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Story by Adrian Brijbassi
MONTREAL — Soft, sugary, sweet and so guilt-inducing they’ll sentence you to the gym for a week, at least. The Jelly Doughnuts at the most talked about new restaurant in Montreal, if not Canada, are deliriously tasty, as well as a reminder that Le Bremner is a fun, casual place, no matter all the buzz about it and its celeb chef.
The doughnuts come three to a plate, each filled with a different creamy, gooey centre. These are Timbits on steroids — and after a serious retool in a masterful kitchen. Whether it’s the chocolate, lemon or fruity jam flavour, the Le Bremner doughnuts satisfy your craving for sweets and do it in a way that’ll make you smile — which is what a great dessert should do. It’s a playful dish, as well as a delicious one.
Perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise. Chuck Hughes’ restaurant has the sensibilities that match a city filled with young restaurateurs and artists passionate about perfecting their craft. It’s also a restaurant of the times. Prices are reasonable; plates are small, with three recommended for a table of two; ingredients are local; cocktails are inventive and a highlight of the experience; the professionalism of the staff is impeccable. Although Le Bremner clearly caters to the “it” crowd (designer jeans, low-cut dresses, fingers of bling), the host and wait staff were quick with a smile and helpful. In fact, when I initially walked into the 40-seat dining room near midnight last Friday, I was told there were no tables available. I left, only to be chased down on Rue Saint-Paul by the hostess.
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She had spotted another diner ordering the bill and figured it would be just a 10-minute wait before I could have that table. So, I followed her down the steps and beneath the awning marked with only the word “Restaurant” and into the dark, low-ceilinged space, impressed with her level of dedication and energy.
I had a nibble of Hughes’ Perfect Little Steak ($18), cooked medium rare and served with a silky red-wine reduction, and a citrusy twist on a Sidecar ($12), fennel stick included. Then the Jelly Doughnuts ($8). They’ll remind some of the famed beignets at Café du Monde in New Orleans, but Hughes’ doughnuts are vastly superior, if only because the flavourful fillings are so scrumptious and the exterior so pleasantly spongy.
Many restaurants strive for a signature dish — a blend of flavours that makes diners think fondly about their experience afterwards and tempts them to return often. In both his steak and his very Canadian dessert, Hughes has two contenders.
DIRECTIONS: Le Bremner is at 361 Saint-Paul Street East, across from the Bonsecours Market. Reservations highly recommended. Tele: 514-544-0446. No website. No Twitter feed.
ABOUT THE GREAT CANADIAN DESSERT SEARCH: Vacay.ca is dedicated to find the best travel experiences in Canada, so telling you about the very best dessert choices are a perfect fit for us. And a nice way to justify those sweets we know we really shouldn’t have. If you’ve got a dessert you’d like to nominate for inclusion in our list, let us know and one of our correspondents will check it out. Or write a review yourself and send in photos if you have them and we’ll publish your own great dessert find!
