By Michael Minorgan for Curtains Up
www.globalgourmets.ca michael@globalgourmets.ca
This column details my second foray into Montreal’s vegetarian mecca.
Throughout my extended 40 year professional culinary career in Montreal I have at one time or another had the opportunity to delve into various vegetarian cultures and traditions preparing them for my clients and happily sampling some delicious dalliances along the way. My taste buds, as you may have surmised from my other columns here, tend toward the more bold flavors found typically but certainly not exclusively in the cuisines of India, South East Asia and Mexico among others. I must admit that although I am a devout meat and seafood lover, much to the chagrin of my doctor, a lot of these vegetarian dishes have proved extremely tasty and I have returned to them many times of the years and have proudly included them in my repertoire.
Aux Vivres has been cosily ensconced on Upper St Laurent Blvd, just above Mt Royal for the past 16 years. It proudly calls itself both a vegetarian and a vegan restaurant, categories of vegetarianism that differ in some degree. Vegetarianism is basically the practice of abstaining from the consumption of red meat, poultry, seafood and the flesh of any other animal (1). There is also an accepted (in some circles), a sub category of vegetarians, Semi Vegetarianism where your diet consists largely of vegetarian foods but, may, on occasion, include fish, poultry or other meats on an infrequent basis(1). I think I slip comfortably and cowardly into this somewhat wimpy alternative! The final category is the very strict Veganism, a term coined in England in 1944 by Donald Watson the founder of the Vegan Society. Vegans in addition to all the foods not eaten by vegetarians abstain from all dairy products, including eggs. There is also a sub category here called Environmental Veganism which refers to the rejection of animal products on the premise that the harvesting of any animal is environmentally damaging and unsustainable (1)
Back to Aux Vivres.
It is definitely a very casual restaurant, a “Veggie Deli” kind of place if you like. It’s a large space with multiple dining areas that include a very attractive covered outdoor terrace at the back. The Friday night we were there it was packed with a largely young crowd.
Before we dig into the food let me start by saying, that as a former restaurateur, I not only appreciate the value of good food, but I equally realize the importance of good service, no matter the class of restaurant. The service at Aux Vivres is top notch. All the servers are young, students I would guess; all are friendly and extremely efficient. Everything is high tech with each server placing orders at the table on portable wifi connected tablets that send the orders directly to the kitchen. They also work as a team which is so important especially in a large restaurant such as his. One waiter will take your order and give you your bill, another may deliver the food and yet someone else will drop by to clear the dishes once you are finished. A well oiled machine indeed!
The menu at Aux Vivres is a mix of casual fresh and largely organic foods. There is an excellent choice of sandwiches, burgers, salads, vegetarian bowls with organic brown rice and even a choice of vegetarian chillies and curries…all very reasonably priced and served in very ample portions.
I ordered the Aux Vivres Burger ($13) a wonderful and very tasty patty of lentils, beans, vegetables and spices. I must admit I was hard pressed to distinguish its texture from the beef burgers I am used to and I must admit it was much tastier and of course, truth be told, much healthier! It was ensconced in a pillowy whole wheat bun and topped with tomato, lettuce, pickle and a spicy and smoky chipotle chilli mayonnaise. It was accompanied by hearty roasted russet potato wedges and a tangy sweet and sour marinated coleslaw.
My companion chose the very large Sirocco Sandwich ($10.75 comprising grilled baby eggplant, sweet roasted red peppers, lettuce, hummus and a wonderful and tasty Mediterranean olive tapenade. The sandwich was served wrap style in fresh chapatti bread. The flavors and textures of the ingredients were superb and complimentary.
We accompanied both our meals with two 12ozs Smoothies ($4.95), The Blue Monkey, a mix of blueberries, orange juice, bananas and agave and La Vie En Rose, a refreshing combination of field berries, bananas, orange juice soy-coconut milk and flax protein.
Straining our appetites we shared a rather large and densely chocolate brownie flavored with chipotle chilli… a very addictive combination!
Aux Vivres went a long way in tempting me to abandon my carnivorous ways and joining my vegetarian friends. Any time I want to reinforce my healthier side and forgo my meaty indulgencies I know this delicious oasis of vegetarianism will be there to offer solace and delicious healthy alternatives.
On my vegetarian journey in Montreal Aux Vivres is definitely number one on my list having set the bar pretty high for those that will follow…stay tuned!
Aux Vivres also serves a brunch from 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
Our meal at Aux Vivres came to $44 including taxes but not the tip.
Aux Vivres
4631 St Laurent Blvd
Tel: 514 842-3479
Mon-Fri 11am – 11pm
Sat & Sun 10am – 11pm
Website: www.auxvivres.com
Note (1) Wikipedia
