STOC 2017: Food in Montreal.

Having the highest number of restaurants per capita, Montreal is often referred to as the food capital of Canada. These restaurants are one of the main attractions of the city. The city's food culture is descended from France and England, and influenced by many immigrant communities through out the past century.

• Poutine: Poutine has long been Quebec's adored junk food contribution to Canada. This famously unhealthy regional specialty consists of French fries smothered in light brown gravy and cheese curds. La Banquise (open 24/7) and Poutineville are two of the popular poutine restaurants in Montreal.
  
  
• Smoked Meat: Montreal's culinary heritage has strong roots in Jewish specialties. In the 1930's, Jewish immigrants from Poland and other eastern European countries introduced smoked meat and bagels to Montreal. According to historians, these foods, being cheap and accessible - not to mention delicious - immediately became popular. Schwartz established in 1928 by Reuben Schwartz is the most famous remaining Montreal-style smoked meat restaurant
  
  
• Bagels: Similar to smoked meat, bagels were brought to Montreal by Jewish immigrants for eastern Europe. In contrast to the New York-style bagel, the Montreal bagel is smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole, and is always baked in a wood-fired oven. The two historical establishments Fairmount bagel (opened in 1919) and St-Viateur bagel (opened in 1957) are the most well-known and popular bagel shops in Montreal.
  
  
• Portuguese grilled chicken: There was a wave of Portuguese immigration to Montreal in 1960's. Most of these immigrants settled in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal mainly around Saint Laurent Boulevard and Rachel Street. Their contribution to the cities must-eat fast food canon is Portuguese grilled chicken. There are several famous Portuguese rotisserie's in the Plateau neighbourhood. Until very recently Romados was considered the undisputed best Portuguese grilled chicken restaurant in the city, but now Ma Poule Mouillée is becoming the new favourite of Montrealers.
  
  
• Public Markets: Montreal has two large public markets with many vendors selling produce, meats, cheeses, fish, flowers, and baked goods. They are both interesting places to visit. One is Jean-Talon Market and the other one is Atwater Market.
  
  
• Chinatown: Montreal's Chinatown, conveniently located in walking distance from the conference venue, contains many Asian restaurants, food markets, and convenience stores.
  
  
• Fine dining: The three restaurants that are historically important to the development of the region's contemporary cuisine are Toqué, Au Pied de Cochon and Joe Beef. Toqué, opened in 1993, was the first fine dining restaurants based on quebec's market-fresh cuisine. Au Pied de Cochon, opened in 2001, is acclaimed for resuscitating classic Quebecois dishes like pouding chomeur, ragout de boulettes and poutine. It serves gluttonous dishes like foie gras poutine and duck in a can. Joe Beef, opened in 2005, brought the casual theme to the region's fine dining restaurants, and got rid of tablecloths and menus (using blackboards instead). There is no tasting menu or wine pairing in Joe Beef.
  Le Mousso, Hoogan & Beaufort, Hvor, Les 400 Coups are probably the best new restaurants in Montreal.
  
  
• Craft beer and Microbreweries: There are several microbreweries and craft beer bars in Montreal. Dieu du Ciel is often considered as the best microbrewery in Montreal. Another great place to try local beers is Vices & Versa. It has a relaxed environment with a menu of regional beers on tap and casual eats. Benelux and Les 3 Brasseurs are the closest microbreweries to the conference venue.