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Food Porn: Big Holes and Smoked Meat

If you’re an avid reader of this site, you’ll already know that I was recently in Montreal. In warm weather, it’s one of my favorite cities on earth. Growing up in a city of about 1.5 million has given me a certain affinity for its scale. It’s just big enough to be anonymous, but not so big that you’re a stranger to anyone. I may not know you, but I bet I know a friend of yours, or worked with your cousin, or went to school with your best friend.

But anyway, I don’t know anyone in Montreal. Until my last trip, I didn’t even know how deep its Jewish community went. Not only is it old and well established, but it’s so unique that they’ve developed their own bagels and cured meat.

Bagels are smaller and lighter. I sampled the famous Fairmount Bagel and at Brad Maule’s advice, St. Viateur Bagel just a few blocks away. Seeing the bagel maker’s work is like watching the Lorenzos guys flip those giant pies… only better. Truly amazing stuff. I liked them both, but still prefer the New York style.

During a 15 mile jaunt around town, I also stopped to take a few photos into a dirty (but tasty) looking deli. I found out later, that the deli was Schwartz’s… which is sort of like the Pat’s Steaks of Montreal Delis. Most days, a line extends out into the street as eager locals and tourists wait to eat the pastrami-like conction known as Montreal Smoked Meat. Before leaving the city I had a sandwich, fries, cole slaw and black cherry soda. It was fucking delicious. Schwartz’s lives up to the hype. Like the bagels, the people and Canada itself, the deli sandwiches are smaller and more sensible than their American counterparts.

That’s about all I have to say about it, so here are the photos:

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