Most of us have been there, eaten that, bought this, and saw everything. Living in Old Montreal, China Town has been my quick-stop for a little grocery for an unplanned dinner, a comforting bowl of soup on a cold day, and a great place to discover little knick-knacks and intriguing fashion!
On a recent stroll heading downtown, I decided to detour through the charismatic streets of our beloved China Town for a little sight-seeing. I came across a new development that caught my attention several times before driving by. Directly on St.Laurent blvd, on the west side of the street right before you hit the infamous de la Gauchetiere, a mecca of chinese goodies awaits. Marche G&D ! If you pass by, you will notice once again an ambiguous door entrance, that leads to a small shop filled with packaged sweets, cookies, random items en vrac, ornaments, and trinkets. However, this small boutique is just a facade...an escalator takes you down into the most unexpected discovery in China Town: A giant supermarket! Yes! An actual supermarket finally exists. I was astonished as I entered into a grocery store laced with everything typically chinese. Besides the obvious rows and rows of peculiar snacks, candies, and chocolates, there is an entire produce section, meat counter, and fish station, including oysters of many different varieties! I was pleasantly shocked to see whole fresh fish laying out on ice beds and an array of protein waiting to be chosen. I continued walking through and found more hidden rows devoted to every type of noodle you can think of, jars of every type of sauce and dressing and condiment that could ever cross your mind, and freezers filled with dumplings, veggies, and well....a whole sh*t load more! China Town has stepped up! Not just a small limited food market anymore...it's entering commercial mega-style status! Luckily I managed to snap some pics before the store owner warned me to stop... wasn't quite sure how to explain that my actions would somehow be beneficial...lol
Another cool find was a commercial center in development right next door. As you enter, there are signs illustrating the upcoming construciton of a super-center. But here, another set of escalators sends you UP this time into another undiscovered world of shopping! Little boutiques, lined up one after the other, offer tons and tons of THINGS! No better way to describe it! From typical asian fashion items, to cosmetics, to shoes, and jewelry... it's all there! Again, I couldn't believe that all this was hidden one floor above our favorite soup joints...
Since we're on the topic, I'll take the liberty to mention a couple of may favorite hot spots in China Town. For soup, I stand by Pho-Bac New York. I know everyone has their hard-core preference but this is mine, and this is my article...;) I just love the cleanliness of this place, the fresh plates and vegetable soup, flourished with chinese basil, lime and chop suey. It's my bowl of comfort when winter bites you in the ass! Next is my favorite small-scale food market. Directly before the lights at de la gauchetiere is Marché Pap Pap on your right. She always has a great selection of fruits and veggies at good prices, and clean! And last but never least within the labyrinth of restaurants exists Japanese fondu. Most of you are familiar with the buffet-style
Little Sheep, but it has nothing on
Kagayaki Shabu-Shabu! This restaurant is superbly charming and offers a charismatic foodie experience! For much under 20$, you are asked to select your broth preference (seaweed or spicy) and your choice of protein. A huge plate of asian vegetables and a couple udon noodles are included, as well as rice, soy sauce and an unforgettable peanut sauce of which i end up asking for more. The vegetarian option is wonderful, where the veggie platter is bigger and includes silken tofu. So if you have already been to a hot-pot, shabu-shabu, or japanese fondu before, you know what happens next. The built in bowls in your table are heated up and the broth begins to fizzle. Then it is all up to you! Drop in whatever veggie, meat or fish you want, and eat away! It's a great dinner idea, creative, interactive and absolutely scrumptious! One tip however: the tables are formed into a round circle and seating is side by side. I recommend not going more that 3-4 people as this makes it difficult to exchange conversation.
SO there you have it... was happy to share my new discoveries...God knows there's still a lifetime of digging waiting for me in our beloved China Town!
Posted under environment, food, montreal
![poster [Converted]msom3](http://montrealstateofmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/msom_fr_eng_500x183.jpg "poster [Converted]msom3")
Just when I thought my headstand perfection was the height of my physical capabilities, my body proved me wrong. Welcome yoga wall and ballet! As I mentioned before, I was thoroughly intrigued by this rumour about yoga being taught with straps, inversions, and suspensions. Thanks to my Passport to Prana card, I found studio's in Montreal offering this relatively new idea to our basic yoga styles. I was totally set on trying the flying yoga class at a studio in NDG, however I was highly dissapointed to find out that this special type of class was not offered with my Passport to Prana card. So I began to snoop around for other options and came across Naada Yoga Studio in the Mile End.
A beautifully designed studio on Casgrain street in the Mile End (you know that vortex where St.Laurent washes off into the de Gaspé buildings?) Naada yoga offers a warm welcome and a kind attitude. Established by young yoga enthusiast with a background in dance, Elizabeth Emberly takes us to a whole new world. Yoga Wall! I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I was super hyped! I entered the studio, a small, calm room lined with straps and harnesses attached to the walls. Elizabeth took us through a series of postures. She so elegantly demonstrated how to tangle yourself into the straps to reveal the most amazing inversions and stretches that were at the same time challenging and strength training. I cannot wait to try it again! If you like tricking your body into doing weirdo things, this is for you:)
Jessica Auer
Josée Pedneault
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