JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM
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With The Daily Trudeau Show on the TV in many households over the past few months, our Prime Minister remains on the minds of many — Justin Trudeau wins Hottest Montrealer yet again, despite START (or because of?) the beard, and hair that’s looking more and more 19th century every day. Hairdressers, you are missed. (Trudeau is also #5 Tackiest Personality, possibly for reasons beyond the superficial.) A man who’s been getting almost as much shine as Trudeau on our website lately, François Legault, wins Slimiest Politician yet again, but also comes in at #2 for Best Politician — in Legault’s case, his (brief) post-COVID approval bump may have come into play, or perhaps these two categories are somewhat interchangeable. Congrats to our mairesse And the city has spoken. it’s nice to get a few laughs in during the painstaking tabulation Valérie Plante for winning process. This year there were votes for chef/TV personality/ Best Politician AND sliding into #2 Hottest Montrealer. Over the past four months, Cult MTL readers and other citizens rapper Dino Babydoll Luciano, columnist and social media She does look pretty cool in invested in civic pride voted for their favourite Montreal things in personality Murphy Cooper and comedian/radio host Julian a mask (and no, that’s not the annual Best of MTL poll. Bernatchez in way too many categories, along with griping about meant to be snide). everything from the length of the poll to the fact that we’d dare When voting began back in early February, we of course didn’t suggest that there are politicians who aren’t evil (ie. the Best foresee the citywide shutdown that was coming in mid-March. Politician category, which is open to interpretation by the way). The last two months of voting happened while most of us were in lockdown, and given the fact that so many local businesses Cult MTL has been running the Best of MTL readers poll for Cindy Lopez were closed, and so many local artists were inactive (at least eight years, but it bears mentioning that the survey follows in Little Italy, Best Neighbourhood #2 publicly), filling out the survey was a bittersweet. The voting the decades-old tradition established by the city’s defunct but period was extended as this issue was held back by a month fondly remembered alt-weekly newspaper the Mirror. Respect. so that we could print and distribute it as we normally do. Hottest Montrealer Best Sports Best Weirdo rights/reconciliation Slimiest Politician Cult MTL produced two consecutive online-only issues, in April Along with the expanded Top 10 lists in every category (coming Personality and May, and while we’re very proud of those issues, which to cultmtl.com in the coming days), our website will feature a 1 Justin Trudeau 1 Natasha Nebula 4 Dans la rue/fighting 1 François Legault 1 Laurent Duvernay-Tardif contained exclusively free advertising, it’s nice to be back number of Best of MTL articles through the month of June and 2 Valérie Plante 2 Beaver Sheppard homelessness 2 Justin Trudeau in print. More importantly, with the city gradually reopening beyond. 2 Carey Price 3 Valérie Plante — but so much activity still on hold, and so many still in 3 Tranna Wintour 3 Murphy Cooper 5 Gentrification/housing isolation and quarantine — it’s imperative to salute the artists, We thank everyone who voted and promoted the poll. 4 Maripier Morin 3 Brendan Gallagher 4 Julien Bernatchez crisis 4 Denis Coderre promoters, organizers, reporters, restaurateurs and retailers Participation continues to grow every year, making the 2020 5 Jean Charest who keep Montreal’s heart beating, even in partial stasis. results more representative of the city than ever. 5 Évelyne Brochu 4 Félix Auger-Aliassime 5 Uma Gahd 5 Max Domi Best Politician As always, the Best of MTL poll is open and democratic, with (Anglos, if you’re wondering why you don’t recognize some Most Heinous Best-Dressed 1 Valérie Plante no editorial influence or interference. We are always glad to names in these lists, it’s because the other 70 per cent of the Best Social/ Scandal see so many people make an event of voting via social media population is now voting in a bilingual poll. Francos, désolé, les Montrealer Tackiest Personality 2 François Legault Political Cause 1 CHSLD Herron/COVID-19 campaigns, and while we can’t resist sharing third-party get- résultats sont unilingue.) 1 Céline Dion 1 Céline Dion out-the-vote tweets, we otherwise remain neutral during the 1 Climate change/climate 3 Justin Trudeau response polling period. To all the winners in the following 150+ categories: 2 Justin Trudeau 2 Mado Lamotte march 4 Manon Massé 2 Bill 21 congratulations. Ballot-stuffing is automatically weeded out by our survey 3 Lily Monroe 3 Mose Persico 2 COVID-19/#cavabienaller/ 5 Craig Sauvé 3 SNC-Lavalin software, but we must admit that we appreciate joke votes — More than ever, we’re proud to bring you the Best of MTL 4 Tranna Wintour 4 Véronique Cloutier CERB 4 Sue Montgomery 5 Murphy Cooper 5 Justin Trudeau 3 Wet’suwet’en/First Nations 5 Pipelines
6 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 •CULTMTL.COM 7 Best Neighbourhood Best Instagram Spot 1 Mile End 1 Belvedere on Mount 2 Rosemont Petite-Patrie/ Royal Little Italy 2 Pastel Rita 3 Plateau 3 HideSeek pop-up 4 NDG 4 Beaver Lake 5 St-Henri 5 Orange Julep 6 Verdun 7 Hochelaga-Maisonneuve 8 Villeray 9 Parc Ex 10 Centre-Sud/Village
Best Place to Have Public Sex 1 Mount Royal 2 Parc Lafontaine 3 Lachine Canal 4 Wiggle Room bathrooms 5 Cinéma l’Amour
“I can’t deny the fact that you like me! RIGHT NOW! YOU LIKE ME! Bless all the people who vote for me year after year. To those who are too scared to get political, or to engage in deep and crazy ways with our community, this proves that “Many thanks to the readers of Cult MTL. I am delighted to have such fantastic fans who always cheer for me when I play in Montreal or anywhere else in the world, it means a you can do it and still be loved. Get out there, use your voice for the better. #BlackLivesMatter #PrideWasARiot Gahd lot to me. I wish all of them much strength and courage in these trying times.”—Felix Auger-Aliassime, Best Sports Personality #4 Bless!”—Uma Gahd, Best Weirdo #5, Best Twitter #3, Best Play #4 (Are You There, Margaret? It’s Me, Gahd)
8 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM Media
As always we thank our readers for voting us into the #1 spot for both Best Newspaper and Best Magazine — we like to think of ourselves as a magazine on newsprint, so we’re pretty guilty of blurring the line there. We will take issue with our win in the Best Website category, however — sure our site is great (especially after the redesign we did a year ago), but how could we possibly have beaten Pornhub? Especially during the pandemic, when they’re offering their premium content for free (not a sponsored sentence). We assume that a fair number of voters don’t know it’s a local site. It’s the only explanation. On another note, shout-out to FNoMTL for winning Best Instagram and Best Twitter, and to #GeekTastiqCypha (part of the Franklin Armstrong Collective) for rising up into the Top 5 from last year’s #9 spot in Best Podcast.
Best Radio Station 1 CKUT 90.3FM 2 CJLO 1690AM 3 CHOM 97.7FM
4 CBC 88.5FM/93.5FM “Any sort of culinary recognition is like a love boost. I’m in love with food, I’m in love with feeding people, so knowing that I have this sort of recognition and people enjoy my food and they love what I do makes me feel really good inside. I came [to Montreal] to study food and to eat at different places, see what people have to offer and I connected with people that way. It’s nice to know I’ve won the hearts of people through their stomachs.”—Dino Babydoll Luciano, Best Chef #4, Best TV Personality #5, Best Hip Hop Act #5 5 Virgin 95.5FM Best Radio Host Best Newscaster Best Magazine Best Website Best Radio Show 1 Terry DiMonte 1 Mutsumi Takahashi 1 Cult MTL 1 cultmtl.com 1 Underground Sounds 2 Mitch Melnick 2 Céline Galipeau 2 Lez Spread the Word 2 pornhub.com (CKUT 90.3FM) 3 Jason Rockman 3 Patrice Roy 3 Urbania 3 mtlblog.com 2 La soirée est encore jeune 4 Nick Schofield 4 Paul Karwatsky 4 Maisonneuve 4 montreal.eater.com (ICI Radio-Canada Première 5 Julien Bernatchez 5 Pierre Bruneau 5 Fugues 5 mtlcityweblog.com 95.1FM) 3 Country Classics (CKUT Best TV Station Best TV Personality Best Newspaper Best Twitter 90.3FM) 1 CTV 1 Mutsumi Takahashi 1 Cult MTL 1 @FNoMTL 4 Terry in the Morning 2 CBC 2 Jay du Temple 2 The Gazette 2 @CultMTL (CHOM 97.7FM) 3 Radio-Canada 3 Jean-René Dufort 3 Le Devoir 3 @UmaGahd 5 Des si et des rais ( 4 Télé-Québec 4 Horacio Arruda 4 Métrot 4 @Pornhub CHOQ.ca) 5 Global 5 Dino Babydoll Luciano 5 Journal de Montréal 5 @TrannaWintour
10 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM Nightlife LIBRAIRIE DRAWN & QUARTERLY 176 & 211 BERNARD, MILE END
This is the bitter in the mtl.drawnandquarterly.com bittersweetness of Best of MTL 2020. Homestyle drugs and drinks aside, the entirety of this section is closed or otherwise inactive. CURBSIDE PICKUP IS BACK AT 176 BERNARD W! *NEW* DOORWAY RECOMMENDATIONS! Well, with some exceptions. Cinema Politica is streaming documentaries online and Burgundy Lion is delivering food, while a few of the OUR STAFF LOVE MAKING SUGGESTIONS VIRTUAL BOOK CLUBS performers on the list have had some visibility online. AND CAN SELL YOU BOOKS AT THE DOOR! Congrats to Hurley’s for JUNE 11, THURSDAY | 7 PM NEW READS increased visibility in the Bar categories, and to Miami Minx For children’s recommendations, call: 514-279-2279 The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya (a boylesque artist new to the Best Burlesque Top 5) as well For all other recommendations, call: 514-279-2224 JUNE 17, WEDNESDAY | 7 PM GRAPHIC NOVEL as Charlie Deville and Sisi Superstar, new to the Best Umma’s Table by Yeon-sik Hong Drag Queen/King category. Or stop by TUESDAY–SUNDAY from 12–5 at either St-Henri’s Bar de Courcelle JULY 2, THURSDAY | 7 PM and Mile Ex’s Notre Dame location to talk in-person. We’ll be wearing our INDIGENOUS LITERATURES des Quilles are as popular as ever with our readers. We’re masks and hope you will too! Wendy, Master of Art by Walter Scott “C’est une consécration de notre statut de gay icon, mais aussi preuve qu’une vie sexuelle avec de multiples all hoping public health will partenaires peut paver le chemin vers la gloire.” —2Fxfs le Matin, Best Podcast #1 announce some physical JULY 7, TUESDAY | 7 PM TRUE READS distancing guidelines for all Free shipping in Quebec for orders bars with terrasses, at the The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben Best Instagram Best Podcast very least. Until then, we have over $40 continues! our memories. JULY 19, SUNDAY | 6 PM COOK BOOK 1 @fnomtl 1 2Fxfs le Matin Pasta Grannies by Vicky Bennison 2 @all_day_breakfast 2 Chosen Family “Didn’t see this coming! I’ve gotta say that I’m missing all my customers and friends and Montreal nightlife. Can’t JULY 22, WEDNESDAY | 7 PM GAY READS wait to be able to have a pint with you guys at Hurley’s.” —Turbo, Best Bartender #1 (Hurley’s, Best Bar #4) 3 @burymeatleritz 3 #GeekTastiqCypha I Hope We Choose Love by Kai Cheng Thom 4 @murphycooper 4 Mike Ward Sous Écoute JULY 29, WEDNESDAY | 7 PM LOCAL READS Best Bartender 5 @pontomtl 5 WellSaid Best Wine Bar Best Live Dominoes at the Crossroads by Kaie Kellough 1 Turbo (Hurley’s) 1 Vinvinvin Music Venue 1 M Telus AUG 4, TUESDAY | 7 PM TRUE READS 2 Gern F. Vlchek (Grumpy’s) 2 Loïc Recollections of My Non-Existence by Rebecca Solnit 2 Théâtre Corona Virgin 3 Rashta Kruger (Blue Dog) 3 Pullman AUG 11, TUESDAY | 7 PM STRANGE FUTURES Mobile 4 Maya Rice (Brutopia) 4 Vin Papillon The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin 3 Turbo Haüs 5 Megan Turcotte (Burgundy 5 Buvette Chez Simone Lion) 4 Casa del Popolo ORDER ONLINE AT MTL.DRAWNANDQUARTERLY.COM Best Club 5 La Sala Rossa Best Bar 1 Datcha 1 Turbo Haüs 2 Stereo Best Underground Music Venue 2 Grumpy’s 3 Bord’Elle 1 La Plante 3 Notre Dame des Quilles 4 Sky 2 The Bog 4 Hurley’s 5 Nesta 3 Durocher Lofts 5 Bar de Courcelle Best Club Night 4 Fattal Lofts Best Dive Bar 1 Glitter Bomb 5 Traxide 1 Barfly 2 Mec Plus Ultra 2 Bar de Courcelle 3 Moonshine Best Promoter 1 Blue Skies Turn Black 3 Grumpy’s 4 Blush 2 Evenko 4 Bifteck 5 LuvHaus “Montréal, j’aimerais [CENSORED] partout sur toi, tu gorges mon [CENSORED] d’un plaisir si pur que je dois le 5 Brasserie Beaubien 3 Greenland partager à tous avant de retourner sur ma planète.” —Julien Bernatchez, Best Weirdo #4, Best Radio Host #5
12 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM
cult_AD_june 1 2020-06-02 2:21 PM “We stand with all our fellow restaurateurs and friends in hospitality and nightlife. We have been amongst the hardest hit and our world is still filled with great uncertainty. However at Bord’Elle we pride ourselves in bringing joy, entertainment and great food to the masses and we are certain that things will get better soon. The human spirit is richer when we are able to share and celebrate special moments in life, and we will be there for you when the time is right.”—John Edward Gumbley, John Jay, President Jegantic Group, President Bord’elle, Best Club #3
4 Hot Tramp Management 4 Sugar Vixen 3 Bowling Darling 4 Sugar Sammy Best Drug 5 Hello Darlin’ 5 Lou Lou la Duchesse de 4 Forum 5 Akeem Hoyte-Charles 1 Marijuana Rière 5 Laurentian Lanes 2 MDMA /Molly Best Strip Club Best Comedy Night 3 Cocaine 1 Chez Parée Best Drag Queen Best Film 1 Open Mike (Le Bordel) 4 Mushrooms or King Screening Series 2 Café Cléopâtre 2 Battle of Wits (Diving Bell 5 Ketamine 1 Mado Lamotte 1 Cinema Politica 3 Cabaret Kingdom Social Club) 2 Uma Gahd 2 Trannavision 4 Kamasutra 3 Squad Laughs (La Plante) Best Drink 3 Charlie Deville 3 cELLEuloid 5 Wanda’s 4 Stand Back 1 Beer 4 Rainbow 4 Minuit au Parc (Notre Dame des Quilles) 2 Gin & tonic 5 Sisi Superstar Best LGBTQ2+ Bar/ 5 Drunken Cinema 5 There’s Something Funny Club 3 Bourbon/whiskey Going On (Blue Dog) 4 Wine 1 Notre Dame des Quilles Best Pool Hall Best Comedy Venue 5 Old-fashioned 2 Sky 1 Fats 1 Bordel Comédie Club Best Karaoke Bar 3 Chez Mado 2 Fitzroy 2 Comedy Nest 1 Pang Pang Best Cocktail Bar 4 Bar le Cocktail 3 Forum 3 Diving Bell Social Club 2 Club Date 1 Atwater Cocktail Club 4 Le Skratch 5 Le Renard 4 Le Terminal 3 3 Minots 2 Coldroom 5 Montreal Pool Room 5 Art Loft 4 Notre Dames des Quilles Best Burlesque 3 Le Mal Nécessaire Performer Best Bowling Alley Best Comedian 5 Bar le Cocktail 4 La Distillerie 1 Lavender May 1 Quilles G Plus (including 1 Tranna Wintour 5 Cloakroom 2 Tristan Ginger Rose Bowl) 2 Mike Ward 3 Miami Minx 2 Notre Dame des Quilles 3 John St. Godard
14 MAY 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 8 • CULTMTL.COM Best Singer-song- Music writer 1 Patrick Watson 2 Storry Bud Rice is the king of the 3 Bud Rice Music section this year, topping the Best Solo Act 4 Charlotte Cardin category and appearing in the Best Folk/Country and 5 Katie Moore Best Singer-songwriter categories as well. Glam/ pop eccentric Hubert Best Busker Lenoir continues to thrill our readers, who voted him 1 Graham Downey (aka into the Freakiest Act and Most Pretentious categories bagpipe dude) — dubious distinctions to 2 Dog mask violinist some, perhaps, but we love our weirdos here at Cult 3 Jorie MTL. In terms of continuity, Arcade Fire remain at the 4 Spoonman top of Best Band (despite the fact that most of them 5 Big Daddy don’t live here anymore), Loud tops Best Hip Hop Act, Li’l Andy (recently Best Record Label seen playing live on the rooftop of Ursa with Martha 1 Stomp! Wainwright as part of POP Montreal’s pandemic 2 Constellation singalong series) continues 3 Secret City his reign as Best Folk/ Country Act and Kaytranada, 4 On a Roll who dropped his critically acclaimed second LP Bubba 5 Dare to Care late last year, takes Best “Black Lives Matter.”—Backxwash, Best Solo Act #3, Best Hip Hop Act #2 Electronic Act. Solomon Krause-Imlach Solomon
“This is an amazing surprise — thanks to everyone who voted! When I used to visit Montreal before moving here, I would always grab the Best of MTL edition and thought all the artists were the coolest... honoured to be a part of it now! This city inspires me and I can’t wait to keep releasing new music and videos leading up to my first full-length album in 2021 on Hot Tramp.”—Maryze, Best Electronic Act #2
Best Band Freakiest Act Heaviest Act Best Club DJ Best Folk/ 1 Arcade Fire 1 Hubert Lenoir 1 The Great Sabbatini 1 Diskommander Country Act 1 Li’l Andy 2 Half Moon Run 2 Screaming Demons 2 Mountain Dust 2 Awwful 2 Solstice 3 The Damn Truth 3 Big Sissy 3 Godspeed You! Black 3 Frankie Teardrop 3 Bud Rice 4 Caveboy 4 Jean Leloup Emperor 4 DJ Jeffany 4 Voivod 4 Katie Moore 5 Corridor 5 Natasha Nebula 5 Kaytranada 5 Big Brave 5 Sin & Swoon Best Solo Act Most Pretentious Act Best Electronic Act Best Jazz Act 1 Bud Rice 1 Arcade Fire Best Hip Hop Act 1 Kaytranada 1 Dave Gossage Septet 2 Patrick Watson 2 Hubert Lenoir 1 Loud 2 Maryze 2 Backxwash 2 Kalmunity 3 Backxwash 3 John Jacob Magistery 3 Milk and Bone 3 Alaclair Ensemble 3 Dominique Fils-Aimé 4 Janette King 4 Lakes of Canada 4 Awwful 4 Urban Science Brass Band 4 Eric Hove 5 Shane Murphy 5 Céline Dion 5 CRi 5 Dino Babydoll Luciano 5 Urban Science Brass Band
16 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 •CULTMTL.COM 17 Film & Arts
For those of you unfamiliar with #5 Best Film Hall, the premise is as follows: “When a debilitating sickness spreads across a long hotel hallway, a few scattered victims fight for survival, and try to escape from the dark narrow stretch of isolated carnage.” A little too real for 2020, perhaps, but this horror film by Francesco Giannini was released in early 2019, after all. It’s nice to see a woman in the Best Filmmaker Top 5 (Sophie Deraspe, director of Antigone, the #1 Best Film). Welcome to the Best “WOW! I’m fucking honoured!”—Kelly Craig, Best Actor/Actress #4 Graffiti Artist/Crew Top 5, Ink Chemistry — you went straight to the top. And to Best Actor/Actress 4 Chris Bavota & Lee Paula Best Theatre 3 Trapped in Elon’s Mansion all the festivals in the Top 5, and the Top 10, and all the 1 Marc-André Grondin Springer Company 4 Are You There, Margaret? rest that have been and will 1 Centaur be affected by COVID-19: 2 Jay Baruchel 5 Sophie Deraspe It’s Me, Gahd we love you, we miss you, 2 Black Theatre Workshop we wish you the best of 3 Évelyne Brochu 5 Late Company luck. Note that the Fringe Best Film 3 Segal Centre Festival is going online 4 Kelly Craig of 2019–2020 this month, and that POP 4 Théâtre du Nouveau Best Dance Montreal is streaming a 5 Tristan D. Lalla 1 Antigone Company mini-fest called Funhouse Monde during the first weekend in 2 Mafia Inc. 1 Les Grands Ballets June — POP’s proper five- 5 House of Laureen day fest is still scheduled 3 Dead Dicks Canadiens for September. Best Filmmaker 4 La femme de mon frère 2 Marie Chouinard 1 Xavier Dolan Best Play 5 Hall 1 Mythic 3 Les Ballets Jazz de 2 Denis Villeneuve 2 J’aime Hydro Montréal 3 Podz all photos by Cindy Lopez by all photos
Best Festivals
4 La La La Human Steps Best Gallery Best Cartoonist/ 4 Behaviour Interactive 2 Miss Me 5 Helen Simard 1 Fondation Phi/Phi Centre Comics Artist 3 A Shop 2 Arsenal 1 Aislin Best Fashion 4 K6A 2 Michel Rabagliati Designer Best Museum 3 Station 16 5 Waxhead 3 Rick Trembles 1 Jennifer Glasgow 1 Museum of Fine Arts 4 Never Apart 4 Sophie Labelle 2 Markantoine 2 Musée d’art contemporain 5 BBAM! Best Festival 5 Walter K. Scott 3 Eliza Faulkner 3 McCord Museum 1 Jazz Fest Best Living Author 4 Denis Gagnon 4 Canadian Centre for Archi- Best Video 2 Osheaga 1 Heather O’Neill 5 Marie Saint-Pierre tecture 2 Michelle Franklin Game Company 3 POP Montreal 5 Pointe-à-Callière 3 Sean Michaels 1 Ubisoft Best Graffiti 4 Just for Laughs 4 Dany Laferrière 2 EA Artist or Crew 5 Fringe
“We’re beyond thrilled to have Dead Dicks included in this list. It’s incredible when something you create is embraced by your hometown, especially since so many talented Montrealers helped make this weird little movie a reality.”—Chris Bavota and Lee Springer (Best Filmmaker #4), directors of Dead Dicks (Best Film #3, pictured) 5 David Goudreault 3 Eidos 1 Ink Chemistry
18 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 •CULTMTL.COM 19 Best Clothing Store Best Barbershop 4 Gil Crocker (DFA Tattoos) Best Musical Best Movie Theatre 3 Fit for Life Best Hotel 2 Marché Underground 4 Binette et filles (New) 5 Angus Byers Instrument Store Goods & 1 Barbier Belmont 1 Cinéma du Parc 4 Gym St-Henri 1 Ritz Carlton 3 Kitsch’n Swell 5 Pourquoi Pas...fleurs 1 Simons (DFA Tattoos) 1 Steve’s Music Store 2 Queen of the World 2 Cineplex Forum 5 B.Cycle 2 William Gray 4 Eva B Services 2 Frank & Oak 2 Jimi’s Music Store Best Massage Spot 3 La Section 3 Cinéma Moderne 3 Fairmount Queen Elizabeth 5 Marché aux puces 3 Off the Hook Best Record Store 3 Moog Audio 1 Espace Nomad 4 Freyja 4 Dollar Cinema Best Yoga Studio 4 Four Seasons St-Michel Internet Service Providers (New) 4 Archambault 2 Bota Bota have fared well in recent 4 Zara 5 Helmet 1 Modo (fka Moksha) 5 W 1 Aux 33 Tours 5 Cinémas Guzzo months, along with all 3 Spa Vert manner of grocery stores 5 Jeans Jeans Jeans 5 Diplomate Musique 2 Naada Best Jewellery Store — too bad we don’t have 2 Phonopolis Best Health Best Tattoo Parlour 1 Tiffany 4 Ovarium pharmacy and dépanneur Best Bicycle Shop 3 Enso Food Store categories (practically the 3 Le Vacarme Best Vintage 1 DFA Tattoos Best Internet Service 2 Inchoo Bijoux 5 Scandinave Spa only other spots we’ve been 1 514 BMX 4 Yoga Club 1 Rachelle Bery Clothing Store 4 Cheap Thrills allowed to visit lately), 2 Psych Ward Provider 3 Birks but the reasons for their 2 C&L Cycles 5 Wanderlust 2 Marché Tau 1 Eva B 5 Sunrise Records 1 Vidéotron exclusion should be kind of 3 Two Horses 4 Freitag obvious. Luckily retail stores 3 Bikurious 3 Branche d’Olivier 2 Renaissance 2 TekSavvy and massage spots have been 4 Bait & Schlang 4 Recycle Cycle Best Spa 5 Joel Mueller Design able to reopen recently, and Best Record Store 4 Bio Terre 3 Empire Exchange 3 Bell hairdressers, tattoo artists 5 Adrenaline 5 Bicycles McW 1 Bota Bota and spas are coming back (Used) 5 Loco 4 Citizen Vintage 4 Ebox Best Florist (if they choose to do so) this (fka McWhinnies) 2 Scandinave month. This is the first time 5 Annex Vintage 1 Cheap Thrills Best Tattoo Artist 5 Fizz 1 Dragon Flowers we’ve ever included a Best 3 Strom Best Kitsch / 2 Aux 33 Tours Hotel category — interesting 1 Morning Gory Antique Store 2 Florateria timing — and their reopening Best Bookstore (New) 4 Espace Nomade Best Hair Salon 3 Phonopolis date remains unknown, as Best Electronics (DFA Tattoos) 1 Drawn & Quarterly 5 Finlandais 1 Kitsch à l’os… ou pas 3 Westmount Florist is the case for gyms. Rather 1 Queen of the World 4 Encore Books & Records Store than analyze ups and downs 2 Kevin Ward (The Psych 2 Indigo in these categories, this year 2 Freyja 5 Death of Vinyl 1 Best Buy we’ll leave it at this: support Ward) 3 Librairie Saint-Henri Books local businesses! 3 Two Horses 2 Addison Electronique 3 Randy Nixon 5 Chapters 4 Helmet 3 Moog Audio (Ink Chemistry) 4 Apple Store 5 Unlisted Best Bookstore (Used) 1 The Word “Our stages stand ready to bring theatre 2 Encore back into your life when the time is right” 3 Cheap Thrills — Eda Holmes, Artistic & Executive Director, Centaur Theatre Company 4 S.W. Welch 5 L’Échange
Best Comic Book Store Pointe-à-Callière 1 Drawn & Quarterly 2 Crossover Comics Photo: Photo: Raphaël Thibodeau at Home! 3 Librairie Planète BD The Incas, Treasures of Peru exhibition, While waiting for the Museum to reopen, there 4 1,000,0000 Comix extended from the reopening until October 4! are tons of activities for young and not-so- young to enjoy! 5 Millenium Comics Virtual Tour: stroll through our permanent exhibitions, free of charge Best Smoke Shop @unvegetalienamontreal Pointe-à-Callière Live: tours and discussions, 1 Prohibition live on Facebook, every Thursday at noon 2 Utopia The Museum for families: games, colouring pages, creative workshops, and educational booklets 3 Boutique Rock 4 Psychonaut THE SHOW MUST GO ON See pacmusee.qc.ca/athome for complete details 5 High Times Donate to the COVID-Recovery Campaign CENTAUR THEATRE Best Gym The Last Wife by Kate Hennig · Directed by Eda Holmes · Set Design by Michael Gianfrancesco 1 Econofitness Lighting Design by Andrea Lundy · Centaur Theatre Company, Season 50 · Photo by Andrée Lanthier
Collection P. & D. Janssen-Arts, L’Agence des Arts de la communauté flamande et le et du Patrimoine MAS, Antwerpen. Janssen-Arts,L’Agence D. & Collection P. Drasdow MaertensHugo Photo: Stuttgart./ Linden-Museum D. Photo: @pointeacalliere Stéphane Brügger Photo: 2 YMCA
20 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 •CULTMTL.COM 21 Food & Drink
As usual our Food Editor Clayton Sandhu has written about your restaurant picks at the end of this issue, taking a slightly different approach this year: his editorial is titled Resto Rights instead of Resto Wrongs. Normally we wouldn’t even include “cooking at home” in the Best Food Trend category, but right now it’s more than a trend — it’s the new normal. That said, we can all support our favourite restaurants as the pandemic shutdown continues by ordering in, at least once in a while, and/ or by donating to crowd- funding campaigns and charitable organizations like Montreal Restaurant Workers Relief Fund and Rally for Restaurants. New to this section this year are “What makes Damas a special restaurant is that it refuses to offer a merely ‘regional’ or a merely ‘ethnic’ dining experience — terms that still carry a Eurocentric weight and the latent racism that comes with it. Damas does, of course, offer a cuisine from a very specific time, place and tradition. But it does so with uncompromising ingredients, technique, and with a decor, service, and wine list to match. The chef-owner Fuad challenged the North American stereotype that Middle Best Hotel Bar/Restaurant, Eastern food = cheap kebabs, a vision that resulted in a singular restaurant revealing the sophistication and beauty of Syrian cuisine. An extravagant tasting menu with a wine pairing no longer belongs to European or a-territorial ‘chef-driven’ which was topped by Four restaurants alone, and the city’s food scene is richer, more diverse and representative for it.”—Daniel Gillis, sommelier at Damas, Best Middle Eastern #1, Best Pricey Eats #2 Seasons hotspot Marcus, and Best Afternoon Tea, which went to the ever- popular Mile End tearoom Best New Best Cheap Eats Best Breakfast/ Best Food Truck Cardinal. We cannot wait Food Trends Brunch to eat out again. We ♥ 1 Nilufar 1 Grumman 78 Montreal restaurants. 1 Veganism 1 Vieux Vélo 2 Boustan 2 Winneburger 2 Poke bowls 2 Arthurs Nosh Bar 3 Patati Patata 3 Le Cheese 3 Food halls 3 L’Avenue 4 Green Spot 4 Mi Corazon 4 Cooking at home 4 L’Oeufrier 5 AA 5 La Panthère Verte 5 Ramen 5 Cosmos
Best Pricey Eats Best African Best Chef Best Pub Grub Best Afternoon Tea 1 Joe Beef 1 Danny Smiles 1 Burgundy Lion 1 Le Nil Bleu 1 Cardinal Tea Room 2 Damas 2 Chanthy Yen 2 Ye Olde Orchard 2 Queen Sheeba 2 Burgundy Lion 3 Chuck Hughes 3 McKibbins 3 Montréal Plaza 3 East Africa 3 Ritz Carlton 4 Dino Babydoll Luciano 4 Bishop and Bagg 4 Île Flottante 4 La Khaima 4 Gryphon d’Or 5 Sean Murray Smith 5 Brutopia 5 Le Bremner 5 Maquis Yasolo 5 Camellia Sinensis
Best New Restaurant Best Hotel Bar Best Late Night Eats Best Caribbean Best Delivery Service 1 Beba or Restaurant 1 La Banquise 1 Lloydie’s 1 Uber Eats 2 Mano Cornuto 1 Marcus (Four Seasons) 2 Boustan 2 Agrikol 2 Palm Court/Maison Bou- 2 Foodora (RIP) 3 Wolf & Workman 3 Chez Claudette 3 Boom J’s lud (Ritz Carlton) 3 Skip the Dishes 4 TimeOut Market 4 AA 4 Caribbean Food Factory 3 Bar George 4 Golo 5 Parliament Pub & Parlour 5 Nouveau Palais 5 Jardiin du Cari (Mount Stephen) 5 Door Dash 4 Bartizen (W) 5 Maiolo (Le Meridien)
22 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM Best Chinese Best Greek Best Japanese Best Mexican Best Thai 1 Hong Mere 1 Milos 1 Kazu 1 El Rey del Taco 1 Épicerie Pumpui 2 Maison VIP 2 Marven’s 2 Jun I 2 Tacos Frida 2 Bangkok 3 Aunt Dai’s 3 Marathon Souvlaki 3 Noren 3 La Capital Tacos 3 Thai Express 4 PM 4 Arahova 4 Nozy 4 Escondite 4 Thaïlande 5 Kam Fung 5 Villa du Souvlaki 5 Otto Yakitori 5 Ta Chido 5 Chu Chai
Best Russian Best Indian Best Korean Best Middle Eastern Best Portuguese /Eastern European 1 Bombay Mahal 1 GaNaDaRa 1 Damas 1 Romados 1 Euro Deli Batory 2 Star of India 2 Mon Ami 2 Boustan 2 Ma Poule Mouillée 2 Stash Café 3 Pushap 3 Omma 3 Alep/Le Petit Alep 3 Chez Doval 3 Café Baba Yaga 4 Thali 4 Chez Bong 4 Sumac 4 Piri Piri 4 La Caverne Russe 5 Chand Palace 5 Seoul Chako 5 Omnivore 5 Jano 5 Budapest Roma Best Italian Best Latin-American Best Spanish Best Vietnamese Best French 1 Elena 1 Arepera du Plateau 1 Tapeo 1 Pho Tay Ho 1 L’Express 2 Pasta Casareccia 2 Bocadillo 2 La Sala Rosa 2 Pho Bang New York 2 Leméac 3 Gema 3 La Chilenita 3 Iberica 3 Pho Lien 3 Quartier Général 4 TRAN Cantine 4 Impasto 4 El Chalateco 4 Club Espagnol 4 Taverne sur le Square Vietnamienne 5 Bottega 5 Los Planes 5 Alma 5 Monarque 5 Le Red Tiger
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24 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM “I feel completely humbled to be considered one of Montreal’s Best Chefs. I am so grateful that people took the time and effort to submit their votes. Truly, thank you, everyone, I am happy to know that my work and my ideas are being appreciated! Each of these chefs worked [tirelessly] to get to where they “The restaurant industry is so much work, it’s very nerve-racking to go on your own, especially when there are no big backers. It’s just me and my brother, in this case, so it’s been very fruitful and it’s allowed us to become comfortable in our own space. [Winning Best New Restaurant] is a wonderful sur- are and you can see their passion come through in their food. To the chefs who ranked in the top 10 and those who haven’t, we recognize you and we thank you for all the hard work you put into the craft. There isn’t just one model for making food and being passionate about it, so congratulations to you all.” prise, honestly. In these times, something like this really makes our year.”—Ari Schor of Beba, Best New Restaurant #1 —Chanthy Yen, Best Chef #2
Best Bagel Best Donuts Best Fish and Chips Best Pad Thai Best Ribs Best Smoked Meat Best Taco Best Craft/ 4 Saint-Henri 3 Copette & Co. 1 Blackstrap BBQ 1 St-Viateur 1 Léché Desserts 1 Brit & Chips 1 Pumpui 1 Schwartz’s 1 Tacos Frida Microbrew Beer 5 Melk 4 Bleu et persillé 2 Fairmount 2 Krispy Kreme 2 Comptoir 21 2 Thai Express 2 Bâton Rouge 2 The Main 2 La Capital Tacos 1 Dieu du Ciel Best Coffee 5 Qui lait cru? 3 Bagel St-Lo 3 Mr Puffs 3 Burgundy Lion 3 Bar B Barn 3 Bangkok 3 Smoke Meat Pete 3 El Rey Del Taco 2 Brutopia (Beverage) 4 Ville-Émard Bagels 4 Trou de Beigne 4 Ad Hoc 4 Tampopo 4 Le Boucan 4 Snowdon Deli 3 4 Origines Best Ice Cream 4 Escondite 1 Dispatch 5 Beaubien Bagels 5 Tim Hortons 5 Parliament Pub & Parlour 5 Pamika 5 Rubs 5 Lester’s 5 Grumman 78 4 Messorem Bracitorium 1 Kem Coba 2 Olimpico 5 Isle de Garde 2 Dalla Rose 3 Myriade Best Chicken Best Dumplings Best Fries Best Pizza Best Sandwich Best Steak Best Ramen 3 Ca Lem 4 Saint-Henri 1 Chalet BBQ 1 Qing Hua 1 Frites Alors 1 Adamo 1 Clarke Café 1 Moishes 1 Kinton Ramen 4 La Diperie Best Bakery 5 Melk 2 Romados 2 Har Bin 2 Patati Patata 2 Elena 2 Dépanneur le Pick-Up 2 The Keg 2 Yokato Yokabai 5 Ripples 1 Guillaume 3 Ma Poule Mouillée 3 Sammy Soup Dumpling 3 McDonald’s 3 No. 900 3 Santropol 3 Gibbys 3 Tsukuyomi 2 Automne Best Teahouse 4 Côte-Saint-Luc BBQ 4 Mademoiselle Dumpling 4 Lafleur 4 Pizza Bouquet 31 4 Schwartz’s 4 Joe Beef 4 Umami Ramen Best Chocolate / 3 Hof Kelsten 1 Cardinal Tea Room 5 St-Hubert 5 Mei Wei 5 La Belle Province 4 Gema 29 5 Aux Vivres 5 L’Express 5 Ichifuku Sweets 2 Camellia Sinensis 4 Arhoma 1 Juliette et chocolat 5 Sweet Lee’s 3 Cha Noir Best Burger Best Falafel Best Hot Dog Best Shish Taouk Best Sushi Best Vegetarian 2 Chloé Best Poutine 4 Gryphon d’Or 1 Uniburger 1 Falafel Yoni 1 Lafleur 1 Boustan 1 Sushi Momo 1 Aux Vivres 3 Chocolats favoris 1 La Banquise 5 Rosie-Lanoi 2 Notre-Boeuf-de-Grâce 2 La Panthère Verte 2 La Belle Province 2 Poutineville 2 Amir 2 Park 2 LOV Best Café (Place) 4 Geneviève Grandbois 3 Nouveau Palais 3 Falafel Saint-Jacques 3 Montreal Pool Room 3 Patati Patata 3 Omnivore 3 Jun I 3 Lola Rosa 1 Olimpico Best Fromagerie 5 Lecavalier Petrone 4 Burger de Ville 4 Nilufar 4 Dirty Dogs 4 Chez Claudette 4 Sumac 4 Le Kioko 4 La Panthère Verte 2 Dispatch 1 Hamel 5 Chez Tousignant 5 Boustan 5 Decarie Hot Dog 5 La Belle Province 5 Basha 5 Saint Sushi 5 Sushi Momo 3 Myriade 2 Atwater
26 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM Best Butcher Best Organic Produce Store 1 Boucherie Lawrence 1 PA Nature 2 Chez Vito 2 Rachelle-Béry 3 Pascal le Boucher 3 Tau 4 Zinman 4 Branche d’Olivier 5 Maître Boucher 5 Lufa Farms Best Vegetable / L’épicerie Fruit Store Best Fishmonger 1 Marché Jean-Talon 1 La Mer 2 Fruiterie Mile-End 2 Falero 3 PA 3 Shamrock 4 Sami Fruits 4 Waldman’s BIO-LOGIQUE! 5 Adonis 5 Poissonnerie Atwater Investissons dans notre économie locale #achatlocal
“Montreal is a unique city, especially when it comes to food. I’ve been working in the restaurant business since I was a kid so I’ve seen places come and go, I’ve seen all the fads, I’ve seen all the places that cater to the trends. From the beginning, we were on this path to be the most authentic possible. In 1985 we were one of the first to make high-quality pasta in Montreal. We sort of educated the people and now people know what good food is.”—Mauro Petraccone of Pasta Casareccia, Best Italian #2 bio-terre.com | 201, rue St-Viateur O. | 514 278-3377
28 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 •CULTMTL.COM 29 Resto Rights Clayton Sandhu Clayton
BY CLAYTON SANDHU placing Danny Smiles. Remember last year’s straight-white- (read: fine dining) category falling behind only Montreal’s male dominated list? Well, the status quo is being shaken up favourite son, Joe Beef. A lot has been said about “ethnic” Holy hell, what a year — and I could still in no small part by Chanthy and chefs like him. The Parliament food and its struggle to find its acceptance in the world of be saying that even if COVID-19 never and Cold Room food director cut his teeth at Fantôme, ran the fine dining. In my opinion, Damas has excelled in all aspects short-lived but popular restaurant Fieldstone and is currently of fine dining, from professionalism in service, to finely happened. running a Cambodian take-out operation out of Parliament. executed cuisine, to an exceptionally curated wine program Emma Cardarelli also ranked in the Top 10 this year and while (the restaurant employs two full-time sommeliers) for years. If 2020 has taught us anything so far, it’s to expect the more women and more chefs of colour ought to be on this list, Not to mention the ornately decorated room that recalls the unexpected, especially when the unexpected is an it’s a noted improvement from last year. Somewhat bizarrely opulence of that old-world style of restauration seldom seen unprecedented catastrophe. As is done every year, I’m going is the #4 ranking of Dino Babydoll Luciano, who for many will these days. It’s been up there for me for years, but it seems to do my best to comment on the results of this year’s Best be an unfamiliar name. Luciano, a New York City transplant, as though Damas has officially arrived. of MTL Food section in what we like to call the annual Resto is freshly arrived in Montreal and his cooking background Wrongs. This year, however, is a bit tricky, besides the fact is almost unilaterally tied to his 2017 MasterChef U.S. win St-Viateur Bagels retain their spot on the top and the that nobody has eaten at a restaurant for the better part of — the only vegan chef to ever do so. Luciano, today, is best Uniburger still reigns supreme, and I for one am happy to see three months, COVID-19 has seriously called into question known for his Italian inspired vegan pop-ups and works in some non-Neapolitan pizza places like Adamo and Pizza the continued existence of many of the restaurants in Montreal as a private chef. His appearance on this list comes Bouquet firmly stake a claim for some of the best pizza in this survey. While it’s true that I can be very critical when as a surprise to me, but hey, you guys voted him in. town. Perhaps most unlikely of all, considering the amount it comes to talking restaurants, I am first and foremost a of Italian (and Italian adjacent) restaurants opened in the staunch supporter of the restaurant industry — I owe so Beba was the hands-down favourite to win Best New last year, is that an old NDG stand-by, Pasta Casareccia, much of what I have in life to working in our restaurant Restaurant this year and what a well-deserved win it is. found its way to second place amongst the Best Italian scene. So while I would like nothing more than to take a strip After six years of running the kitchen at Liverpool House, Ari restaurants in the city, reinforcing that age-old Italian logic off the tasteless troglodytes who think McDonald’s coffee Schor parted ways with the Joe Beef team to open a small that the old ways are often the best ways. is some of the best in town, the results of this year’s survey Argentinian restaurant with his brother. The result has been (barring a few very weird submissions) actually link up with exceptional and an intimate introduction to the harmonious While the future of the restaurant scene is wholly unclear, my personal preferences pretty well. blend of Italian and Spanish influences of Argentine cooking it still feels so nice to reflect on those restaurants that that has long been overshadowed by the Argentinian mean the most to us. Many years from now we’ll look back Absence makes the heart grow fonder, as they say. I suppose Steakhouse. Having been open for less than a year, Beba’s on this time and we’ll reflect on the importance of some it only took a world-wide mandatory lockdown to remind rise to the top is about as meteoric as you can get. If you restaurants, the ingenuity of others and the utter trivialness Montrealers of the finer things our city has to offer. So with haven’t had the chance to taste their food, Ari and his team of attempting to rank food and restaurants as if taste were that in mind, I’m going to ditch the nit-picky criticism for this recently launched a take-out menu alongside some hard to objective. I’m choosing to look at this year’s list differently: year and focus on what you got right. come-by wines. instead of thinking of it like a ranking system, I’ll think of it Let’s start at the top. This year saw Chanthy Yen skyrocket Damas, which continues its reign as best Middle Eastern more like an extremely thorough black book — a take-out to #2 in the Best Chef category behind the perennial first restaurant, also jumped up a few spots in the Pricey Eats directory for the ages.
30 JUNE 2020 • Vol. 8 No. 9 • CULTMTL.COM GET READY TO WELCOME A TRANSFORMED ART
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