I’m probably one of the last asian in Montreal to know about Chatime. I was only aware when a friend of mine posted a picture of these delicious bubble tea on facebook declaring how irresistible they are!

So what’s so special about Chatime? ( I only knew about these following information when I visited the place). It is originally from Taiwan and it has several stores already around the world. The bubble tea claims to be made out of real tea leaves. And you get to cuztomize your drink, such as the quantity of sugar. For more information, just visit their website.

So now that I’m finished with the blah blah, let’s get to the real juice! euh – bubble tea.

Just look at this colorful display!

How could I not get all giddy? The combination is not the typical bubble tea either!

So in the end, Mr.Butter and I tried the Matcha red bean milk tea and the roasted milk tea with herbal jelly. I love both equally! Mr.Butter preferred the Matcha red bean milk tea. I would say that the Matcha milk tea is very similar to Starbucks’ green tea frapuccino!

I didn’t know at first that I could adjust the sugar amount nor that I could choose to have ice or not. I simply order everything regular. I didn’t want to the ruin the original experience! Next time, I’ll make sure to reduce the sugar a bit; although it wasn’t overly sweet, I find a bit less sweet would have been better for my health and would be just as good!

To be honest, I had this since saturday, I was craving for a second one right after I finished it. I was craving the following day, and the one after…and even now. It is this addictive. I’m so glad that it’s not that accessible to me.

If you haven’t tried Chatime bubble tea yet, I would highly recommend to do so now! And, I don’t think I could go back to regular bubble tea from other place now. It’s just different…

Zuuchini

The past 3 years, my friends and I attended Happening Gourmand. But this wasn’t repeated this year. None of us was interested enough by their menu. Instead, Decca77 Brasserie caught some of ours.

One of the main difference between Decca77 and their brasserie was that their menu is much more affordable. Oh and, the seating is the other side of the restaurant as well.

Grilled sausage, rapini and garlic mashed potatoes

The highlight of this wasn’t the sausage itself. It was the simple harmony between the sweet yet tangy tomatoes and the ever so creamy mashed potatoes. The sausage was missing juiciness…If I have to choose this or Costco sausage, I would definitely pick Costco sausage.

Chicken pot pie, with a crispy lettuce salad

I wasn’t expecting such a big portion! The chicken pot pie was delicious. Filled with butter goodness but it gets heavy real quick. I simply took one bite and I knew I would have a hard time finishing it. Good thing they paired it with a lettuce salad. It was crispy and helps lightening the pot pie. It was a perfect pairing.

Tiramisu

When I got the Tiramisu, I was slightly confused as I remembered having the same looking dessert as last time… Did I received the wrong dessert last time? Details…When I was tasting this Tiramisu, I could definitely tell it was Tiramisu. The rich coffee flavor gave it away. I liked it but I was again thinking it tasted like the tiramisu at Costco…

After that not so fortunate experience at Decca77, the brasserie differently restored my faith again. Undoubtedly, I wasn’t amazed as the first time, but it was a solid menu at 19$.

Zuuchini

I had wanted Mr.Butter to try Decca77 ever since my first visit. I had such a memorable experience. So, what better time than now! Decca77 is part of Le Chop event, offering a set menu at affordable price.

To start off the night, we had some cocktails.

Apple Krisp

Old Fashioned

While we were taking our time enjoying the moment, the waiter kindly asked us when should they started service the first course. We told them that we would be taking our time and had the whole evening. And they kindly accommodated us and timed the meal perfectly! I was so impressed with their service all evening – exactly how my first visit was!

Jeruselum artichoke milk, chestnuts and mushroom

I am a huge fan of chestnut so when I saw this on the menu, I immediately picked it even if I did not have the slightest of what to expect as I didn’t know what was Jeruselum artichoke milk.

To my surprise, it was actually a very foamy soup. Actually too foamy for my liking. It tasted something like very foamy root taste. I couldn’t taste the chestnut at all. All in all, I didn’t enjoy at all.

Beef marrow salad with a balsmic reduction and crispy croutons and fresh lobster

The presentation of this dish was very pretty. But there was suppose to beef marrow. I saw the bone, but there was no marrow. I wondered where did it go? The lobster was fresh indeed but felt like it was just an added ingredient to the dish, just to have lobster. There wasn’t without much harmony.

Braised beef macreuse, root vegetables and lentils

The braised beef tasted so common. Sure it was tender, but I felt it didn’t have much wow factor. The lentils tasted even more common like something out of my kitchen.

Duck magret parsnip, candied apples, cranberries and ginger juice. And pan seared foie gras.

This was my favorite dish of the night which of course has to be Mr.Butter’s. It would be my first time to be asked how cooked we want the duck to be. I never had duck in thick cut and this tender before! It was like eating duck flavored steak! I had mixed feeling with foie gras – sometimes I like it and sometimes I hate it. And guess what? I love the foie gras here! It was probably the lighter taste. Cutting a piece of the foie gras and putting it on top of the duck, it was just heavenly smooth in the mouth!

Sadly, the duck and the foie gras were so tiny.

Opera cake with butterscotch ice cream

I don’t remember trying the cake. Somehow…by looking at it, I think Costco’s opera cake taste better.

Crunchy almond bar, chocolate “cremeux”, chestnuts and dark cacao tile.

See! I had to pick this because it got chestnuts! Once again, I couldn’t taste it…This dessert was like a mousse cake in a container. Simple, but wasn’t the ultimate touch to finish the night.

To compare with my first visit, this was a complete disappointment in the food department. Maybe I did not select the right things on the menu, or maybe it was for the event, so they weren’t showcasing the best dishes either at that price level. But one thing that I would not deny. I still had a wonderful dinner because their staff are genuinely professional and attentive. I had a bit too much of drinks that I dropped my utensil 3 times on the floor. Every time, the waiter replaced it swiftly! And…I even had to pour over my glass of water…Without remarks, the waiter gladly took care of the matter. I am so thankful for their superb service.

Zuuchini

Mr.Butter and I decided to stroll around downtown. And of course, we arrived to Chinatown as I was famished and I wanted to show Mr.Butter that super good restaurant that serves great red bean soup dessert. And…it had to be close that day…

And then, I remembered that I wanted to try Mai Xiang Yuan! But then, while I know it is on St-Laurent, I couldn’t find it and I guess I was impatient and went to the most convenient restaurant that was brightly and nicely advertised by its menu pictures posted on their windows.

Their dumplings can’t be wrong, so I thought when I sat down. I mean, their restaurant name is based on dumpling!

Excitedly, I flipped through the menu and had a few dishes I wanted to try. But because I was the only hungry one, I restrained myself to 2 dishes only.

Mushroom and seafood pot

I love to order these stuff in Chinese restaurant. This time wasn’t an exception. However, I would tweak the name a bit and name it fungus and a bit of seafood on a wobbly pot. Why? Because, there were a few kinds of mushroom, and some were more fungus type than actual mushroom. And then, there were exactly…3-4 shrimps. And like about 2 pieces of “crab meat” cut into 2. And not more than 3 pieces of squid. Yup, and that costed over than what is worth. Sure, it was good. I loved these types of dish, even when this one is drenched with oil. But, I would have been more pleased if they were a bit more generous with their content.

Lamb and coriander dumplings – boiled

It was a mess. I had to point out that I am not a fan of boiled dumplings… especially when the dumplings become out of shape, other words too soft. These dumplings were incredibly greasy and the lamb odour was excessive. Sure it was good enough just to fill my tummy. But even in my starvation, I wasn’t impressed.

Oh! Dumpling did not OH! me at all… I was left unimpressed and wished I took the efforts to ask for Mr.Butter’s phone to locate Mai Xiang Yuan.

Zuuchini