Top Chef Canada-inspired Montréal itineraries

Start your day with brunch at Tiramisu, the Old Montréal restaurant where chef Chanthy Yen consults and where the culinary cultures of Italy and Japan meld on the menu. Indulge in a pizza carbonara with guanciale, poached duck egg, parmesan, mozzarella and truffle oil. After a hearty brunch, make your way to Place Jacques Cartier, Montréal’s historic square surrounded by centuries-old buildings and a few fun characters such as caricature artists. Stroll down the gentle square slope towards the Old Port, where you will encounter some unmistakable Montréal landmarks such as La Grande Roue, the Cirque du Soleil tent and the famous Clock Tower with the city’s urban beach. This is also home to the contemporary glass and metal building of the Montréal Science Centre, a hub for exciting exhibits for young and old. The center’s Belvedere room offers panoramic views of Old Montréal, the Old Port, the St. Lawrence River, and Saint-Helen’s Island. Contestants for the Top Chef Quick Fire Challenge were privy to unimpeded views of the Jacques Cartier Bridge while competing in this very spot under the supervision of judges Antonio Park, chef of the upscale sushi restaurant Park, and Fred Morin, chef-owner of the renowned Joe Beef. 

They were asked to create an original dish inspired by 3 emblematic Montréal food items: smoked meat, bagels and poutine.

From the Old Port, walk north on St. Sulpice Street towards the imposing Notre-Dame Basilica then turn left and walk down charming Notre-Dame Street, past Mémo, Top Chef episode 11 participant chef Rémi Lemieux’s fine dining restaurant. Make your way up to the downtown core and the Marriott Château Champlain hotel where the crew and cast stayed during their Montréal visit. Come winter, the hotel’s stunning Terrasse Belvu transforms into a twinkling wonderland inspired by Alpine ski stations. Cozy up by the fireplace with a signature cocktail, a plate of raclette and some cool tunes. As the Top Chef also discovered, it’s the perfect spot to take in the breathtaking views of the city below.

From the Marriott Château Champlain, walk up De la Cathédrale and admire the grandiose Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in Montréal. Keep walking north through beautiful Dorchester Square which runs along the Sun Life Building, an excellent example of the Beaux-Arts style. Turn right on Saint-Catherine Street West and walk two blocks east towards the Eaton Centre where you’ll find the Time Out Market Montréal and chef Chanthy Yen’s eponymous restaurant with a pan-Canadian menu of reimagined classics inspired by his Cambodian roots and worldly travels. 

On the 9th floor of the Eaton Center is Le 9e, the renovated Art Deco masterpiece inspired by ocean liners that has recently reopened. Le 9e’s Grand Hall was the stage for this season of Top Chef Canada’s Final Challenge dinner, with chef Francis Blais as guest judge. Chef Blais is the first and only Quebecer to have won Top Chef Canada in 2020. He has since co-founded Menu Extra, a catering company that creates gourmet, ready-to-cook meals as well as upscale gastronomic events. 

If you feel up to it, you can walk from downtown up to the Mount Royal Park by strolling up the path that takes you past McGill University and into Montréal’s green lung. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted of New York’s Central Park fame and is an excellent spot for a contemplative stroll in nature in any season.

Montréal’s Jean-Talon Market is its largest farmers market and one of the biggest open-air markets in North America. Operational since 1933, this bustling, year-round market is an absolute must for food lovers. It is the best showcase for seasonal produce and Québec-made ingredients from around the province. This is where Top Chef contestants went shopping for the Final dinner competition with chef Francis Blais who escorted them among the colourful stalls and varied specialty boutiques that include spice stores, butcher shops, fish stalls, cheese mongers, bakeries, and more. 

It’s a short walk from the Jean-Talon Market through Little Italy and south to Mile End, a bohemian neighbourhood that’s home to artists, musicians, independent stores, and great restaurants and cafés. Strolling around the quaint and colourful streets of this neighbourhood gives one a taste of Montréal’s true essence and quirkiness. This is where you’ll find traditional Jewish delicacies that have become iconic Montréal staples, such as the bagels and smoked meat used in the Top Chef Quick Fire challenge. 

First stop is on St-Viateur Street where you’ll find the eponymous St-Viateur Bagel. Open since 1957, the bagels are fresh and handmade every day. Eat your bagels like a Montrealer by dunking a piping hot one into a tub of cream cheese while strolling around. Before you get to your next destination, stop by Larrys, a fun all-day eatery that embodies the spirit of Mile-End with Top Chef contestant Ruby Gatt at the helm. 

About 20 minutes straight down Saint-Laurent Boulevard is your next stop: Schwartz’s Deli, a Montréal landmark that’s been in operation in the same location since 1928. The specialty here is the smoked meat, marinated for 10 days in a “secret blend of locally produced fine herbs and spices”. It’s always sliced fresh for every order. It’s best to order the medium-fat meat that comes in a tall stack sandwiched between two slices of rye bread. Yellow mustard, coleslaw and half-sour pickles, a plate of fries and a black cherry soda are necessary to complement a perfect meal at Schwartz’s.

The third iconic dish used in the Top Chef Quickfire challenge is a poutine from La Banquise, Montréal’s most famous poutine purveyor. With over 30 different poutines on the menu, La Banquise is open 24/7 hours a day to satisfy cravings at any time of day. We recommend heading there late at night (or early morning) to experience the camaraderie of the hungry hordes lining up to grab a comforting, piping hot poutine after a night out.