Montreal Jazz Fest Day One. Well-organized event, v. orderly. A wealth of venues (both free and $$) think of 10 Lowell Folk Fests up an octave. Checked into the media room, where a swarm of journos from all over the country converged. Note to public: print journalism still matters. A whole wall was dedicated to the coverage the Montreal Jazz Fest is receiving in local papers and magazines here. A heartening sight for sure. They also give you water, coffee and Heinekens in the pressroom. We headed out into the throngs to catch lauded African show w/ Vieux Farka Toure. No time for a sit-down, we settled for a dog on the street. Two options: beef or Italian sausage. We went w/ the plump, juicy beef franks and were impressed by the great taste and plentiful bites. Garnishes like red and yellow peppers and spicy mustard left us thinking Bad Dawgs has some work to do.
We saw global African star Salif Keita at the Metropolis, a cool club just outside the designated jazz fest map that feels like the Orpheum. Great energy in the room, highlighting this city's diversity. African women in full regalia shimmying across the floor was as entertaining as the sunny sounds from the stage. Nice vid. show w/ streaming sunbursts and colorbars depicting the African flag was a pleasing visual. Back on the street and looking this time to repair to the comfort of a quiet French cafe, we found Le Piemontais at 1145 A De Bullion. This Italian/French rest. was white table clothed, quiet and perfectly old school. Just as we sat down a vested waiter came over w/ a basket of perfect French baguettes and a plate of chicken wings w/a lemon wedge. Tasted great. We ordered two glasses of Abruzzo wine (soft, warm wonder, where have you been all my life?) and settled into the menu. I went w/ a house salad and smoked salmon app and Gourmet Guy w/ pasta Bolognese. This may not be one of the finer rest, in Montreal (then again it might), but nothing tasted better! Today we search for the best croissants and bagels and to find if Farka Toure is playing again since we skipped out too early.
Below a pic of Notre Dame du nuit.
Leave a comment