally give you a hug and, when experimenting with a new recipe, he'll bring a sample to your table for free. "Here, try this" he'll say.

Assortment of plantains, avocado, lime, yucca, etc. 

The restaurant specializes in arepas, but they have a great variety of natural juices (made in-house), side dishes and desserts. Most of the natural juices are a new experience to the typical North American crowd. They have flavors such as guava, tamarind, lulo, mango, guanabana and passion fruit. Some of the most typical entrees are  "platanos" (fried plantains) which are served with cheese and "yuca" which is a root  similar to potato. Also, there are delicious soups and incredible desserts to go along with your arepa. For additional flavor, a squeeze-bottle of guasacaca ( a sauce made of avocado, garlic and lime juice) and a bottle of hot sauce are placed on each table as well as a small portion of watercress salad.

If you seem friendly, the owner might come to give a hug. 

I go to Arepera du Plateau about once per week and as long as the arepas continues being so delicious and the staff so friendly, I'll continue being a loyal client.

Natural juice of Guava and Tamarind. Also Gusacaca and hot sauces. 

Arepa platano y queso and Arepa pernil with watercress salad

Bollo, a new recipe 

Bean soup and Chicken soup

Arepas being made. This is where the magic happens. 

Sabor Latino: A Taste of Latin America on The Plateau Mont Royal

Pork, lentils & rice / beans and cheese pupusa

4387 Bld Saint-Laurent, Montréal, QC H2W 1Z8
If you want to have a taste of Latin America while out in the Plateau, Sabor Latino is on top of my list. Here you can find a restaurant, a grocery store, a bakery and butcher shop that will resemble any small restaurant/supermarket in Latin America.

I have been going to Sabor Latino since 1998 when I arrived in Montreal from Colombia. The staff is friendly and professional. They are all from different countries in Latin America. Also, more than 50% of the clientele are from Latin American, but if you are an Anglophone or Francophone, you will be greeted in the language of your choice.

Every thing in the menu goes for less than $10

I only go there for one reason. The food! As you can see from the menu, none of the plates cost more than $10.00. Also, the servings are generous enough to feed a hungry man like myself. And the taste is very traditional of our culture.

If you live in Montreal, you can enjoy this authentic Latin American cuisine any time without having to buy an airplane ticket. If you are a tourist resting at one of Alain's apartments, a visit to Sabor Latino will enrich your traveling experience.

Hmmmm, Do I have to choose?

I'll be back!

The best coffee shop of the neighborhood. Chez Jose

Chez Jose, an inexpensive, arty cafe in the heart of the Plateau. 
173 Avenue Duluth Est  Montreal, QC H2W 1H4

If you live in the Plateau, you are lucky to have one of the city's best cafes just a few steps away. If you don't live in the Plateau, at one time or another, you should venture out for a coffee at this neighborly cafe.

The menu features an inexpensive assortment  of crepes, omelettes, smoothies, vegetarian dishes, seafood soup (served on weekends) and many delicious pastries. 

The mood is set even before you enter the cafe. From a distance you can see the walls painted with friendly fish and funky colors. As soon as you step in, you realize that this is not your typical cafe. The atmosphere is happy, friendly and colorful with a mismatch of chairs and tables that adds to the ambiance.  

If you go there, please let me know about your experience by posting a comment. 

Come to Montreal to Dance Tango, Ballroom and Salsa. Three dance floors under one roof.

Dance Conmigo Party/Fete Feb. 4th (3 dance floors Salsa-Tango-Ballroom)

Saturday, February 4, 2012
8:00pm until midnight

(version française ci-dessous)

Dance Conmigo Party Saturday, February 4th. Join us at Studio Metronome (4557 St-Laurent, 3rd floor) for a great night of music and dancing!

8pm-9pm: Beginner intro class in Slow Waltz

9pm-12am: General Dancing- now in three rooms:

Room l (Amadeus) Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cha-Cha!
Room ll (Chopin) Argentine Tango
Room lll (Bach) a mix of everything! Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, Mambo, Swing, West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Rumba, Samba, Hustle, Viennese Waltz...

Everyone welcome - beginners to advanced! Tell a friend. And please
note: No street shoes allowed in the dance studio, please bring a change of shoes. Entrance is $6.

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Soirée dansante samedi, le 4 février, 20h-24h. Joignez-vous à Dance Conmigo, au Studio Metronome (4557 St-Laurent, 3é étage), pour une magnifique soirée de danse!

20h-21h: un cours d'initiation en Valse Lente !

21h-minuit: la danse générale- maintenant dans trois salles:

Salle Amadeus: Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cha-Cha!
Salle Chopin: Tango Argentin
Salle Bach: Un mélange de toutes ! Waltz, Swing, Tango Argentin, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Cha-Cha, Foxtrot, Samba, Rumba, Mambo, Hustle, Valse Viennoise...

Tout le monde est le bienvenue - de débutants à avancés! Invitez vos amis! Amenez, svp, des souliers avec des semelles propres pour porter sur la piste de danse. Admission: 6$.

Go to Montreal for the Martin Luther King Holiday

If you are thinking on what to do with this long weekend, consider going to Montreal.

The Martin Luther King holiday falls on the third Monday of January, which is around the date of King's birth day, January 15.

Many U.S. citizens observe MLK holiday by going to services or just by staying home with the family, but many others take this extended weekend as an opportunity to get away from the city and relax in an different environment.

For the next holiday, consider going to Montreal. Going to Montreal is stepping into a totally different culture, just step away from the U.S. Residents from Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and New York are only a few hours away. 

Graffiti on the Plateau as a tourist attraction and a pleasure for the locals

As I met my friend Lynda Lyn at the bus station she confessed that her new thing was to photograph street graffiti. I have been walking by this walls for years and my eyes have become immune to the art displayed on the street. Some of this art has been commissioned, some of it is illegal, some of it is beautiful and some is an act of vandalism on  someone else's property.

Thank you Lynda for taking such wonderful photos.

Here are some of the of the pieces that a traveler could expect to find in the streets.

Corner of Saint Laurent and Pine

Rue vielleneuve

My favorite Portuguese Restaurant on Saint Lauaren and Duluth

Duluth Street

Hemp Products

In this Building you can find Dance Conmigo

Chez Jose. You have to have coffee there. 

This is my favorite on Duluth and Hotel de Ville.

Montreal Winter Festival

The Montreal Winter Festival is a family event that has been happening for over 25 years. It is Montreal's largest outdoor winter event and began in the early 80s. The various activities include; playing in the snow, skiing, skating, building snow sculptures, sliding and tobogganing. There are various attractions, spectacular shows, special events and many other winter activities awaiting  you and your family at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The Festival even has its own mascot, Snowball. This winter festival draws thousands of people each year and continues to grow.