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Pricey... but the meal is worth it. For my first meal in Montreal, I had the good fortune to share it with the reigning reine of the City of Saints, Risa D. As I wandered through the narrow streets and alleyways, I wondered what she had in store. As soon as I opened the door, heard the strains of an awesome Spotify playlist and smelled what was going on in the kitchen, I knew I was in for a good night.
Set in what looks like a hip hunting lodge basement, L'Orignal is original. Behind us was a Montreal version of the Sex & The City ladies. To our right was an older man and his young, buff male escort. Further in the dining room was a rowdy table of Canadian bros. Never would I think to put all these disparate types together, but it works. All this observing and judging made me thirsty, so I began the evening with a Grape Escape cocktail. For a time, I was on a muddled grape kick so this vodka concoction really fit the bill. Not only that, but it was a nice pairing with my soupe courge (that's butternut squash to you non-francophones). Warmed up and feeling good, I ordered the pasta of the day (rabbit cavatelli) and a robust Bordeaux to accompany it (Château Puy-Landry). The pasta was a revelation. Living in New Orleans for a few years, I'd had rabbit more than a few times and I was never that big a fan. Going with the dish based upon the recommendation of our waitress, I held some skepticism. It was for naught. The cavatelli was delicious and the rabbit bore none of the nasty gaminess I remembered. In fact, the meal was positively decadent and spot-on for a chilly night in Old Montreal/Old Port. Be aware that taxes run high and tip isn't included in the meal (I'm used to getting gouged with auto-gratuity in Miami).
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