Monday, November 22, 2010

Montreal's Parking!

If I knew that the parking in Montreal will be that expensive, I would buy a parking space and be millionaire ! It cost us 6$ for 2 hours on the street( not refundable ) so you better walk around to use all your time!  and the cost in most of the parking is around minimum 10-15$ for half a day! 
Ok, let's do some calculation : the minimum salary is 9.50 $ ( don't forget to remove the taxes, the pension, the blablabla). The gas now cost around 1.15 $/ L, the parking cost 3$/hour, so if you travel by car and park on the street, more the the 1/3 of your salary goes back to the government! 

I have a suggestion, the city should create a ''Car Owner Taxe'', like the house taxes, you pay a taxes each year then you can park anywhere in the city for free!! That way you don't lose your money if you pay for 2 hours but use only 1h! Or they should sell parking passes (like the bus/metro pass). Let's see with the pass, you pay only by minute, by the time you used!
What do you think? I think that will not be possible because it will make less money for the city! But it was just my little  thinking from my little head! lol !

Monday, November 15, 2010

Last week, I had brunch at the Delta Hotel, Rotating restaurant, on a Sunday.
It opened at 10:30 am 
( 10:30 the first group then 12:30 the second) and you have to make reservation. You only have two hours to eat. At first, I thought that two hours will never be enough, but trust me, after one hour, I have ate all the dishes they have! lol! 



Dress code
: well, I did not see any indications for that, so I guess you can dress the way you like. 2.50$ for your coat, this is mandatory.

Cost: It was around 100$ for two, taxes and tips included

First, they assigned you a seat, all the table are around the glass window, so you have great view of Montreal. 
They look nice but taste is ok not the fanciest






Then, the restaurant does rotate, slowly but you sure can feel it goes. At first, I was so excited! I followed all the movements, then I stopped when my head was getting dizzy.  The center part of the resto did not rotated ( there all the food are ). You got a little messed up to find the food.

The Food:
Well, I was sitting next to the cold appetizer, there were sushi   ( people just kept saying: wow there are sushi!!!, well, sushi is not everything, but it made them so excited) My favorite was the smoked salmon! I took two plates full of that (I'll die of mercury and high cholesterol for sure) 
I don't know if you are like me, but when I go to buffet like that, I always tried to eat as much as I could and do calculation in my head, how much it cost all the food that I eat. So I guess my two plates of salmon worth it!  The salad bar was delicious and cute. They refill the food very fast, but the waiters are a little slow ( well mine was). You have all you can drink juice ( juice from a can i guess, not smothie nor fresh juice), coffee and water! 

Of course they have bacon, sausages, bread, like usual breakfast, which I did not taste. It looked good though. There were meat ( the lamb was delicious ). I was not impressed with the food, maybe I was expecting a lot since it is a big hotel in the middle of downtown Montreal. 

The dessert table was the most disappointed! All the cakes seemed to come from a grocery, no cheese cake, no creme brule, two choice of ice cream ( the chocolate one was ok ), the fruits was so so, normal. 
I got a moment of nostalgia in front of the sweet table!

After one hour, the restaurant did the 360 degrees rotation and I finished eating. Sitting there, looking at Montreal, on a Sunday morning, the city still sleeping, nothing excited since what you see the most is buildings! After 5 minutes, your eyes got tired of it. 
According to me, you pay for the view, the name of the hotel, and the rotating things. The food is almost the same in a normal buffet, except they have nicer presentation. I was not satisfied for the price I paid ( not that I am cheap but they should put more effort ). It was too formal to me, the exact time that you have to be there, can't bring your coat with you, the time limit, going around to get you food...
View of Montreal by day
Still, it is a nice place to bring tourists, for a first date, formal brunch. I like better chez Cora for my breakfast more casual and familial!

I suggest you go buy your breakfast at your favorite restaurant, make it take out then drive to the Mount Royal, eat while you looking at Montreal, it is totally free! 

If you had already by to this resto, well you experienced something different but if you did not, well you did not miss much. Don't need to put it on your to do check list! lol

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Montreal by Night

                               
            Woah! the Olympic Stadium with the water and the Moon, priceless view!


Each year at Le Jardin Botanique, there is La Magie des Lanternes festival, from October to November. It's a really romantic place to go for a date! I went there with my two partners in crime (+ one little angel). Very nice to take pictures! I forgot my camera, so only used my iphone, not so good image quality but you still have an idea!


It is a one time visit according to me, because almost each year is the same thing, once you've seen it, it no more as impressive as the first time! 
I enjoyed more to play with the pumpkins present all around the garden!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Little nice place at the right spot!

Today, I have to wake up early to go to a information session near the Guy metro station. While I was waiting for someone, half sleepy, guess what I saw?
The Harmony pastisserie!! I suddenly felt warness inside me! It is a asian pastry with all good things at cheap price, around 1-3 $ each! It is in a great location just at the exit place, next to the Uniprix. 
It's fresh, the place is clean and modern.They have sweet and meat things, just grab one when you pass by!

It is so amazing how a little bun can make me so happy! And it's cheap ( the most important thing )

I wish I can open one pastisserie too! No stress at job and I can reward myself with all that good pastries! My fav : custard bun!

They also have a the same store located in Chinatown at La Gauchetiere and St-Urbain street corner.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Restaurant reviews!

Hello everyone !
Now, talk about my favorite thing, eating!
I love to eat out with my friends and discover new restaurant each time. So let's started!

First, I think sushi is the best invention ever! I think if Enstein were still alive he will probably be so impressed by those little roll with raw fish inside! Here is my list:

 Odaki: All you can eat sushi. Price, is around 20-27$.

Odaki on Sainte-Catherine


There are two place in Montreal, one on St-Laurent street(977, boul. St-Laurent coin Napoléon, H2W 1Y4, 514-282-1268) and the other one on Ste-Catherine, downtown(1836, rue Sainte-Catherine O.Montréal, Québec, H3H 1M1, 514-846-1268). Both of them have cozy, romantic ambiance with a modern and unique decor. A Chic place to hang out with family, friend, lover! Personally, i prefer the food and the decor at the Odaki on 
St-Catherine, it's newer and close to everything. There, they have a rotating table with sushi on it, like in Japan! The first rotating table that i've seen in Montreal, so far. Ask the waiter to sit on the benches next to the rotating table, so you can pick up your own sushis!






Also, you can order from the menu. I suggest to take only few plates from the rotating table, just to have the feeling of it, but the sushi from the menu are more fresh.
On the menu there are sushis, appetizers, cooked food, salads, soups. Drink not included.  Just order what you can swallow, yet you will have to pay extra fees for wasting! The raw fish is fresh, melted in your mouth and not smelly, the rice around sushi is from soft to dry depending on the chief. Check out the ingredients in the sushi rolls, because some of them have the same stuffing, only the name or the order change. Just order a little from each to have a taste. I never ordered shrimp or crab because they are tasteless to me. To complete your meal, order a bottle of sake (hot or cold), just make you feel like being in Japan. Even if i don't love alcohol, i just drink due to the ambiance and it makes me feel like a pro!
The eel is so irresistible, never had enough!   The Flying caviar worth every penny! All this contribute to increase my cholesterol, what to do, I am just sushihollic!  I give this restaurant 8/10. I remove 2 points because of the dry rice and salty smoked salmon (the slice is so thin they might fly with the ventilation, each time i have to order around 30 slices!!!)







Friday, November 5, 2010

Findings at the L'Oréal sale


I went to the L'Oréal sale yesterday i found something really amazing!
Check this out!
Lancôme Ageless Minéral, limited edition.
I bought the kit that includes two shade(beige 10 and beige 20), one translucent, and foundation blush
it was 30$ at the sale but regular price is 75$

The color blended really nicely to my skin! It will give you a natural looking with a brightness on your face! and the Brush! Love it! it is so smooth, feel like silk to your skin!!
The Top on is Beige 10, Beige 20 at the bottom!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

First Message

Hello everyone!!
I created this blog for me to have a place to express myself and share to everyone else my experiences, thinking and new knowledges!!!
So just have fun!! don't criticize , it's only for fun and think about something else than the stressful everyday lifestyle!