| My personalized tour of the Casino de Montreal was | | | | gourmet meal. As I got back to my table and got |
| very interesting and taught me many different things | | | | myself organized, Benoît dropped by with a |
| that I had never known about casino operations. My | | | | "petit four", a "little oven" of baked goods that included |
| learning experience was followed by an opportunity to | | | | miniature biscotti, fruit jelly, pistachio jelly and American |
| sample the Casino's hospitality first hand. Alexandre | | | | chocolate. I just loved the creative French terms used, |
| took me up to the top floor of the Casino and handed | | | | "amuse-bouche" and "petit four" are perfect |
| me over to Benoît, the restaurant manager at | | | | descriptions for these culinary delights. This |
| Nuances, the Casino's gourmet restaurant. I had a | | | | multi-course meal combined with the personalized and |
| perfect table by the window with a beautiful view | | | | highly attentive service and the stunning views of |
| overlooking the St. Lawrence River and the downtown | | | | Montreal made my evening at Nuances a very special |
| Montreal skyline. The sun was just starting to set and | | | | experience and a definite highlight of my trip. When I |
| the entire scene was bathed in golden hues. | | | | had to leave Benoît took me personally down to |
| Benoît even took me out on to a terrace on the | | | | the main entrance of the Casino where he flagged |
| top level of the Casino that offered a completely | | | | down a taxi for me to ensure I would make it on time |
| unobstructed 180 degree view of downtown Montreal | | | | to the fireworks at La Ronde. The staff at the Casino |
| and the entire island. The vista was absolutely stunning. | | | | de Montreal went out of their way to make this |
| The Casino de Montreal is definitely one of the best | | | | evening a memorable experience. My five-minute taxi |
| places to view Montreal's skyline. Nuances is a highly | | | | ride took me back across the bridge to Ile |
| acclaimed fine dining restaurant that has been | | | | Sainte-Hélène where my driver dropped me |
| awarded the coveted CAA-AAA Five Diamond | | | | off in front of the main entrance at La Ronde. La |
| Rating. This 72-seat restaurant has a sophisticated | | | | Ronde is Montreal's amusement park and first opened |
| atmosphere and a highly dedicated staff. Once I got | | | | in 1967 as part of Expo 67, a world fair that really put |
| comfortable, Gérard, the waiter for my table, | | | | Montreal on the map. Today La Ronde is a member |
| brought an "amuse-bouche", a starter plate that | | | | of the famous Six Flag family of amusement parks. |
| featured frozen goat cheese on ice in a reduction of | | | | My seat provided a perfect view of the soon-to-come |
| apple cider. The mixture of sweet and tart flavours | | | | spectacle and the huge crowd was filled with |
| definitely perked up my taste buds and got them | | | | anticipation. What seemed like many thousands of |
| ready for the culinary surprises yet to come. As an | | | | people were located inside the La Ronde amusement |
| appetizer I enjoyed mixed a vegetable salad and | | | | park in different seating sections and many thousands |
| mesclun lettuce with vegetable chips and a sherry | | | | more were planning to watch the fireworks from the |
| vinaigrette. This entrée was accompanied by | | | | Jacques Cartier Bridge. The fireworks today were |
| three different types of bread with home-made butter, | | | | part of a competition series called "L'International des |
| made from heavy cream. Gérard explained that | | | | Feux Loto-Québec" which features a schedule |
| the breads were a French baguette, a hazelnut/ honey | | | | of 10 pyro-musical events between June 17 and July |
| / raisin bread and a so-called Lodeve bread from the | | | | 29, 2006. Countries participating in this competition |
| South of France. I also got a quick peak at Nuances' | | | | include Switzerland, Italy, Argentina, South Africa, |
| three different wine cellars: the wine cellar behind the | | | | Portugal, Canada, the United States, France and |
| bar features wines that are organized carefully by | | | | Australia with a special finale on July 29. Our |
| region and type of wine. One of the cellars holds | | | | presentation tonight was put on by the Cienfuegos |
| extremely rare and expensive wines. I asked for | | | | Fireworks company from Argentina, which is a key |
| Benoît's suggestion to select a main course as | | | | player in the field of pyrotechnics due to its unique |
| well as a wine to match. He recommended that I try | | | | know-how. Tonight's program was anchored around |
| the Chilean sea bass. The black rice accompanying | | | | the personalities of Evita Peron and Che Guevara and |
| the fish is also referred to as 'forbidden rice" since only | | | | enchanted with classic Argentian melodies and music |
| the Chinese emperor was allowed to consume it. | | | | from Central America. The stunning fireworks displays |
| Benoît suggested a glass of German | | | | were choreographed in perfect harmony with the |
| Gewürztraminer to go with this dish. Shortly after | | | | music and lit up the sky with stunning multi-coloured |
| I received my meal and enjoyed the delicate taste of | | | | displays of light and sound. This fireworks presentation |
| the sea bass, accompanied by mixed vegetables such | | | | provided a dramatic artistic ending to three and a half |
| as wild asparagus, bok choy and parsnips. The fish | | | | wonderful days of Canada Day festivities in Montreal. |
| was drizzled in a yellow wine sauce, made with wine | | | | As I sat in the subway on the way back from Jean |
| from Jura in the French Savoie region. Some drops of | | | | Drapeau Park I realized that I would only have a few |
| parsley oil rounded out the medley of complementary | | | | more hours in this beautiful city before my train was |
| flavours. As I would have to rush off shortly to go to | | | | going to leave tomorrow just before noon. But I was |
| the fireworks which would start at the La Ronde | | | | determined to take advantage of every minute here |
| amusement park, Benoît ensured the speedy | | | | to discover yet another facet of this fascinating city |
| arrival of my dessert: a Muscat wine jello with | | | | and sneak in one final walking tour of the city before |
| strawberries combined with a vanilla and Szechuan | | | | my departure. |
| pepper mousse on a chocolate base with a pistachio | | | | Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a web portal for |
| sauce, a delicate treat. We even had a chance to visit | | | | unconventional travel & cross-cultural connections. |
| the kitchen to meet the chefs who had prepared my | | | | |