Canadian Destinations

Smoked meat and bagels – true Montréal traditions

To Montrealers, the best bagels and tastiest smoked meat can be found only in their city. Whether or not that’s a viable claim, the fact remains that no trip to Montréal is complete without a stop at what Montrealers now consider to be veritable institutions.

Originally from Europe, smoked meat and bagels first appeared in Québec in the early 20th century as part of the culinary influences that arrived with the successive waves of immigration.

Smoked meat is plate beef, marinated and then smoked and served on rye bread. But it can be argued that smoked meat is nothing without its faithful accompaniments: French fries, pickles and coleslaw.

As for bagels, they are made from sourdough and shaped into a ring. Before being cooked in a wood fired oven, they are quickly plunged into lightly honeyed, boiling water. There is a wide variety of bagels: sesame, poppy seed, garlic, blueberry, cinnamon and raisin, chocolate, multi-grain, etc.

A quick tour of the most renowned establishments serving smoked meat and bagels:

Lesters
At Lesters, smoked meat is a family affair. The members of the Lesters family have shared the same passion for over 50 years: providing quality smoked meat in a relaxed, family atmosphere. The establishment’s décor is right out of a ‘50s movie and takes you back in time.

Schwartz’s
In business for 79 years, Schwartz’s is a fixture on the Montréal landscape. The walls of this internationally renowned restaurant bear witness to the many celebrities and personalities who have passed through its doors, for they are adorned with photographs of employees brushing shoulders with the stars. The restaurant’s top-quality meat isn’t the only thing it has going for it – its ambience also plays a major role. Schwartz’s atmosphere stems from the family spirit exuded by the employees, some of whom have been working there for more than 40 years.

Fairmount Bagel
Fairmount Bagel was the first bagel shop in Montréal, opening its doors in 1919. Since then, its bagel recipe has been a closely-guarded secret, handed down from father to son through the Shlafman family. It’s always an impressive sight to see the bakers handling the sheeba, a long wooden board used to place a surprisingly large number of bagels in the oven.

St-Viateur Bagel
Patrons of this bagel shop will go to great lengths to get their bagels here. No matter where they’re from, they willingly travel great distances for this sacred treat. Founded in 1957, this bakery sells a thousand bagels a day.

Information:

www.schwartzsdeli.com
www.lestersdeli.com
www.fairmountbagel.com
www.stviateurbagel.com