The Main

Montreal's Cultural Directory

Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

Leave feedback

For partnerships and collaborations:

partnerships@themain.com

Content

  • Articles
  • Food & Drink
  • Arts & Culture
  • History Lesson
  • Bulletin
  • Events

Guides

  • All Guides
  • Best Restaurants
  • Best Cafés
  • Best Bars
  • Best Brunch
  • Best Bakeries

Explore Montreal

  • Browse Directory
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Cafés
  • Bookstores

About

  • About us
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Advertise
  • Pitch us
  • RSS Feed

Legal

  • Terms of service
  • Membership Terms
  • Privacy Policy
Follow us
InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

    For partnerships and collaborations:

    partnerships@themain.com

    Content

    • Articles
    • Food & Drink
    • Arts & Culture
    • History Lesson
    • Bulletin
    • Events

    Guides

    • All Guides
    • Best Restaurants
    • Best Cafés
    • Best Bars
    • Best Brunch
    • Best Bakeries

    Explore Montreal

    • Browse Directory
    • Restaurants
    • Bars
    • Cafés
    • Bookstores

    About

    • About us
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
    • Advertise
    • Pitch us
    • RSS Feed

    Legal

    • Terms of service
    • Membership Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    Follow us
    InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin

    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
      --°C|Saturday, April 4, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Categories
      • Arts & Culture

        Creativity, heritage, and expression.

      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • Food & Drink

        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      Shop
      Subscribe
      Subscribe
      --°C|Saturday, April 4, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
      InstagramTwitterTiktokLinkedin
      |
      Advertise
      The Main Logo
      Magazine
      Categories
      • Arts & Culture

        Creativity, heritage, and expression.

      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • Food & Drink

        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
      Near the Metro
      • Peel
      • Mont-Royal
      • Place-Saint-Henri
      • Place-d'Armes
      • Jarry
      • View all
      Shop
      Subscribe
      Subscribe

      More Food & Drink

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today

      The Cloakroom founder on value over flash, the scene's missing middle, and what Montreal's bar culture still needs to figure out.

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer
      Food & Drink
      Rachel Cheng

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer

      Keaton Ritchie of Flor Vin was on the banks of the Loire last week. Today he's hauling bottles through the slush.

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      More Food & Drink

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Fancy Cocktail Bar Isn't Dead, But Andrew Whibley Wouldn't Open One Today

      The Cloakroom founder on value over flash, the scene's missing middle, and what Montreal's bar culture still needs to figure out.

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer
      Food & Drink
      Rachel Cheng

      A Day in the Life of a Montreal Wine Importer

      Keaton Ritchie of Flor Vin was on the banks of the Loire last week. Today he's hauling bottles through the slush.

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Chouchou Is the Modern Chinese Bistro Our City's Been Missing

      Chef Chouchou Jia spent years cooking in French and Italian kitchens before opening their first restaurant, and the result is unlike anything else in town.

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Arthurs Nosh Bar Is Coming to NDG, and This Time, They're Bringing Dinner

      Alex Cohen and Raegan Steinberg are combining dinners with breakfast classics to the 48-seat Arthus Dinette in Monkland Village.

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back
      Food & Drink
      The Main

      Peel Pub Is Coming Back

      Eight months after closing, the downtown institution has new owners, a renovation, and a reopening before St. Patrick's Day.

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution
      Food & Drink
      Anick Jasmin

      How Boom J's Went From a Home Kitchen to a Jamaican Institution

      Owner Jermaine learned to cook from his grandmother in Jamaica at six years old. Everything at Boom J's still carries those teachings.

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking

      The Fleury Ouest newcomer pays tribute to post-war family tables and its chef Benjamin Gilker's Nova Scotian roots.

      Good luck getting a table at Mile End's latest morning-to-midnight spot
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Good Luck Getting a Table at Mile End's Latest Morning-to-midnight Spot

      The neighbourhood's smitten with Au Coin's all-day coffee, natural wine, and sourdough pizza.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      His Restaurant Almost Broke Him. Does It Deserve a Second Chance?
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      His Restaurant Almost Broke Him. Does It Deserve a Second Chance?

      Omar Zabuair lost everything when Le Coq de l'Est closed in 2022. Three years later, he ran a pop-up to find out if the food still works—and whether that's reason enough to try again.

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [December 2025]
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [December 2025]

      A Montreal take on a Scottish tavern, famed chefs jump back into action with a new project, a fresh Italian hangout in Westmount, and more.

      Food & Drink

      The Panettone Diaries of Elena and Gia Vin & Grill's Baker Mayara Palma Martin

      Panettone takes an inordinate amount of time to make, but like all good things, time = flavour. Here's how a baker at Elena and Gia does it.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      December 11, 2024 · 5 min read

      The panettone diaries of Elena and Gia Vin & Grill's baker Mayara Palma Martin
      Photograph: Elena

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      ElenaGia Vin & Grill

      Many of Montreal’s bakeries have been in the throes of panettoni production for weeks now, and in a word, it’s... complicated.

      It takes an inordinate amount of time, control, and precision to produce, but like all good things, time = flavour.

      We asked the baker behind the panettone of Elena and Gia, Mayara Palma Martin, about everything that goes into making panettone for the holiday season.

      Photograph: @elenamontreal / Instagram

      The mind behind the madre 

      But first, an introductory preamble: Originally from Curitiba, Brazil near the Argentinian and Chilean borders, Mayara was a social worker before living in Montreal for the last six years, where she embraced a lifelong passion for cooking and pursuit of working in kitchens professionally.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google

      Related Classics

      From our archive.

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Cécile Puts Fine-Dining Polish on Rotisserie and Acadian Comfort Cooking

      The Fleury Ouest newcomer pays tribute to post-war family tables and its chef Benjamin Gilker's Nova Scotian roots.

      Good luck getting a table at Mile End's latest morning-to-midnight spot
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Good Luck Getting a Table at Mile End's Latest Morning-to-midnight Spot

      The neighbourhood's smitten with Au Coin's all-day coffee, natural wine, and sourdough pizza.

      What defined Montreal's dining scene in 2025, and what's coming in 2026
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      What Defined Montreal's Dining Scene in 2025, and What's Coming in 2026

      From 2025's defining themes to predictions for 2026, here's what Montreal's food insiders are saying about the city's evolving dining culture (and its next Michelin hopefuls).

      His Restaurant Almost Broke Him. Does It Deserve a Second Chance?
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      His Restaurant Almost Broke Him. Does It Deserve a Second Chance?

      Omar Zabuair lost everything when Le Coq de l'Est closed in 2022. Three years later, he ran a pop-up to find out if the food still works—and whether that's reason enough to try again.

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      Figata is Saint-Henri's New Italian-American Red Sauce Temple

      Meatballs from a family recipe, martinis refreshed before you ask, and a room dressed in heirlooms: eat with your hands and make a mess.

      The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [December 2025]
      Food & Drink
      J.P. Karwacki

      The Best New Restaurants in Montreal [December 2025]

      A Montreal take on a Scottish tavern, famed chefs jump back into action with a new project, a fresh Italian hangout in Westmount, and more.

      Food & Drink

      The Panettone Diaries of Elena and Gia Vin & Grill's Baker Mayara Palma Martin

      Panettone takes an inordinate amount of time to make, but like all good things, time = flavour. Here's how a baker at Elena and Gia does it.

      ByJ.P. Karwacki

      December 11, 2024 · 5 min read

      The panettone diaries of Elena and Gia Vin & Grill's baker Mayara Palma Martin
      Photograph: Elena

      Discover the places mentioned in this story

      ElenaGia Vin & Grill

      Many of Montreal’s bakeries have been in the throes of panettoni production for weeks now, and in a word, it’s... complicated.

      It takes an inordinate amount of time, control, and precision to produce, but like all good things, time = flavour.

      We asked the baker behind the panettone of Elena and Gia, Mayara Palma Martin, about everything that goes into making panettone for the holiday season.

      Photograph: @elenamontreal / Instagram

      The mind behind the madre 

      But first, an introductory preamble: Originally from Curitiba, Brazil near the Argentinian and Chilean borders, Mayara was a social worker before living in Montreal for the last six years, where she embraced a lifelong passion for cooking and pursuit of working in kitchens professionally.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

      or

      Already a member? Sign in

      Advertisement

      Follow on Google
      The Main

      Latest from The Main

      History LessonThe Little Store That Runs Montreal: A Complete History of the DepArts & CultureAngine de Poitrine Is Exactly What the Internet Was Waiting ForNewsletterThe Bulletin: Roman Sculpture and Italo Disco, Maple Xiao Long Bao, and an Easter Costume Party [Issue #175]Arts & CultureOur Picks of the Best Shows for this year's Jazz FestArts & CultureThe Action Comedy Hollywood Forgot How to Make
      Montreal's ugly tree should've become an annual Christmas tradition

      Previous

      Montreal's Ugly Tree Should've Become an Annual Christmas Tradition

      Next

      The Bulletin: All the Stress-free Holiday Guides to Help You Relax [Issue #107]

      The Bulletin: All the stress-free holiday guides to help you relax [Issue #107]
      The Main

      Latest from The Main

      History LessonThe Little Store That Runs Montreal: A Complete History of the DepArts & CultureAngine de Poitrine Is Exactly What the Internet Was Waiting ForNewsletterThe Bulletin: Roman Sculpture and Italo Disco, Maple Xiao Long Bao, and an Easter Costume Party [Issue #175]Arts & CultureOur Picks of the Best Shows for this year's Jazz FestArts & CultureThe Action Comedy Hollywood Forgot How to Make
      Montreal's ugly tree should've become an annual Christmas tradition

      Previous

      Montreal's Ugly Tree Should've Become an Annual Christmas Tradition

      Next

      The Bulletin: All the Stress-free Holiday Guides to Help You Relax [Issue #107]

      The Bulletin: All the stress-free holiday guides to help you relax [Issue #107]