Last updated June 13, 2010
In a city known for its lively food scene, it isn't surprising to find a varied group of curious and critical food bloggers keeping tabs on restaurants as well as the wider world of ingredients, markets and cooking generally.
Blogs come and go. if I notice a blog's been neglected for awhile, I'll remove it from this page. Likewise, if the focus of a blog shifts permanently away from Montreal, it doesn't belong here. If you have any news of new, revived or defunct food blogs, please email me.
Also, please keep in mind that not all food bloggers constantly update their content. Don't make big plans to go to any restaurant mentioned in a blog without calling first to make sure it's still in business, and will be open when you're hoping to visit.
As a blogger myself (not a food blogger) I wish all food bloggers would do two things: date their blog entries – especially restaurant reviews – and say a little something about who they are. I don't mean they need to post an entire CV, but it would be nice to know whether a blog's being written by one person or a team, and whether they have any professional background in the business.
Only in Montreal will you find multiple blogs devoted to that most choice of fast food specialties, poutine. Poutine Chronicles, The Poutine Pundit and Montreal Poutine (which doesn't seem to be updated often) all review poutine offerings so that you need never be without a notion where to find a good poutine in all its squeaky cheese glory.
Other kinds of fast food are not neglected. Chris "Zeke" Hand does the Montreal Burger Report, which also includes a podcast and a radio show. He describes it as "My Dinner with André meets Rocky & Bullwinkle at Martin Picard's place."
Cartoonist Hasemeister has a food blog called Fast Food Fred with quick amusing looks at, yes, fast food options, mostly in and around Montreal but occasionally further afield. Good pix of the restaurant signs, too. In French. (This is the man with a Flickr set of images of the ubiquitous Italian chef we've all seen on a pizza box.)
The Gazette has an eating blog, although I'm of two minds whether mainstream media is really blogging in the proper sense. Given that, La Presse's granos urbaines also often considers various aspects of food and eating, and Journal Métro also has a food blog, Bouffe et compagnie.Newish resto review blog Shut up and eat has tempting photos as well as reviews of a number of local eateries. Food Guy Montreal also has down-to-earth resto reviews.
Nicholas Robinson's Montreal food blog has strayed away from food as a main topic, but he's also the owner of possibly the longest-lived of the local food blogs, montrealfood.com, site of well written restaurant reviews but not updated very recently.
Chowhound has a Quebec discussion board that is more often than not focused on Montreal, as people ask, answer and debate questions about restaurants and cookery. All in English, being part of a site operated by Americans, and has several stalwart commenters who can be relied on for interesting opinions.
One of the most delightful Montreal food blogs is ...an endless banquet, run by A.J. Kinik and professional chef Michelle Marek. These two get around, so not all the entries are about Montreal, but many of them are. Their master lists A to M and N to Z encapsulate a vast amount of knowledge, both on the best places to eat and to source excellent and recherché groceries in the city. They also feature recipes and general thoughts on food and eating. All in English.
Midnight Poutine is a collective effort by a cabal of Montreal bloggers. Given the name, of course some of their entries are dedicated to food, some in English and some in French.
Worldly observers martiniboys have a Montreal resto section worth a glance. The city's official tourism website has a food blogging section.
Montreal Notebook contains the musings of two Americans who often visit Montreal and seem to spend most of their time here eating. Well written and amusing.
Cheap Ethnic Eatz is just that – restaurant reviews (with photos) and recipes.
Shoestring Montreal looked at the more affordable side of eating out, but the blogger has left town. Some of her reviews are still good for the moment, but I'll probably take this link down in the next revision.
Banlieusardises is a well-established blog with a wide interest in local food.
Bob Le Chef promises l'anarchie culinaire. Lately the blog's mostly being used to promote his new cookbook.Under the High Chair is the musings of a young mother and gourmande in the city. Pictures and recipes, not so much on the restaurant reviews.
2capricieux has restaurant reviews and very good photos. In French.
A Food Year has gone beyond its original year-long plan and continues to do opinionated resto reviews in English plus a few other food stories.
Food with a Point calls itself "a palatable report on gastronomy from an amateur perspective" with some resto reviews and other remarks on cooking and food.
Metro Boulot Resto links its reviews to the closest metro station. The reviews are terse, but you usually get your choice of English or French (click on the "shortest path to one's stomach" quote in either language). I still say they would benefit from dating their reviews.
Montreal Foodie offers "rants and raves from the Montreal restaurant, dining and food scene."
Eatpress offers recipes from two writers based in Montreal. Culinary Escapade is a Montreal-centric food blog done by someone who signs off as judyfoodie.
soupnancy is the thoughts of a woman who works part time as a chef in the Lanaudière. These aren't restaurant reviews, but thoughts on cooking, menus and food generally, and she really puts thought into it. Others blogs that focus more on recipes than restaurants are Jasmine Cuisine (in French) and Anna's Table.
Montreal Brunch and Breakfast is just what it says, an assessment of breakfast and brunch places.
The Hungry Italian investigates Italian cookery with food from Montreal sources.
Jeremy and Vinita's is a Montreal restaurant guide with terse entries and minimal design foof on a page at McGill: a good effort, but not updated assiduously enough – at least, dates on their reviews would make it more useful.
aromes has restaurant reviews and seems to be pretty diligently kept up, with photos. In English, despite the French name.
Mindful Table looks out for sustainable local choices and presents interesting recipes while Homegrown Food Blog is working with the idea of keeping a vegetable garden; it's located in Toronto but some of its general advice applies in our climate too.
Have I missed something? Let me know.