As a retired elite athlete, Sasha Exeter left a high-level corporate job to become the content creator, brand marketer and entrepreneur that she is today. She beat not one but two life-threatening chronic illnesses through a holistic approach to diet and exercise. Her experience inspired her to create www.sashaexeter.com, a one-of-a-kind digital destination where she shares her truthful approach to living her life with a focus on fitness, wellness, education, and motherhood. Her sheer perseverance and her honest approach resonate with her 155K Instagram followers as well as the brands she partners up with. As a matter of fact, she is the proud face of Joe Fresh Active’s national campaign. The Toronto-based businesswomen is not mad about the fact that her work often requires her to travel to Montreal. “This city has a heart and soul unlike any other Canadian city. The people, the restaurants, the language, the architecture, the vibe… It makes me feel like I’m in Europe, especially in the summer time.” Here are Sasha’s top four recommendations.
5357 Park Ave, Montréal, Québec H2V 4G9
What: A Greek taverna
Why: This 160-seat Greek eatery introduced its open kitchen concept in 1979. Since then, Milos inevitably comes up to Montréaler’s mind when thinking about Montréal’s gastronomic scene. The owner, Mr. Spiliadis, makes sure that his clientele discovers the best of Greece by serving the food he grew up with. Sasha enjoys this renown landmark for the freshness and the quality of their plates. Each ingredient is being prepared with simplicity, to preserve its distinct flavors.
What: Informal and spontaneous weekly event
Why: As long as every Montréaler can remember, Mount Royal Park has hosted informal festivities near the Sir George-Étienne-Cartier monument every single Sunday from May to September. The name Tam-Tams refers to the drum players and their beats which are the focal point of the candid gathering. Hundreds to thousands of visitors occupy the open space located on the Eastern edge of the park. Just like Sasha, join some friends for an afternoon Aperitivo and enjoy the eclectic vibe!
8 different locations on the island of Montréal
What: A salad restaurant chain
Why: In 2004, Mandy and Rebecca Wolfe opened up Montréal’s first create-your-own salad bar in the back of a women’s clothing store. The dynamic duo had no such prior experience. However, they used their respective strengths: Rebecca designed the interior while Mandy created a gourmet salad menu. The clients had spoken… Mandy’s knew what success was made of since day one! Being a fashionista on the go, Sasha especially appreciates their health conscious menu and cute décor which mixes elements from Paris and Palm Springs.
3895 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, Québec H2W 1X9
What: A deli
Why: Three specific things come up to tourist’s minds when they think of Montréal: poutine (of course!), bagel (forget about NYC’s version), and of course smoked meat. Don’t be fooled… This is not corned beef or pastrami. As Sasha would say “If you know, you know!” In 1884, a butcher from Romania introduced Montréaler’s to a specific kosher way of cooking deli meats. 44 years later, a landmark was born: Schwartz’s. To this day, the line-up and the hype for their 10.75$ smoked meat sandwich never faded away.
Caroline Khangi
As someone who is finely attuned to Montréal’s vibe, Caroline Khangi is a natural ambassador for the city. With a curious nature, she explored a number of different fields, including fashion, music and design, before finding her calling in the hospitality industry. Today, she draws on her in-depth knowledge of the city and broad network of contacts to inform her work as a W Insider at the W Montréal Hotel and as a contributor to Mt1642 magazine.
