by Heidi Craig

Forget resolutions, liver cleanses and sugar fasts – mid-winter in Montreal is no time for moderation. Salad doesn’t cut it when it’s thirty below; instead, warm your insides with a wild boar chop. And nothing takes the edge off 4pm sunsets like Grand Marnier iced mousse.

For the 3rd year in a row, the Happening Gourmand has conspired to coax us out of January hibernation with value-conscious fine dining. From now until January 31st, every night eight Old Montreal restaurants will be offering a choice of appetizer, main and dessert at a prix fixe of $18, $22 or $27.

Because Hotel Place d’Armes houses two participating restaurants, Suite 701 and Aix Cuisine du Terroir, head there for maximum indulgence with minimum outdoor exposure. At Suite 701, the hotel’s bar-lounge, try the Miso onion soup and Kobe beef burger. With mains normally in the $30-$45 range, Aix Cuisine du Terroir’s  $27 three-course menu is a real steal. After three weeks of turkey sandwiches, who could resist pan-seared sweetbreads, 7-hour braised lamb rib, and Grand Marnier iced mousse? (And if you’ve got your stomach set on that wild boar chop, you can find it at Modavie.)  

For all restaurant listings and menus, check out the Happening Gourmand at http://www.happeninggourmand.com/

Suite 701 – 701 Côte de la Place d’Armes – 514.904.1201 – www.suite701.com. Metro Place d’Armes.

Aix Cuisine du Terroir’s – 711 Côte de la Place d’Armes – 514.904.1201 – www.aixcuisine.com. Metro Place d’Armes.

Modavie – 1 rue St-Paul Ouest, VIeux-Montréal – 514 287-9582 – www.modavie.com