The Mane Event: A Bucket-List Dinner

 I don't think it's really any secret that I'm a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain, his show Parts Unknown, and really, really excellent food. So, when we decided we were heading to Montréal, we decided to re-watch his episode on Quebec and were reminded of a place we absolutely had to try--Joe Beef. This Little Burgundy masterpiece was opened in 2005 by three of Canada's finest (and coolest) chefs and culinary geniuses, Allison Cunningham, Frédéric Morin and David McMillan. 

Joe Beef takes its name from the proprietor of a tavern which once stood on the site. The neighborhood is still a little rough-looking, which lets the restaurant stand out as even more of an unusual gem. 

When you enter, you're greeted by really friendly servers dressed in flannel shirts, in keeping with the warm, rustic, and classy nature of the establishment. We had a 9:15 reservation (you'll definitely want to make one--the place is usually PACKED!), but by some stroke of luck, there was a table ready for us more than a half hour early. 

 Our table was basically a dream--cosy and gorgeously stocked, warmly lit, and attired with vintage plates and napkins that I hope I'll be able to find for my kitchen. 

A facet of JB that I really love is its menu--all in French, all written daily on chalkboards that line the walls. Our amazing waitress helped us a lot in deciding what to order (although I was already partial to a particular dish you'll see later), and gave us some wonderful recommendations for drinks and appetizers. 

In light of what I had in mind for dinner, I started off with some absolutely delicious Canadian sparkling wine, and D started off with an Oatmeal Stout from Le Castor. The wine was wonderful, but the Stout was definitely something to write home about. It was rich, malty, smoky, earthy, and musky, with a caramel smell that turned into a cocoa aftertaste without any loss of its maltiness. 

To start, we ordered some of JB's famous croquettes, which, for the evening, drew inspiration from Chicken Pot Pie. They were absolutely wonderful, if not quite as earth-shattering as what we ordered next.

D ordered the Monsieur Diane, a 16-ounce steak topped with mushrooms, gravy, and spinach, and accompanied by an onion chutney.

I decided to try Cheval á la Stroganoff, a deliciously tangy, rich, and tender filet served with wonderfully meaty mushrooms, marvellous pearl onions, and buttered Papardelle. This might just have been my favorite meat ever... And despite the fact that I love horses and have been riding since I was very little, I would love to have this again.

Everything was incredibly fresh and local, and our food was an absolute culinary masterpiece. Joe Beef is a place for the gourmand and man's man alike, a place where you'll want to savor absolutely everything you order and you'll be unable to stop raving about the food as you eat because it's just that good. 

If there's one place to visit in Montréal when you're hungry and really want to dig into some delicious, unpretentious, and generously-sized food, this is it. It is a little pricey to visit frequently, but given the chance, do--this may be the best meal you'll ever have. 

(P.S. If you can't visit Joe Beef in Montréal, get their cookbook. It's wonderfully clever and well-written, very eclectic in its style, and has absolutely amazing recipes. Definitely a great one to have in your collection or to give as a gift to your favorite foodie.)