Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

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Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

We booked dinner on Saturday of the Formula One race weekend in Montreal. Yup, four years in a row. Au Pied de Cochon.

In an article I found from 2008, the chef Martin Picard apparently imports 70 kg of foie gras per week! That was six years ago, so it may have increased since then…the chef himself estimates that he is the largest importer of foie gras in the world!

We first discovered Martin Picard through his TV show Wild Chef. He and his sous chef, Hugue Defour, drive around Quebec in a pickup with a stainless steel stove in the back. They hunt or visit farms and cook up a feast out in the great Canadian outdoors. Then we discovered he had a restaurant in Montreal, which we visit at least once a year. We had to make reservations right away!

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

In addition to the regular menu, Au Pied de Cochon had four appetizer specials and four main specials. This was one of the starters: a soft, creamy cheese with crispy toasts and nuts.

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

A salad of Blue Cheese, Apple and Endives.

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

Another of the appetizer specials, cold Lobster Bisque.

 

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

Cromesquis: two die-size pieces of foie gras, deep fried. You stick one die in your mouth and bite down, with your mouth closed. The foie gras melts delectably.

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

The small Shellfish Platter, including stuffed mussels, half a lobster, periwinkles, scallops, oysters, clams, calamari two ways, and whelks.

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

Foie Gras on everything, including poutine! Poutine is a Quebecois dish of french fries, cheese curds and gravy. In this case, even the gravy had a foie gras base!

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

One of the main specials: Pork Shoulder with Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus, and Fiddleheads. It could easily feed two or three adults!

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

The Lobster Roll with foie gras, of course.

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

The Chef himself! Martin Picard. He then put on an apron emblazoned with the phrase “Praise the Lard” and worked the line.

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

Lemon Meringue Pie

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

Creme Brulee

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

Chocolat Pot de Creme

Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon, Kiku Corner

The still-warm Pineapple Upside Down Cake

 

To make some of these recipes yourself, take a look at either of his two cookbooks – the photos and illustrations themselves are worth it!

Au Pied De Cochon

Au Pied de Cochon Sugar Shack

 

Au Pied de Cochon

536 Avenue Duluth Est, Montréal, QC H2L 1A9
(514) 281-1114

3 Replies to “Montreal Eats: Au Pied de Cochon”

  1. […] a slew of tasty-sounding cocktails, most importantly the one called Martin Picard (the chef from Au Pied de Cochon in […]

  2. […] have only just started eating oysters last summer, when I was blown away by my first ones at Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal. Since that first try, I’ve been sampling them all around Toronto, including one […]

  3. […] What better way to top the Formula One weekend than with an amazing dinner? Au Pied de Cochon (“PDC”) is so well known and sought after that it doesn’t even have an exterior sign. If you’re walking on Duluth, you might pass right by the restaurant, unless you glance inside and see the gorgeous monstrosity that is the seafood platter, below. In short, chef Martin Picard is a genius and you have to visit PDC once in your life.  Drool your way through our last two visits here and here. […]

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