Last updated September 21, 2011


In a city known for its lively food scene, it isn't surprising to find a varied group of curious and critical food bloggers keeping tabs on restaurants as well as the wider world of ingredients, markets and cooking generally.

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Only in Montreal will you find multiple blogs devoted to that most choice of fast food specialties, poutine. Poutine Chronicles and The Poutine Pundit review poutine offerings so that you need never be without a notion where to find a good poutine in all its squeaky cheese glory.

Other kinds of fast food are not neglected. Chris "Zeke" Hand does the Montreal Burger Report on his blog, which also includes audio and video. He describes it as "My Dinner with André meets Rocky & Bullwinkle at Martin Picard's place." Another local burger blog is Mr. Lew's Great Burger Search.

Cartoonist Hasemeister has a food blog called Fast Food Fred with quick amusing looks at fast food options, mostly in and around Montreal but occasionally further afield. Good pix of the restaurant signs, too. In French. (This is the man with a Flickr set of images of the ubiquitous Italian chef we've all seen on a pizza box.)

One of the most delightful Montreal food blogs is ...an endless banquet, run by A.J. Kinik and professional chef Michelle Marek. These two get around, so not all the entries are about Montreal, but many of them are. Their master lists A to M and N to Z encapsulate a vast amount of knowledge, both on the best places to eat and to source excellent and recherché groceries in the city (and the entries are date-stamped!). They also feature recipes and general thoughts on food and eating. All in English.

Chef Bartek Komorowski from Dépanneur Le Pick-Up has a food blog on which he mixes recipes and resto reviews.

The Gazette has an eating blog, although I'm of two minds whether mainstream media is really blogging in the proper sense. Given that, Journal Métro also has a food blog, Bouffe et compagnie. The city's official tourism website also has a food blogging section although their reviews are, annoyingly, not dated.

Resto review blog Shut up and eat has tempting photos as well as reviews of a number of local eateries. Food Guy Montreal also has down-to-earth resto reviews (love the titanium spork). Cheap Ethnic Eatz is just that – restaurant reviews (with photos) and recipes. Gigi Win looks mostly at Asian restaurants. All four of these tend to look at modest and accessible spots.

More resto reviewers: Braised and Confused has a good layout and photos, and reviews establishments under several categories; The Sassy Foodophile reviews restaurants in both languages, photos and dodgy typography; Foodie Date Night is written by "a couple of culinary school graduates" applying their knowledge to resto food and practices around town.

Chowhound has a Quebec discussion board that is more often than not focused on Montreal, as people ask, answer and debate questions about restaurants and cookery. All in English, being part of a site operated by Americans, and has several stalwart commenters who can be relied on for interesting opinions.

Midnight Poutine is a collective effort by a cabal of Montreal bloggers. Given the name, of course some of their entries are dedicated to food, some in English and some in French. pretextes.ca is a nice blog with a section on bouffe, all in French.

La Pantry is a vivacious blog by a woman named Eve Martel who apparently has a lot of energy. Montreal Restaurant Reviews is a tumblr blog by two young ladies. I like the name of resto review blog This is why we're fat – I don't know who writes this one, but they're good.

Banlieusardises is a well-established blog with a wide interest in local food. Christelle is flabbergasting also looks at local bouffe. More recent finds include Roasted Montreal and Cookoodoo which, like many food blogs, move between resto talk and recipes.

Bob Le Chef promises l'anarchie culinaire. Lately the blog's mostly being used to promote his new cookbook.

Under the High Chair is the musings of a young mother and gourmande in the city. Pictures and recipes, not so much on the restaurant reviews.

A Food Year has gone beyond its original year-long plan and continues, mostly with recipes now.

soupnancy is the thoughts of a woman who works part time as a chef in the Lanaudière. These aren't restaurant reviews, but meditations on cooking, menus and food generally, and she really puts thought into it. Others blogs that focus more on recipes than restaurants are Jasmine Cuisine, Anna's Table, Eatpress and dishchronicles.

Montreal Brunch and Breakfast is just what it says, an assessment of breakfast and brunch places.

The Hungry Italian investigates Italian cookery with food from Montreal sources.

Le Méchant Mangeur "searches for the best places to watch & eat in Montreal." In English despite the name.

Chomp Chomp used to be Jeremy and Vinita's resto guide on a page at McGill. It's kind of charmingly Web 1.0 but lists a lot of places – alas, still with no dates on their reviews.

aromes has restaurant reviews and seems to be pretty diligently kept up, with photos. In English, despite the French name.

Mindful Table looks out for sustainable local choices and presents interesting recipes while Homegrown Food Blog is working with the idea of keeping a vegetable garden; it's located in Toronto but some of its general advice applies in our climate too.

Urban Spoon's mostly just a listing site, but might provide some useful information to somebody.

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Blogs come and go. if I notice a blog's been neglected for awhile, I'll remove it from this page. Likewise, if the focus of a blog shifts permanently away from Montreal, it doesn't belong here. Finally, if a blog focuses on home cooking with no particular Montreal angle, it doesn't really fit on this page even if it's written here.

Also, please keep in mind that not all food bloggers constantly update their content. Don't make big plans to go to any restaurant mentioned in a blog without calling first to make sure it's still in business, and will be open when you're hoping to visit.

I could wish all food bloggers would do two things: date their blog entries – especially restaurant reviews – and say a little something about who they are. I don't mean they need to post an entire CV, but it would be nice to know whether a blog's being written by someone with professional background in the business.

If you have any news of new, revived or defunct food blogs, please email me.