One of the biggest issues with travel famils is the amount of food one eats. This is admittedly mostly self inflicted and could be stopped of course by judicious meal choices. And please do understand I’m not looking for any sympathy here, it’s hard to complain when you’re offered all of this fantastic food. But it doest mean that at times, you need to put the brakes on and eat like a socialite. That is me today.
We head downstairs to Versus restaurant in the Hotel Nelligan. I have a look at the menu and ask Mr NQN “Do you mind having foie gras again?” He’s agreeable but as for me, I’m headed towards the salads and a glass of champagne.
Foie gras au torchon $16
Mr NQN is happy to see foie gras au torchon on the menu as he enjoyed it only the other night. Foe gras au torchon is when foie gras has been soaked in milk and then rolled in salt and sugar and then wrapped in cheesecloth and you do this very tightly (the “au torchon”) and refrigerated for a few days. it is then sliced up and served with toast.
It is served with a late harvest sticky and the waiter suggests that we take a bite of the foie gras with the candied fruit and then a sip of the wine. It’s wonderful and the foie gras just melts away on the tongue.
Tomato, bocconcini and artichoke tart with salad (part of $24 3 course menu)
The tomato, bocconcini and artichoke heart tart sits on a base of buttery pastry. It is light and full of lovely flavours.
Beef tartar, fries and salad $18
I know, I know, $18 for a beef tartar, fries and salad in a top hotel restaurant! The thing we learn about Montreal is that the average wage is about $30,000 and they pay high rates of tax but a lot of services are included and people seem to live pretty good lives for the most part. So restaurant prices reflect the average wage here and are incredibly reasonable for the standard of food.
We both love the beef tartare which comes with a lovely kick of chilli, hand cut chips and a balsamic and olive oil salad of mixed greens. It comes with a tomato sauce and mayonnaise.
Grilled salmon salad with marinated peppers with goats cheese vinagirette (part of $24 3 course menu)
The large fillet of grilled salmon sits on an enormous bed of salad liberally dressed with a goat’s cheese creamy dressing. The serving is huge, I can only finish about half of it but I don’t know if the goat’s cheese dressing really complements the salmon.
Fruit Salad (part of $24, 3 course menu)
I know, I know, but I was on this damned socialite’s diet wasn’t I? It’s very similar to the fruit salad that Mr NQN had that morning for breakfast.
Chocolate and coconut Panna cotta$9
They seem to like serving panna cotta in containers here in Montreal rather that free standing wobbling and jiggly ones. This is a chocolate and coconut panna cotta topped with buttery sable crumbs. It’s good although this is more coconut cream than toasted coconut which goes so well with chocolate.
I like to think I ate sensibly and like a socialite. Although I wonder if socialites also demolish half of their husband’s dishes too?
So tell me Dear Reader, how often do you eat or live like a socialite?
NQN travelled to Canada as a guest of Tourism Canada and dined at Verses as a guest of Hotel Nelligan.
Verses Restaurant
Hotel Nelligan
106, Saint-Paul Street West, Old Montreal (Quebec) Canada H2Y 1Z3
T. 514.788.2040
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35 Comments | Add your own
Not sure I would want to live like a socialite unless it involved the entire lifestyle – not working, rich husband, nanny, personal trainer, driver, multiple houses around the world etc etc. I am, however, willing to try it out to see if I like it!!
LOVE Foie Gras, TRUE!
“On occasion” indulge as the socialite too!
ANYTIME you would enjoy inviting me,
AM sure my “continued” smile on my face you would see!
I agree with the goats cheese dressing, I had a similar dish a few weeks ago, it just didn’t work for me
Mmmm, I’ve been guilty of socialite eating at times too, but rarely & only as much as absolutely necessary. My intentions are good its just seeing it through I seem to have difficulties with. (You know…, once my order arrives & I realise how absolutely I must, must, must have just a little taste of everyone else’s plate); this I have to admit has earned me a bad reputation
Ah in the heady days of my journalism I often got to live like a socialite. Was invited to the nicest parties, expensive dinners, travil famils, tv launches, movie premieres, upgraded when flying, the lot. I loved it, but I always felt like an imposter!
Socialite? Not sure! Sometimes that’s the only option
Love the look of that Salmon. Yum.
You are fueling my already strong desire to travel to Montreal. Mmmm Poutine
That foies gras looks and sounds amazing. Have you ever seen it prepared like that anywhere in Australia?
I think you’re one to put those boring socialites in their place, rather than be one.
It all looks delicious as usual. I love the gooseberry on top of the fruit salad. I love the Italian word for gooseberry – uva spina.
I know exactly what you mean. After I have been away for work for about a week- I need to come home and eat a plate of steamed greens for the next few meals to detox and get rid of the heavy feeling- don’t get me wrong, the food is fantastic, but I can only do a certain amount!
Live like a socialite? Very, very rarely. I’m much more happy at home with friends, lounging around in comfortable clothes and chatting, than gadding about with strangers!
The fruit salad does look good, though….
“Do you mind having foie gras again?” haha, would love to be in that situation! There’s no fun in being a socialite, you’re always concerned about what you look like and who you’re seen with which means you have to be careful about what you eat, bugger that, I’ll eat what pleases me!
I don’t think I’d be very good at the whole “socialite’ eating thing! To restrained for me!
I can’t believe the prices there! The only time I ever feel like a socialite is when Frank is driving me around somewhere.
Lovely post as ever Lorraine, thanks!
Oh dear, not foie gras again darling! How extreemly gauche.
I practically never eat like a socialite, as I’m much closer to a socialist as I advocate ‘foie gras for all!’
I like the idea of combining panna cotta and crumble, and I could never say no to that for a fruit salad! Your self control is admirable!
One can never have too much foie gras, daahling.. hehe
hmm. looks like they didn’t plan their spacing very well in that logo…
these prices are more my style, and the food is still lovely!
Not the socialite life for me, they’re too stuck up to actually enjoy life!
I’m for gathering around a huge table and sharing the best of food and wine with family and friends.
A need a few more fruit salad options!
You lucky lady =) I wish I could dine like a socialite… but I might be ostracize for eating up all the crumbs =P
foie gras is always good no matter how you cook it ! We also cook ham “au torchon” in a spicy broth !Pierre
Haha, I know exactly what you mean – by the end of a long trip all you want is a salad and a home-cooked meal. In America I found the meals so big that I would just have one normal meal a day (which was the equivalent of 2 Australian meals), then fruit, salad, or cupcakes and cocktails (well…) the rest of the time.
Briony xx
I’m happily surprised at how affordably priced this place is! Everything looks lovely, and I agree, sometimes the socialite’s diet is in order.
[whistful sigh....]
The socialite life has been put on hold during the ‘family’ years but I do look forward to the rare night out when I can ignore the kids menu and just focus on the food and wine.
I totally understand. Even a few days of restaurant food or take away is enough – you’ll find me with a bowl of steamed broccoli desperate for a detox. (of course it is dressed with butter, S&P and lemon – you can’t be too purist about it
)
The socialite thing is fun every now & then but definitely not a regular occurrence. At least I don’t think many socialites dine on the couch in their pj’s!
Socialite dining seems to be happening to us a bit lately. Yesterday was lunch at Bistro Moncur in Woolahra. Normally we would have the Pelorus Sparkling however yesterday we went straight for the Perrier Jouet Blason Rose Champagne. We were in one of those why not moods again. Then dinner ended up being a cheapy with a whole tandoori chicken and some naan from Faheem’s Fast Foods in ENmore(near home) follwoed by yet another bottle of Champagne, this time the Heidseick and Co Monopole. And last week was Cafe Sydney. Tomorrow I have a lunch at Pony in the Rocks, end of next month I have a dinner at Aperitif in Kings Cross. I better break out the joggers and hit the footpath!
Never had a life of a socialite. but willingly to try it out!
Wow, with those prices, I could afford to live more live a socialite! But I can’t complain.
Love the last shot, looks like it’s taken out of a movie or maybe restaurateurs mulling over business decisions?
I always wondered how you did it without weighing 500lbs…
The food looks lovely but I can’t help but think the tart base looks just like a muffin half! Hehe, I can imagine packs of Tip Top muffins in the kitchen next to the containers of foie gras.
I can only dream of the socialite life.
Foie gras…. drool…..
I hope that through it all…your time in the Old Montreal region was memorable and pleasant. The Nelligan is quite decent…however, I do hope you were sent to some better eateries than this one…especially since this one happens to be what I call a tiny ‘tourist trap’. The views from the roof top are great…I do hope you had a chance to enjoy a drink up above ;o)
Ciao for now,
Claudia
Ooh – I could do with some of that steak tartare and fries right now! Amongst company this time of course!
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