"Montreal smoked meat" news and stories

The only sandwich in the world that I accept without veggies and cheese is the Montreal Smoked Meat sandwich. It's the perfect meat to have on its own, with fresh and delicious rye bread and a nice helping of gourmet mustard. It's also the type of meat that you don't want to prepare half-assed. When you bring it home, you don't want to throw it in your frying pan to heat up, or (egads!) microwave it -- especially when it comes straight from Montreal.

When my friend brought me a few pounds of the delicious meat on New Years Eve, I knew it would make the perfect dinner to start off 2009. But how to prepare it in a way that makes the most of the flavor?

Simple. Grab your soup pot, slip a steamer insert inside, and fill with the appropriate amount of water. Rip off a sheet of plastic wrap, place a generous amount of meat in the center, and then place the pile and wrap in the pot so that the bottom is protected by the wrap, but the top is open to get some moisture from the steam. Put your top on the pot, bring it up to a nice steam, and when the meat is nice and warm, pile it onto your sandwich with some gourmet mustard, preferably with grains.

Side it with poutine, and you'll want to move to Montreal!

When we think of heading out for a bite to eat, it's usually in a specific space somewhere, with a recognizable and large sign outside. Not Caplansky's.

If not for the onslaught of gushing praise and increasing publicity, this would be one of those beloved secret spots just outside of the downtown core of Toronto that only locals know about. Nestled in Little Italy, Caplansky's is not a restaurant, but rather an idea and some smoked meat nestled in the old Monarch Tavern. This means that there is no special Caplansky's seating or space. Rather, an efficient kitchen run separately from the tavern that produces one special and delectable delicacy -- the smoked meat sandwich.

You go in, and peruse the simple and well-priced menu, figure out your smoked meat sides, and wait for flavor you can usually only find in Montreal. Conducting business this way, it's like a special little secret, but it may not remain one. These sandwiches are in such high demand that Zane Caplansky has blogged about the possibility of moving. But small or large -- if you liked smoked meat, Caplansky's is a must.

But even better is this idea of rented kitchen space -- of great ideas starting on the ground floor. There's just one specialty, no fuss, and the wow of the personal touch. (Zane himself came to check on our order when I took the above image in September.) Maybe that will change with expansion, but I can only hope that more creative food minds take his cue. Imagine the possibilities!

Hit the jump to see a video of the experience.

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