Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon's Foie Gras Poutine
Another frequently mentioned Montreal restaurant is Au Pied de Cochon. They are known for taking Quebec and French classics and spinning them with a funky attitude. For example, they have a braised duck that they literally serve out of a can (read about it here).
Since I only had one real night in Montreal, and wanted to try two restaurants, I only ordered what I was most curious about. Foie Gras Poutine. I haven't had the Quebec specialty poutine yet, french fries topped with gravy and cheese curds. I'd also only had foie gras once before, in Cincinnati of all places, and the whole restaurant was awful so I can't really say I've had foie gras properly.
Just as at Schwartz's, for such a popular restaurant I was once again so surprised by how friendly everyone was. The waitress didn't treat me any differently just because I only wanted to drink tap water. And when I said I only wanted the foie gras poutine (which is usually ordered as an appetizer even though it cost CAD$23), she said it is "more than enough for one person." Another waitress would periodically ask how things were, and I even got slipped some extra bread because they saw how I enjoyed eating it.
The bread was so soft on the inside, crispy-crunchy on the outside, and warm. I could have had a meal just eating the bread and sopping up the gravy of the poutine which was rich and meaty. The other components of the poutine? Well, I can now see why people adore foie gras. It was so light and custardy I couldn't believe it had anything to do with liver. However, I can't say that I developed a hankering for it, which is good since I also have ethical concerns. The cheese curds were a bit salty, and just as at Schwartz's, I wish the fries (probably fried in duck fat) were crunch and not soggy. You might be able to see in this picture that they couldn't hold their shape.
Still, I'd love to come back to experience the other dishes on the menu, and to once again experience the good service. I paid with credit card, and the machine was totally new to me. It required a lot of interaction on my part (validating correct amount, choosing how to enter a tip - by % or $ or none at all, entering how much tip, validating final amount), and was in French. The waitress came around and said, "this machine comes with a private tutorial!" Everyone was very friendly and informal. The restaurant sits in this unmarked space on a very adorable cobblestone street.
