Montreal smoked meat

[The Knize]

I had some supposed "Montreal smoked meat," as well as some corned beef in Canada this past weekend.

Problem was I was in Toronto, not Montreal, and I take it that is a major problem! This was a at Dunn's in the entertainment district. Pickles, cole slaw, and rye bread were all very good. The fries were perfection.

The corned beef, however, seemed pretty "flabby" for want of a better word--sort of water-logged or something, and the so-called smoked meat with much the same only with more cloves. Not at all like good pastrami from Baltimore or New York, or the really splendid, if you get it freshly made at the store and not cryo-vacced, Wagshall's smoked brisket on the border of DC and Bethesda, Maryland.

I understand from the King Edward Hotel concierge guy that this is as good as it gets in Toronto, which is really a shame, according to him, because he is from Montreal, and apparently they really do not know what they are doing in Toronto. It is not only not nearly as good. It is not really the same thing at all.

Can someone confirm? I am still dying to try the real thing!

Thanks!

 

[Go West Young Man]

It's like buying a Chicago deepdish pizza in Milwaukee.

 

[buyandhold2018]

That isn't "as good as it gets in Toronto".

IMO, The best smoked meat in Toronto is Pancer's Deli on Bathurst and Center Street Deli on Center St in Thornhill.

That said, in my humble opinion, the smoked meat at Schwartz's in Montreal is still better. Every time I visit Montreal, I go to Schwartz's at least twice. You know a place is the best when there is a lineup at 11pm on a weeknight for a sandwich.

 

[The Knize]

That isn't "as good as it gets in Toronto".

IMO, The best smoked meat in Toronto is Pancer's Deli on Bathurst and Center Street Deli on Center St in Thornhill.

That said, in my humble opinion, the smoked meat at Schwartz's in Montreal is still better. Every time I visit Montreal, I go to Schwartz's at least twice. You know a place is the best when there is a lineup at 11pm on a weeknight for a sandwich.

In fairness to the concierge at the King Edward, maybe he meant as good as it gets in downtown Toronto, because I think Center Street Deli in Thornhill showed up in an on-line search I did when I was in Toronto, it just seemed like a long trip for someone without a car. I would have been will to walk the several kilometers to Pancer's if I had known about it though.

No doubt that Schwartz's is one that gets a lot of loave in Montreal. It was the one the concierge at the KE waxed poetic and wistfully about!

It's like buying a Chicago deepdish pizza in Milwaukee.

I hear you! But I would know what to order instead of Chicago deepdish pizza in Milaukee, and I guess I really did not know what to order in Toronto! And one does not absolutely have to be in New York, or arguably Baltimore, to get decent pastrami, although it helps!

 

[buyandhold2018]

Knize, the King Eddie is a good hotel, I'm sure the concierge is well informed. I'm guessing he didn't send you to Pancer's because it's a bit of a hike from the KE.

Where he should of sent you is the best place downtown, The New Yorker Deli...

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=...d=Giuq8_YAySq7nm0DmOZqEQ&cbp=12,259.39,,0,2.3

 

[Alacrity59]

I live outside of Toronto but work in Toronto. I don't think there is a Toronto "thing". In Toronto it is all about choice and diversity. Lot's of little treasures around town. Indian Curry, British Fish n Chips, Turkish Shawarma, Jewish Deli, Chinese Dim Sum, German Schnitzel, etc.

Sometimes the subject comes up and Toronto claims Pea Meal Bacon as its own, after all Toronto is Hog town. I've never had it outside my own home or visiting with friends and relatives. Also it is pretty much a Quebec thing too, so God forbid that Torontonians would like something someone from Quebec would like.

 

[rabelais99]

I have to say that I believe the best smoked meat is from Schwartz's. This venerable deli, on boul. St. Laurent (also called The Main) sets itself apart in two ways.

First, the meat is cured and smoked in the basement of the premises, and, second, the meat is hand cut to make each sandwich. You can't underestimate the importance of cutting the meat by hand, as it allows the customer to dictate how lean or fatty they want the sandwich and it allows for imperfections in the brisket to be cut away.

While Schwartz's is the best available today, back in the late 70's I really liked Chenoy's smoked meat sandwich (not even sure if they're still around).

When I was at McGill I used to meet New Yorkers who took weekend 'escapes' to Montreal. They used to rave about the smoked meat and Fairmount Street Bagels.

If you're ever in Montreal, search out a good smoked meat sandwich!

alan

 

[buyandhold2018]

I have to say that I believe the best smoked meat is from Schwartz's. This venerable deli, on boul. St. Laurent (also called The Main) sets itself apart in two ways.

First, the meat is cured and smoked in the basement of the premises, and, second, the meat is hand cut to make each sandwich. You can't underestimate the importance of cutting the meat by hand, as it allows the customer to dictate how lean or fatty they want the sandwich and it allows for imperfections in the brisket to be cut away.

While Schwartz's is the best available today, back in the late 70's I really liked Chenoy's smoked meat sandwich (not even sure if they're still around).

When I was at McGill I used to meet New Yorkers who took weekend 'escapes' to Montreal. They used to rave about the smoked meat and Fairmount Street Bagels.

If you're ever in Montreal, search out a good smoked meat sandwich!

alan

You gotta try St Viateur bagels next time... Nothing beats them! Go there in the morning and eat one right out of the wood burning oven

Montreal rocks

 

[The Knize]

Thanks for all the information.

I did not mean to imply that the food in Toronto was overall less than impressive in any way. Friday night there was a "gala" at the Hockey Hall of Fame, which I assume was catered by different entities specializing in different food, because there was a big variety--Indian, Chinese, Thai, seafood, poutine, meats, sweets, etc., etc, and it was all excellent by any standard. Saturday nights dinner at the National Club was excellent by all standards of that kind of club's dinners. Really very good. And the wines were good all over.

Believe me, good corned beef or pastrami (or similar) is a heck of a find in Washington, DC, too.

The King Eddie was a great hotel, by the way. I would say world class!

Toronto was a fun town. Seems like a great city.

 

[Luc]

Schwartz's is awesome!

 

[kadett]

It's like buying a Chicago deepdish pizza in Milwaukee.

In fairness to the OP, smoked meat in Montréal has not been the same since the closure of Ben's Deli a few years ago. You may as well buy the meat in Toronto as there is little difference

 

[Rudy Vey]

schwartz's is awesome!

+100

 

[ShaveAddict]

If you don't care to go outside Montreal, there's Pete smoke meat in Ile-Perrot,
i grew up there, i know it pretty well.
http://www.westislandgazette.com/victorschukov/11117
http://www.smokemeatpete.com/

 

[Hair apparent]

As much as folks rave about Schwartz's, I prefer a little place across the street called the Main. Their smoked meat is a little drier than most of the famous Montreal smoked meat house, but I think it is more flavorful.

Montreal is probably the only city where a smoked meat cutter is an actual job description you can see in the want ads!

 

[mr. s]

I love smoked meat. We have it every christmas eve with all my extended family! I was also lucky enough to live in Montreal for a couple years and eat it regularly.
After I came back from montreal I went to a 'montreal' restaurant and ordered one. It was terrible. They can be really hit and miss, but always worth the effort I think.

 

[Alacrity59]

In fairness to the OP, smoked meat in Montréal has not been the same since the closure of Ben's Deli a few years ago. You may as well buy the meat in Toronto as there is little difference

I heard from a friend that the staff went on strike. Sad it closed. I'd say that despite it being in Quebec that it had a common heritage with deli restaurants in NYC.