Sunday, March 8, 2015

I don't recall many noteworthy brunch spots in The Gay Village area in Montreal. Ma'Tine is the newest addition to Montreal's brunch scene. It has quickly gained popularity on social media. I have to admit that I do not know much about the Daniel-Six brothers and their former restaurant La Famille, but one thing for sure their take on brunch is creative, colorful and original. Very so often, less is more. But here at Ma'Tine more works in their favour - generous quantity of food with plentiful of components that meld well together.

Sunchoke artichokes tortilla - brunch Montreal
Jerusalem Artichokes Tortilla, Morteau Sausages, crème fraîche, anchovies, milk emulsion
Their one-page menu changes on a regular basis. It is concocted based on local and seasonal ingredients yet stayed true to their French root. The description of each dish is an enumeration of the main ingredients. Some might not be familiar to many diners. Whether you have a sweet or salty tooth, there is definitely a dish that will suit your palate. 

We started off with their cucumber limeade - the subtle and fresh taste of cucumber provides a nice contrast to the sourness of lime. Who knew cucumber in limeade goes well together? I'll definitely use this flavour combination for my summer recipe.

For brunch, we opted for the Jerusalem artichokes (sunchoke) tortilla - a take on the Spanish tortilla. The frittata slab is layered with generous amount of artichokes that held well together. It is complemented with three big chunks of grilled Morteau sausages, spicy and crunchy anchovies, dollops of tangy crème fraîche covered in milk emulsion. Every bite provides variant flavours and textures that makes you want to go back for more.

Pickled Beets, White Turnip Pancake - Brunch French
White Turnip Noodles, Pickled Beets, Citrus, Almonds, Ricotta, Quail Eggs on Pancake
We also ordered the pancake topped with a bountiful of healthy ingredients - white turnip noodles, almonds, grapefruit, pomegranade, ricotta and two sunny side up quail eggs. The raw turnip is soft yet retain some crunch. It is elevated by the citrus taste of the grapefruit and burst of sweetness from the pomegranate. It also comes with pickled beets for added earthiness and sweetness. The creamy and sour taste of the ricotta cheese gives a nice balance of flavours to the overall dish. A perfect meal for the vegetarians.

Despite having so many components on a plate, there are 3-4 clean flavours that one can pick on a single bite. Our meal was quite filling that we did not have any room left to sample their baked goods.
Cucumber Lemonade - Brunch Montreal
Cucumber Limeade
Ma'Tine is not your typical bacon-sausage-egg fare. Their impeccable attention to contrasts and textures is what makes their brunch unique and exciting. This bakery-café is usually packed at peak hours. Luckily, more seats become available as their terrace is opened during summertime. As their menu changes on a regular basis, it is definitely worth revisiting several times to try out their latest creations.

Ma'Tine
1310 blvd de Maisonneuve E.
Montreal, QC
H2L 2A4
Ma'Tine on Urbanspoon

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