Retour à la Panthère Verte

C'est devenu un arrêt obligé à chaque fois que je reviens à Montréal: je mange au moins un repas (parfois plus) à la Panthère Verte, le restaurant végétalien et biologique. Cette fois-ci, j'ai fait ma visite dès dimanche. J'ai pris un repas complet: falafel traditionnel (le meilleur de Montréal), une soupe au céleri et autre chose qui m'a presque réconcilié avec le légume (je n'aime guère le céleri) et un smoothie "Baloo Berry". Copieux, mais santé. Et avec l'orgie de viande qui constitue mes repas lors de mes séjours chez moi, ça fait du bien de se désintoxiquer le système. J'en ai parfois bien besoin.

The Green Panther Experience

I have only been twice to The Green Panther, the vegan restaurant chain in Montreal. Twice it was at their restaurant on Mont-Royal Avenue, at two very different moments. Their mascot caught my eye, so I went there out of curiosity. The restaurant was virtually empty, I ordered what they claim is the best falafel of Montreal. After tasting it, I have to say that they are right. You can read more about the falafel here. I was hooked and I decided to come back as soon as I could.

I don't know if it was because it was in the evening instead of afternoon, or because The Green Panther had gained a reputation since my first time, but the second time I went there with my wife it was jam packed. A sign not only of the popularity of the restaurant, but of vegan eating in general. It is the new craze in Montreal, especially on the Plateau Mont-Royal, which always had its share of hippies and eco-friendly dwellers. Instead of being all quiet, it was loud. There were many Quebeckers, but also a few French (I find this strange as France is not a nation of vegetarians, let alone vegans) and the usual Anglos. This is less of a surprise as Anglo-Saxons are often more into vegetarianism and veganism. There was two of them, chatting very loudly, which was irritating my wife to no end. Mentioning it to me later, I said to tease her (I am mean like that sometimes): "Well, of course they were rude, they are English speakers like you." My wife replied (she is used to this kind of teasing from me): "I only share a language with them, you share their nationality." Touché. However cruel, she still said a great unknown line. I guess a nice place does not necessarily bring a nice clientèle. The staff was nice though, warm and friendly. And the food the second time round? We both had burgers, I don't remember which ones exactly. I think she had a VégéBurger and I had a VégéPanthère. Absolutely delicious, and I did not miss meat even once. And more strangely, I actually enjoyed the food more than my wife, even though she is vegetarian. So that was The Green Panther Experience.

Manger méditerranéen

Cette photo a été prise dans un café local, qui est presqu'un restaurant le midi. Le menu est modeste, mais il y a un plateau méditerranéen pour deux qui n'est pas mal: piment, feuilles de vignes farcies, olives (et vous savez comment j'aime les olives), houmous, falafels, etc. Servi sur une pierre rectangulaire, pour faire pseudo-primitif. En fait, je trouve ça très élégant, tout en demeurant simple. C'est méditerranéen, mais je devrais dire grec, parce que ben c'est surtout grec, comme les patrons d'ailleurs. Il y a un peu plus d'une semaine, j'ai blogué sur un met grec. Ce qui m'a fait repenser à ce repas. Malheureusement ce n'est plus tout à fait aussi estival que ce l'était, pas l'idéal pour un tel régime, mais j'y retournerais dès qu'il fait un peu beau.

The falafel of the Green Panther

What you can see on the picture at your left is the best falafel in Montreal, according to its maker, La Panthère Verte/The Green Panther, a new small chain of vegan and bio restaurants in Montreal. Because it was boasting to prepare the best falafel in town, I had to try it. It was accompanied by a soup (I know, it is at the center of the picture) that had curry in it and tasted just as delicious as the falafel. I am no specialist of vegan food or falafels, but tasting it, thought it tasted pretty much as the best falafel would taste. It has cabbage, sauerkraut, pickles and of course falafel balls, I think it is the pickles and sauerkraut that gives it this flavor. It tasted good and I did not regret one moment not having meat. And the staff is very friendly. I will most definitely visit it again on my next time in Montreal.