If you haven’t been to one of Montreal’s newest and most life-affirming restaurants, Foodlab, go, go, go, run. Honestly, I make a visit every couple of weeks, because the menu changes quickly and energetically and who knows what marvels Michelle and Seth will come up with next! Earlier this month, Ashley, one of my most awesome and badass friends from San Diego, was in town for some fun so I wanted to take her somewhere equally amazing and memorable. Foodlab, of course. That week, the theme was the terrific products of Kamouraska-based Fou du Cochon, which is imported by local Montreal duo La CV. We ordered every single thing on the menu and devoured it all rapidly, happily. (As if I would ever pass up an opportunity to eat Michelle’s life-changing trawberry shortcakes). Even Bartek, notably extra-knowledgeable about sausages, had a rapturous moment over Nathalie’s sumptuous, ultra-tender boudin blanc.
Foodlab is such a refreshing and vital change of direction in Montreal’s already terrific food scene. The restaurant presents one short menu with a single, focused theme, and it’s truly food plucked straight from Michelle and Seth’s hearts. I have actually eaten things at Foodlab that I have also eaten in Michelle’s own kitchen! How many times can you say that about a big-city restaurant? Certain dishes are recognizably hers, like the savory, crisp green chickpea salad tossed with dandelion greens. And you can count on reasonable prices too, and an always-solid wine list. I love going there and always take out-of-town friends looking for relatively cheap prices and persistently delicious food. Needless to say the meal fueled and fortified us for a very long night of fun and laughter.