Montreal's Must-Visit Hidden Gem of Culinary Delights π΄
I was instantly drawn to Anemone restaurant shortly after its opening, and only now have I had the chance to experience it. It has recently been recognized as one of Canada's best new restaurants, offering innovative cuisine that integrates local ingredients in a warm and inviting atmosphere. I sampled four signature temaki hand rolls from the restaurant, featuring flavors such as skate wing, scallop, grilled shishito pepper, and beef sweetbread, along with two desserts. Each dish was consistently delicious and met my expectations. As for the hand rolls, I found them to be quite ordinary and couldn't quite understand why they're a staple on the menu. The skate wing was incredibly tender and delicate, paired with small clams for an exceptionally fresh taste. The scallops were perfectly seared, not overly tender but still fresh and bouncy, with a sauce that included lentils, adding a creamy, grainy texture that enhanced the dish. The grilled shishito pepper was my favorite, almost devoid of heat, with a rich juice and a sweet flavor that paired wonderfully with a spicy yogurt sauce, making it very appetizing. The beef sweetbread with king trumpet mushrooms was rich and intense, the sweetbreads not overly fatty with a firm texture, and the mushrooms seemed to be complemented by a white wine garlic cream sauce, with crispy king trumpet mushroom chips on top that added a delightful aroma. Among the desserts, one was popcorn salted caramel flavored, a combination of caramel ice cream with popcorn, corn kernels, corn cake, and corn milk sauce. The corn fragrance paired wonderfully with the salted caramel, which I really enjoyed. However, the excessive amount of popcorn slightly overshadowed the other flavors, and since I'm not particularly fond of popcorn, it was a minor detractor. The other dessert featured pine needle maple syrup with buckwheat and meringue, along with some kind of ice cream that I can't recall. The pine needle's refreshing aroma was very distinctive, reminding me of secretly nibbling on pine needles as a child. Although sweet, the unique flavor was rich and satisfying, without being overly cloying. #MyCulinaryDiary #FoodExploration #Montreal #MontrealFoodAdventure #MontrealEats #MontrealLife #Canada #RestaurantHopping #WeekendFoodie #FoodRecommendations