Ep 9. Montreal

In Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations season 2 episode 9, host Andrew Zimmern travels to Montreal, Canada to explore the city's unique culinary traditions. The episode begins with Zimmern visiting the iconic Wilensky's, a family-owned deli that has been serving up their famous "special" sandwich for over 80 years. The special consists of a beef salami and bologna sandwich with mustard on a white bread roll, and is so beloved that it was even referenced in a Celine Dion song.

Next, Zimmern visits Au Pied de Cochon, a restaurant known for its extravagant and indulgent dishes. Here he tries the restaurant's famous foie gras poutine, a dish that has become synonymous with Montreal cuisine. The dish consists of French fries topped with cheese curds, gravy, and seared foie gras. Zimmern also samples the restaurant's duck in a can, a whole duck cooked in a can with foie gras and a variety of other ingredients.

From there, Zimmern takes a trip to St. Viateur Bagel, a Montreal institution that has been making hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels since 1957. Here he learns about the process of making the perfect Montreal-style bagel, which is distinct from other bagels due to its smaller size, sweeter taste, and denser texture. He also tries a classic bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

The episode then turns to the city's Portuguese community, as Zimmern visits a family-owned bakery called Padaria Ferreira. Here he tries pastéis de nata, a traditional Portuguese custard tart that has become a popular dessert in Montreal. He also visits a local market to try some traditional Portuguese sausage and salt cod.

Finally, Zimmern wraps up his trip with a visit to La Banquise, a 24-hour diner that serves up over 30 different varieties of poutine. Here he tries the restaurant's classic poutine as well as some of their more unique offerings, such as a poutine topped with smoked meat and a poutine with breakfast sausage and eggs.

Throughout the episode, Zimmern explores the cultural and historical significance of each dish, giving viewers an in-depth look at the diverse culinary landscape of Montreal. From iconic deli sandwiches to extravagant foie gras dishes to traditional Portuguese pastries, Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations season 2 episode 9 showcases the best of what this vibrant city has to offer.