At one time, Montreal seemed manageable. It is an extremely small city, walkable from end-to-end, composed mostly of old neighborhoods around a small downtown core and obligatory cookie-cutter suburbs on the outskirts. There's actually not much city to speak of. When you hear Montreal is small, you get the impression that you can master the city; get a hold of it, tackle it in pieces or consume it whole and then watch it grow and change under your supervision. Then you realize there are far too many people, cultures and turnovers in business to ever wrestle this city into submission.
Why am I going on about Montreal like this? I'm a little overwhelmed. Despite having lived in this city for nearly five years now, someone from the New York Times has to tell me about Montreal's newest and best goings-on.
For example, The New York Times "The Moment" blog series has foiled my "first scoop" plans in the past, and continues to beat me to the punch, as Genevieve Paiement staked out Dépanneur Le Pick-Up. Her article can be found here: Pulled Pork and Performance Art in Montreal.
I feel a little better knowing that the Mirror did a feature on Le Pick-Up, as did the Gazette, the MartiniBoys have taken notice, La Presse was probably the first to make mention of this revamped dépanneur, and Genevieve Paiement is a Montreal resident. I'm late to the action, but not too late, and I am in good company. If only I could receive a $/word paycheck for publishing a review of a restaurant that five other media sources had just exhausted...
Dépanneur Le Pick-Up seems to have the potential to become a hipster haunt, but if they serve a good pulled pork sandwich I could not care less. The head chef has worked at Au Pied de Cochon and Garde Manger, so he knows what he's doing. Apparently there is small-scale theatre, music, performances and displays that take place as well. Their website has a list of events, a menu, photos and even a blog. Variety is essential for operating a successful dép, and I am all for trading Brillo pads and toilet paper for "performance art and pulled pork" (cheap smokes, beer and snacks are still offered). There's probably another normal dép at the end of the block anyway.
Why am I going on about Montreal like this? I'm a little overwhelmed. Despite having lived in this city for nearly five years now, someone from the New York Times has to tell me about Montreal's newest and best goings-on.
For example, The New York Times "The Moment" blog series has foiled my "first scoop" plans in the past, and continues to beat me to the punch, as Genevieve Paiement staked out Dépanneur Le Pick-Up. Her article can be found here: Pulled Pork and Performance Art in Montreal.
I feel a little better knowing that the Mirror did a feature on Le Pick-Up, as did the Gazette, the MartiniBoys have taken notice, La Presse was probably the first to make mention of this revamped dépanneur, and Genevieve Paiement is a Montreal resident. I'm late to the action, but not too late, and I am in good company. If only I could receive a $/word paycheck for publishing a review of a restaurant that five other media sources had just exhausted...
Dépanneur Le Pick-Up seems to have the potential to become a hipster haunt, but if they serve a good pulled pork sandwich I could not care less. The head chef has worked at Au Pied de Cochon and Garde Manger, so he knows what he's doing. Apparently there is small-scale theatre, music, performances and displays that take place as well. Their website has a list of events, a menu, photos and even a blog. Variety is essential for operating a successful dép, and I am all for trading Brillo pads and toilet paper for "performance art and pulled pork" (cheap smokes, beer and snacks are still offered). There's probably another normal dép at the end of the block anyway.
