Latest news with #Italian-inspired
Vancouver Sun
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Summer of Smiles: Chef of Le Violon shares his top picks for visitors to Montreal
It is shaping up to be quite the summer for Montreal celebrity chef Danny Smiles. First and foremost, his restaurant Le Violon in the Plateau neighbourhood was recently named the best new restaurant in Canada. While Smiles has been a fixture in the Montreal fine dining scene for years – well known as the chef of Chuck Hughes' Old Port restaurant Le Bremner and as a finalist on Top Chef Canada – Le Violon is Smiles' first foray into opening his own restaurant. The 48-seat eatery on a quiet corner of Rue Marquette and Rue Gilford, which hosted former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and pop star Katy Perry earlier this week, presents French and Italian-inspired dishes with a focus on fresh, local seasonal ingredients. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. In a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, Smiles and team serve thoughtful, innovative bites that he describes as, 'super honest.' He prides himself on the menu's simplicity, which was the main goal for Smiles and his partners (co-executive chef Mitch Laughren, wine director Andrew Park and creative director Dan Climan). Beyond Le Violon, in June, Smiles launched his new jarred tomato sauce company called Donata . The brand is named after his Italian grandmother, who taught Smiles about Italian cooking. Then in July, Smiles and his team opened Dalmata , an Italian-style ice cream shop in the Mile End that serves gelato from soft serve machines, which began as an off-menu experiment at Le Violon. 'We never had dreams of opening an ice cream shop but there was this locale that our friends owned and they came to us and said they thought an ice cream shop would go well here,' said Smiles. Just a 15-minute walk away from Dalmata is Smiles' dive-y late night burger bar Double's , which rounds out an eclectic portfolio of projects that each highlight a different aspect of his personality. While Smiles honed his skills through stages at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, he's very much a product of his multicultural upbringing in East Montreal. 'My dad is Egyptian Lebanese and my mom is Italian and I grew up in a very Italian neighbourhood,' Smiles says. 'My grandma lived next door and she was a terrific cook. It was two different backgrounds meshed together and it was just so beautiful. I was born in the 80s and growing up there were a lot of immigrants and a lot of influences.' During F1 weekend in June, Postmedia Travel sat down with Danny Smiles at Maison Amex , where the chef and his team were preparing inventive hors d'oeuvres throughout the weekend. We asked Smiles to share some of his favourite spots that he recommends to visitors to Montreal: 'Coming to Montreal and exploring a neighbourhood like Little Italy is great,' says Smiles. 'You can have a coffee at Cafe Ferlucci – some of the best coffee in the city – then walk over to Jean Talon Market and check out (fruit and vegetable market) Chez Nino . Then you could go grab lunch at Pasta Pooks .' Smiles says this hole-in-the-wall eatery on Clark Street offers some of the best pasta that Canada has to offer. 'Their vibe is so Montreal.' The chef is also a big fan of Pumpui, another small eatery offering 'lights out' Thai dishes. This new bistro in Little Italy is the creation of the team behind Vin Mon Lapin (recently ranked #2 on the Canada's 100 Best Restaurants list). 'When you're at the top of your game and you open a rotisserie chicken spot, and you source some of the best birds that Quebec has to offer and you actually pay attention to the coleslaw and the gravy and all that, it's just hard to beat,' he says. 'A phenomenal restaurant. This kind of place doesn't exist anywhere else because it's very Quebec and very Montreal.' Located in the increasingly trendy borough of Verdun, Beba is run by brothers Ari and Pablo Schor and was ranked No. 7 on Canada's Best 100 Restaurants list. The meaty cuisine conveys the Italian and Spanish influences of their Argentinian-Jewish background and focuses on old world techniques. Smiles says Beba is 'very interesting, very delicious. And they've got great taste in music.' Montreal has a large Haitian community, which has shaped the city's identity over the years. That's why Smiles says visitors to Montreal should be sure to sample some of the city's best Haitian food. He recommends Sissy et Paul and Steve Anna, two casse-croute (snack bars) that serve up platters with roasted chicken or griot (marinated pork), rice, crispy accra fritters and fried plantains. Smiles also loves Vietnamese restaurant Ho guom, critically acclaimed wine bar Gia Vin & Grill in St. Henri, classic Italian eatery Nora Gray and the celebrated Au Pied du Cochon on the Plateau, specializing in Quebecois cuisine. Smiles also considers Bottega a go-to and a favourite of his young sons, River and Lennon. 'I love taking my family to Bottega. It's just a spot that everyone enjoys. It's an Italian pizzeria but it has just a bit more, like you can get really good lamb chops there too.' Thinking about preparing a picnic? Smiles has got you covered. He calls Aliments Viens ' one of the best butchers we have in Montreal. The charcuterie is out of control. They have beautiful products and every butcher is so knowledgeable.' For cheese, he recommends Chez Brebis in the Mile End and Qui lait Cru!?! in the Jean Talon Market. 'In Montreal we have some of the best cheeses. Jean Talon Market has lots of little cheese shops. Qui Lait Cru?? is a play on words because it means who would have thought but it also means raw milk.' Smiles also highlights two exceptional bakeries, Eastern European Jewish bakery Hof Kelston and Automne for sourdough loaves, croissants and baguettes. When Smiles isn't running his steadily expanding food empire, you might find him checking out some of his favourite record stores and bookshops. 'There's lots of cool vinyl shops in the city. And since Montreal is a great walking city you can grab a coffee and go borough to borough and go crate digging,' he says. He lists Phonopolis, Au 33 Tours and Disques La Rama as his favourites. For books, he loves Resonance and Saint-Henri Books. Where else might you find Smiles on a day off? There was a time when music was his main pursuit – Smiles was once the drummer in an indie rock band that toured across Canada – and he still loves checking out Timpano Percussion, a drum shop that is just a short walk from Le Violon. mflemming@
Calgary Herald
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Summer of Smiles: Chef of Le Violon shares his top picks for visitors to Montreal
Article content It is shaping up to be quite the summer for Montreal celebrity chef Danny Smiles. Article content Article content Article content The 48-seat eatery on a quiet corner of Rue Marquette and Rue Gilford, which hosted former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and pop star Katy Perry earlier this week, presents French and Italian-inspired dishes with a focus on fresh, local seasonal ingredients. Article content In a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, Smiles and team serve thoughtful, innovative bites that he describes as, 'super honest.' He prides himself on the menu's simplicity, which was the main goal for Smiles and his partners (co-executive chef Mitch Laughren, wine director Andrew Park and creative director Dan Climan). Article content Article content Then in July, Smiles and his team opened Dalmata, an Italian-style ice cream shop in the Mile End that serves gelato from soft serve machines, which began as an off-menu experiment at Le Violon. Article content Article content 'We never had dreams of opening an ice cream shop but there was this locale that our friends owned and they came to us and said they thought an ice cream shop would go well here,' said Smiles. Article content Just a 15-minute walk away from Dalmata is Smiles' dive-y late night burger bar Double's, which rounds out an eclectic portfolio of projects that each highlight a different aspect of his personality. Article content While Smiles honed his skills through stages at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, he's very much a product of his multicultural upbringing in East Montreal. 'My dad is Egyptian Lebanese and my mom is Italian and I grew up in a very Italian neighbourhood,' Smiles says. 'My grandma lived next door and she was a terrific cook. It was two different backgrounds meshed together and it was just so beautiful. I was born in the 80s and growing up there were a lot of immigrants and a lot of influences.'
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Ex-MKR contestant Anthony Mu on trial over alleged assaults
A former My Kitchen Rules contestant is facing court, accused of assaulting children known to him over several years. Anthony Mu, the husband of fellow contestant Clauden Uamaki-Mu, has pleaded not guilty at Richlands Magistrates Court, Queensland, to seven charges, including assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault. The alleged victims, now adults, were known to the couple during the time of the alleged incidents, police said. The pair competed on the 2023 season of the Channel 7 reality cooking show. They were known for their Italian-inspired cuisine and ran a food market stall selling traditional dishes. One alleged victim told the court on Monday she was punched, slapped and tackled through a wall by Anthony during one incident. The trial is continuing in the Magistrates Court, with more details expected later on Monday.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Popular English seaside city is home to the most pubs in the UK per person – here's some of the best ones
THERE are certain criteria people seek out when looking for a day trip - and one of those things is a plethora of pubs. And new data has revealed Brighton and Advertisement 11 Brighton and Hove has the most pubs per person Credit: Alamy 11 Here are some of the best pubs in the city - like The Station Inn Credit: Greene King The data revealed that the coastal city has an impressive 147 pubs per 100,000 people. In total, that's 205 pubs serving its 139,001 residents. With so many to choose from, we've found some of the best. Advertisement Read More on UK Breaks The Station Inn On Tripadvisor, The Station Inn describes itself as being a "traditional British pub" where you can enjoy a drink, play a game of pool or watch a game of football on the big screen. One visitor wrote: "The Station is everything you want in a local pub — warm, welcoming, and full of character. The staff are friendly, the beer selection is excellent, and the food hits the spot every time." Another added: "Lovely atmosphere, fantastic staff, we love coming to the Station- we feel like part of the family." Advertisement Most read in City breaks On the menu you'll find juicy burgers, steak and ale pie, fish and chips and a selection of roast dinners on a Sunday. The Tempest Inn Beach Club that's like being on the Med 11 In The Tempest Inn, you can have a drink inside a cave Credit: Tempest 11 Or you can enjoy a drink in the seaside beer garden Credit: Tempest Advertisement This pub has one very unique thing about it, and that's while inside, guests can enjoy a lantern-lite drink in a cave. For any people in a group who want to make sure they're seated in one of the cave booths, you can book these in advance. There's an outside area too and the pub is right on the seafront, with a sea-facing terrace, wooden tables and strings of fairy lights. Throughout the years are events like DJ sets, which run on most Saturdays. Advertisement 11 The Roundhill pub has a modern interior and a vegan menu Credit: Instagram / @theroundhillpub 11 The pub has been praised for its delicious vegan roasts The Roundhill vegan gastropub . It has a plant-based menu with weekly specials and they do Sunday roast dinners too. Advertisement The pub scooped up the "Best Roast" in 2020 and has been nominated in multiple categories for the 2025 BRAVOs, including "Most Sustainable," "Plant Champions," and "Best Sunday Roast". One visitor wrote on 11 Hove Place is a tucked away pub in Hove Credit: Hove Place 11 It has an Italian-inspired secret beer garden Credit: Hove Place Advertisement Hove Place With a glass of wine in hand and sitting out in the sunshine, you'll feel like you're in the Mediterranean. The pub that's known for its alfresco dining serves modern pub classics, as well as fresh focaccia rolls for and deli boards which are very popular . As for drinks, you can pick up cask ales, beers, ciders and wines as well as some draught lagers like Birra Moretti and Estrella. Advertisement When it first opened, the pub was shortlisted in the same awards as Best Newcomer in the 11 The Cricketers Inn is the oldest pub in Brighton Credit: The Cricketers 11 It has very bright plush velvet interior Credit: The Cricketers The Cricketers Inn the definition of a classic pub, it's full of charm, history and is the oldest pubs in Brighton. Advertisement You'll find the bright white pub in the thick of Brighton's Lanes , this venue attracts a real mix of people and inside is what's described as a "warren of rooms." As for the interior, think thick red carpets, velvet stools, black walls and dim lighting. The pub has an internal courtyard too with larger tables, but when it's sunny, you'll want to make most of the good weather by taking a seat outside. The Cricketers Inn is possibly the oldest pub in Brighton having been around since 1547. Advertisement While it might not be a pub, Check out some of the best pubs, fish and chip shops and cafes in Sussex, named by holidaymakers and locals. The Top 10 UK Cities With The Most Pubs Per Person Brighton & Hove Wakefield Salisbury Chester Bath York Lancaster Canterbury Worcester Hereford 11 Brighton has the most amount of pubs per person in the UK Credit: Alamy
The Irish Sun
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I visited the UK seaside town that looks like it belongs in Italy – with multicoloured houses and open air pool
TUCKED away in rural Wales is a place that's been hailed as 'picture postcard perfect' for almost 100 years. In fact, 6 I took a trip to the small Italian-inspired village Portmeirion Credit: Alamy 6 My boys loved Portmeirion despite the lack of playgrounds and go-karts Credit: Catherine Lofthouse I took my boys to see why the North Wales holiday resort has been on the must-visit list for decades. With visitors likening it to 'a slice of Italy on the British coast', I had high hopes, but I wasn't sure what my boys would make of it considering it's quite far removed from our I needn't have worried though, as the Made up of colourful houses and vibrant gardens set around a bay, the charming hotel-cum-holiday-park features two four-star hotels, one of which is set inside a castle, plus a motor-home park and several self-catering cottages. There are accommodation options to suit everyone and it really has got the wow factor that makes you think you're a million miles away from Wales. There's no playground or family-friendly features, just an old-world charm that suits quiet, meandering rather than rambunctious roaming and boisterous boys. On arrival, we spent a happy few hours on the giant chess set in the garden while my littlest paddled in the shallow pool nearby. One of the big travel trends over the past few years is set-jetting - fans of film and TV using their holidays to take them to the sights they've seen on screen. Most read in Family Think Death in Paradise viewers heading to the Caribbean island of Guadaloupe or Harry Potter fans taking a train trip on the tracks of the Hogwarts Express. But that's been happening here at Portmeirion for 50 years now, after the site shot to fame when it was used to film TV show The Prisoner. Its unique look was the perfect backdrop for this cult classic, in which a government agent is abducted and held captive in an idyllic seaside village which turns out to be a prison. I've never seen the show as it was a bit before my time, but heading down a shady path through rhondendron bushes and trees towards the shoreline put me in mind of Rebecca, the famous Daphne du Maurier novel set on a Cornish coastal estate. And maybe that's the secret to this special spot - you feel like you're stepping onto a film set or into the pages of your favourite novel, but it's entirely your choice which fantasy world that might be. Saundersfoot - The little-known UK seaside resort town with one of the cleanest beaches in the country 6 Giant chess was a big hit with the boys Credit: Catherine Lofthouse 6 The village sits on the edge of coast looking out to sea Credit: Alamy To be honest, I wouldn't fancy spending thousands of pounds set-jetting, only to find the scenery from your favourite film or series is something of a letdown once you're there. But there's no chance of that happening here as there's something new to marvel at around every corner and so many little nooks and crannies to explore as you wind your way around the site and come across buildings, grottos and pools around every corner, framing the bay beyond. There's even an open air swimming pool for the use of holidaymakers staying in the cottages dotted around the village, the main hotel at its entrance or the motorhome park nearby. It's a century since architect Clough Williams-Ellis first started designing and building Portmeirion and it took 50 years to complete. His vision feels just as vibrant today as it ever did. A mile away is Minffordd station, where passengers can catch a train on the famous 6 The Portmeirion hotel has an open air swimming pool Credit: Alamy So you could make a bit of a day of it and tick off two unique Welsh experiences that should be on every Brit's bucket list. You don't have to be spending the night to enjoy the wealth of facilities, either. Day passes to Portmeirion cost £37 for one adult and two children, with lots of different family tickets up to two adults and five children for £79. If you're touring Wales in a motorhome, there are pitches here which start at £55 per night and include complimentary access to the site out of hours and use of the outdoor pool. That's an option to consider if you want to see for yourself why this Welsh wonder and OG set-jetting site is still going strong after a century in situ. Read more on the Irish Sun Plus, the And where you can find the 6 Portmeirion is an Italian-inspired village in North Wales Credit: Alamy
