We’re ending MTL a Table in absolute style. This time, we’re in for a $41 menu at Bonaparte. Bonaparte is French cuisine located in Old Montreal very close to where I work. The menu itself was probably one of the most anticipated in our little foodie adventure event. Also, we didn’t realize but this is a five service meal (including tea and coffee). The restaurant is attached to the Auberge Bonaparte where you go in from the cozy reception area to enter the restaurant itself.
Are you excited? I know I am!
MTL a Table: Bonaparte
Table decoration/ambiance
Drinks & Bread
From tallest to shortest: La Presque “Made in Quebec”, Le Old Timer, La Sour D’Automne
Mine was the La Presque “Made in Quebec”. It has Ungava Gin, Cassis Monas et Filles (a blackcurrant based wine), maraschino, lemon. This one was quite good. It did feel a little strong but the mix was rather tasty. Not too fruity but a stronger taste. One of my friends described as cough meds. So I guess the cherry and blackcurrent might give that sort of taste if you don’t like it.
Le Old Timer was my husband’s choice. I cannot remember what it had. I think its spiced rum, ice cider and lemon(?). He liked it quite a bit. That one was even stronger than mine in taste but still rather refreshing.
My friend’s husband took the “Autumn Sour” (in translation). It was a fruity mix among at the three. I can’t remember at all except that it had egg whites in it and some fruity addition. It was the lightest out of the three in taste but maybe not in content. You know, cocktails tend to be heavier the sweeter it is 😉
Delicious bread and fantastic presentation
I haven’t posted any of the bread offered at the previous 3 restaurants in MTL a Table but bread is an important part of the menu as well. It starts our meal and sometimes, its important that its appealing to eyes as well. Bonaparte inspires confidence just because an eating experience also includes a visual one from every angle. Even its bread not only tasted delicious and fresh and had variety of multigrain and normal baguette but also was presented so beautifully. It was hard to resist eating it.
1st service
Lobster bisque enhanced with ginger
Mixed green salad with pine nuts (and parmesan shaving*)
1st service encountered an issue for me. I couldn’t eat either of the dishes. In retrospect, I shouldn’t taken the green salads with the parmesan since my friends and my husband shared the dish after their lobster bisque. What I can’t eat, they now know to share their opinions with me. Mixed greens salads was great with the addition of the pine nuts adding a nice twist and it was very fresh. My friend’s husband preferred the salad over the lobster bisque but my friend and my husband liked the lobster bisque.
2nd service
Homemade smoked salmon with truffle oil
Warm goat cheese and almonds in phyllo dough
Duck foie gras creme brulee with sauteed apples
My choice was the Homemade Smoked Salmon. This was absolutely delicious. I kid you not. I’m not a huge smoked salmon fan. I tolerate it and it has a nice texture and all that but this one blew me away. I took my first bite and was like “Wow!”.
No one was a big goat cheese fan so my friend’s husband took this one. I’m not sure if goat cheese has lactose but apparently they say it doesn’t. I think he enjoyed it although there was more discussion on the former topic than the dish itself.
The last choice here had the most conversation between us. My husband and friend both took this one. Duck foie gras was fantastic however, each of them had the same conclusion. The bread offered to pair it was a little too crumbly, rather, they ended up using the baguettes and multigrain bread offered to us instead. However, the star, duck foie gras creme brulee was a sure winner and possibly a highlight of the meal.
3rd service
Dover sole fillet seasoned with Meuniere style fresh herbs and pine nuts
Rack of Lamb and port wine jus
Beef filet mignon seasoned with five peppercorn and cognac
Breast of duck flavored with maple syrup and wild berries
Its nice to say that all the meals were done great. We all loved our own meals.
My friend took the sole fillet. I had a taste and it was fresh and had a great texture. The herbs and especially the pine nuts added an extra to the meal itself.
My choice was the rack of lamb. It was tender and very tasty. I’m not usually a fan of port wine jus but this one was really well matched with the meat. Plus, the veggies were a great side. Every dish had similar vegetable sides. The sweet potato mash was fluffy and so delicious. Also, we had an assortment of carrots with the white and the purple sort. They both were very good since its the first time I’ve tasted it.
My husband chose the beef fillet mignon. That peppercorn and cognac sauce was key to making this piece of meat just melt in my mouth. I had one bite and while I’m not a huge steak sort of fan. This cut was amazing. I loved it and he loved it!
My friend’s husband had the duck breast. I had a little tasting of this as well. The wild berries sauce works really well with duck. Berries seem to be the best way to match with duck meat and its definitely a winner. They suggested this choice as the highlight dish. I can definitely see why.
4th service
Fruit Salad
Symphony of homemade desserts: Creme brulee, cheesecake, raspberry torte, chocolate mousse
Typically there is only one choice and its the symphony of homemade desserts which is like a taster dish. The winner of this one is the creme brulee that everyone liked a lot. A very close second was the cheesecake. That was the general consensus. Obviously, I couldn’t eat this so I got a very appealing diced fruit salad. First of all, I always find fruit salads to be a cheap replacement to my neighbors who are having this fancy array of desserts. But, what made me feel a little better about this was that they had mangoes in their fruit salad which pretty much increased the value of it. Plus, you add mango to anything and I’m in love so good move on Bonaparte.
5th service: Tea and Coffee
Sorry, I was on baby duty at this part so I didn’t take any pictures. We had a proper teapot with Four O’Clock tea. There was a variety of choices. Mine with Green Tea and my friend took Camomile.
Overall…
$41 at five course meal is very decent. When we flipped through the menu, there was a degustation menu which had two more services and was priced at $74. Plus, the service was great. The food was very enjoyable and appealing. They had a few little details that we didn’t enjoy or some pairings some of us couldn’t get passed but overall, it was a delicious meal. The presentation and the taste, especially in our main course (3rd service) was a winner for all of us. I tried all the plates and each one was like it melted in my mouth and made me feel so happy. A nice way wrap up our MTL a Table outing!
Definitely an event worth going to! We made some really good discoveries in this year’s MTL a Table week and I look forward to what next year has to offer. My only suggestion to have restaurants always offer something that is allergen free of some sort, whether its gluten-free or at least the basic lactose-free. It really helps to get the full experience without having to feel left out or guessing what was set to balance it.
Tranquil Dreams 