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Food festival fever >> Sampling chow from all over the world
by SPANKY HOROWITZ Do you ever get really hungry? I mean really, really hungry? Well, when you get that hungry, I'm sure you do something about it, right? It's probably no different from what I do. When I get really, really hungry, I go down to the bank machine, withdraw my daily limit of cold, hard cash, and proceed to do what I like to call the "Grand Tour of Take-Out." I spend the day walking, biking and cabbing around town, buying a few hundred dollars worth of food, and then I spread it out on my dining room table and eat it. You do the same thing, right? On this grand tour, I usually "visit" Greece, Italy, France, Japan, China, Lebanon, Israel, Russia, Mexico, Spain and sometimes Canada. The problem with this "tour" is that by the time you get home, the food is cold and/or stale, not to mention that it costs a bundle. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a magical place where great foods from all over the world were available, and at affordable prices? Sound like a pipe dream? Well, folks, let me tell you about Les Fêtes Gourmandes. For 16 glorious days, this food festival offers fare from over 30 countries, and whether you want a seven-course meal or just an ice cream cone, this is the place for you. I've already been twice, and plan to visit again. My first time did feel like I was visiting a country I had never been to. There were strange looking people everywhere, and some of them were speaking foreign languages. I overheard some French, Spanish, German and possibly what might have been either Swedish or an American Texas twang. As you wander outside from booth to booth (there are more than 80!) you can buy a "sampler" plate for $3 or less or you can spend as much as you like. There are some real bargains here, and some real curiosities. My first stop was Brazil, where I sampled the rattlesnake stew, the turtle soup and a Brazilian soda called guarana that is supposedly an aphrodisiac! The snake was a gumbo type stew with decent-sized chunks of rattlesnake in it, served on rice. It had a tangy fish flavour, but with the consistency of very tender veal. I liked it and would definitely eat it again. Luckily, Montreal area restaurants host many of the booths, so you can taste it again. I also tried some bison, alligator, mussels, zucchini blossoms and shark, and I didn't taste anything I didn't like. There is also a big tent on the site that houses a Cuban fiesta party, complete with a kickass live band. There are picnic tables everywhere and plenty of green space to sit on and enjoy your food, plus games for the kids. My only criticism would be the general lack of English. The signs and menus are all in French, which will make it difficult for tourists and even for English Montrealers who are bilingual but might not know all the food words, especially the exotic ones. The whole thing ends this Sunday, August 22, so get on over there.
La Corrida Portugaise If Ile Notre-Dame is too far or if your stomach wants to focus on Portuguese food, head over to the Maisonneuve Market for Le Fiesta Latine. This is the party accompanying the bullfights, taking place at the Big O on Saturday, August 21. The party runs from Friday to Sunday, and will feature authentic food (and some music and dancing) from Portugal. Call 253-7423 for more information.
Les Fêtes Gourmandes Dates: Until August 22 Address: Île Notre-Dame (Île Ste-Helène metro) Phone: 861-8241
Hours: Thursday and Sunday, 11am-11pm; Entrance fee: $5 Prices: $3 and up |