Books in Canada
Montrealer Barry Lazars contribution really caught my eye. Its a countertop book, but at nearly 300 pages, its a countertopper on steroids. The key item in it is an alphabetically-arranged meditation on the food resources to be found in Montreal, usually with directions about where to obtain the best, and frequently accompanied by entertaining factoids about the item under scrutiny. Its one of those books you get right away, and immediately wish your own city had something similar-unless youre a Montrealer, in which case youll likely feel deeply grateful to have a walking encyclopaedia like Lazar around.
Lazar has packed a stunning amount into his pages. There are about 70 recipes stuffed into the 26 alphabetical entries, along with an eclectic personal list of 10 of the best things you can find only in Montreal. At the back of the book is an annotated list of public markets and food sources-both shops and restaurants-complete with street addresses, phone numbers and directions for how to get there by public transit. The book is even properly indexed. This is a fascinating and useful book no matter where you live, because it makes you drool with anticipation, and it fills your head with ideas.
Whats so remarkable about this book is that it reveals something about Canadian cities we ought to appreciate more than we do-that theyve become paradises for food lovers with their multicultural populations, and now hold resources that cities twice or thrice their size elsewhere in the world couldnt match. Outside New York City and London, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver possess the widest range of cuisine found anywhere on the planet.
Brian Fawcett (Books in Canada)
Product Description
Garam masala, lemongrass, sausage subs, spruce beer, epazote, and truffles are among the foods served up in the ethnic neighborhood restaurants and strip malls featured in this culinary sampling of the food and cultures of Montreal. Information on spices and flavorings, descriptions of savory tastes, and historical background on the meaning and tradition of certain dishes accompany directions for the traveler or city resident on where to find these restaurants.