413422 Wed Jun 20 13:42:48 -0700 2007 30 22 Quebec (including Montreal) 0 2678457 Sort of off topic here, but does anyone know exact dates of the Portuguese festival that takes place in the parking lot of their church on Rachel street? Does it even take place there anymore? It's been years since I've been and I keep missing it the last few years, I remember it taking place in late June or early July. They'd serve up all types of grilled meats and homemade wine. Any info would be appreciated. Wed Jun 20 13:42:48 -0700 2007 71168 ios94 1 2678487 Couldn't find the answer quickly, but it sounds fab! Here are their coordinates in case you want to inquire directly - they don't seem to have a Web site that I can find: Associação Portuguesa do Canadá 4170 St-Urbain Montreal, Quebec H2W 1V3 Tel: 514.844.2269 Email: apc50anos@hotmail.com Wed Jun 20 13:48:50 -0700 2007 2678457 66614 kpzoo 1 2678542 The woman answering the phone at Mission Santa Cruz says it's the weekend of August 10, 11 and 12. You might want to confirm that before making plans however. Wed Jun 20 14:07:45 -0700 2007 2678457 10520 carswell 2 2684490 Strange, I thought they had a festival every weekend. Fri Jun 22 09:56:45 -0700 2007 2678542 42903 rillettes 3 2684514 The August event she called the "Festival de notre dame de la montagne" and before replying to my query she inquired "you mean with the one with the Portuguese food and wine?" That's all I know. Fri Jun 22 10:02:02 -0700 2007 2684490 10520 carswell 4 2817583 Does anyone have anymore info on this festival, which according to this thread, is happening this weekend? Mon Aug 06 09:04:32 -0700 2007 2684514 94475 jellybelly25 5 2817622 I cycled past there yesterday (Sunday 5 August) and saw people decorating the parking lot- square in front of the church - slowed down to see if there was any foodie activity going on and there wasn't so perhaps they were preparing for this coming weekend. It is at the corner of St-Urbain and Rachel. The name of the church is Mission Santa Cruz, 60, rue Rachel O. Montréal, Qc, H2W 1G3 Tél: 514 844 1011 The church doesn't seem to have an e-mail or website yet (many parishes do). Mon Aug 06 09:11:53 -0700 2007 2817583 84119 lagatta 1 2831659 Hey I have all the dates of the feasts at that church... May 19 - 20 -21: Holy Christ of Miracles Feast May 26 - 27: Holy Spirit Feast June 24: Saint John the Baptist Feast August 10 - 11 - 12: Our Lady of Monte Feast September 1 - 2: Sacred Heart of Jesus Feast Have Fun! :D Thu Aug 09 22:06:38 -0700 2007 2678457 118100 shawnfcm 2 2831866 Our Lady of Monte sounds like a local festival for a patron saint (like ND della Difesa here), so that is probably the foodie one. Fri Aug 10 02:24:37 -0700 2007 2831659 84119 lagatta 2 2832239 It seems that the Portuguese have even more festivals in the summer than Montrealers. If you are a Portuguese in Montreal, you'd better be a party animal! Fri Aug 10 07:17:33 -0700 2007 2831659 10255 Gary Soup 3 2833073 ya we do have a lot of feasts and yes more than montrealers. I am portuguese and i go to every one of them here in montreal... Each feast is for a Portuguese Saint... but we also have some in Laval as well. Fri Aug 10 10:22:20 -0700 2007 2832239 118100 shawnfcm 4 2833272 So, there's food sold at these feasts? (I haven't been to any so far) Let's say, if I go on 1 and/or 2 Sept., can I just buy some lovely Portuguese goodies & eat them there? What kinds of food- meats, pastries, etc? Thanks! Fri Aug 10 11:01:16 -0700 2007 2833073 20128 morebubbles 5 2833534 Food, drink, music and dancing in the street, judging from the one I stumbled across in Providence RI around the first of June one year. The food was heartier stuff than pastries, but I don't know what goes on at other feast days and in other cities. Fri Aug 10 11:59:59 -0700 2007 2833272 10255 Gary Soup 6 2833585 Thanks Gary Soup! guess just go & find out! I'll be in the area tomorrow at a tiny Portuguese cafe that serves lunch, can easily arrange to be there 1-2Sept. Cheers! May I ask if you're in town? Fri Aug 10 12:17:41 -0700 2007 2833534 20128 morebubbles 7 2833735 Not in town, sorry. It'll be February at the earliest before I visit my beloved Montreal again. Fri Aug 10 12:50:50 -0700 2007 2833585 10255 Gary Soup 8 2833828 :) how nicely put! I hope you organize something, I'll definitely attend this time around! Fri Aug 10 13:15:42 -0700 2007 2833735 20128 morebubbles 4 2833912 Oh yum. Grilled sardines, I bet? And perhaps chicken, or sausages? Fri Aug 10 13:34:21 -0700 2007 2833073 84119 lagatta 2 3934134 shawnfcm, if you are still around, could you tell us the main (food-related) festivals at the Portuguese Church (or community centre) in Laval? Other than foodies living there (I'm thinking of friends, who could certainly eat one of those kebabs each) with the new métro line Laval is far more accessible than before, and just a good work-the-food-and-wine-off cycle ride from JTM area or anywhere else in northerly Montréal. Wed Aug 06 06:52:17 -0700 2008 2831659 84119 lagatta 1 2835149 Was just there tonight. Highlights include: -Grill your own Meat station ($7.50 for a gaint skewer) - Good Portugese wine sold in 1L plastic bottles for $12.50 (The reason I am writing in point form and not full sentences) P.S. Wine lovers need not be put off by the plastic bottle as they are filled on site from wooden barrels. P.P.S. The only place in the city where you can gamble on the actions of a hamster (If you go you'll figure it out.) Fri Aug 10 21:07:45 -0700 2007 2678457 97427 Moosemeat 2 2835309 Ya I was also there tonight and don't forget that the feast continues on saturday and sunday at 2:30 is the percession Fri Aug 10 23:00:24 -0700 2007 2835149 118100 shawnfcm 1 2836206 A bit of advice from the ...an endless banquet folks: "Technically, the celebration lasts through Sunday evening, but the popularity of this particular festa is such that it's not uncommon for them to run out of beef early on Sunday. Our recommendation: get there as soon as you can." http://endlessbanquet.blogspot.com/2007/08/festa.html Sat Aug 11 12:04:03 -0700 2007 2678457 10520 carswell 2 2836224 Good to know - I cycled by there early this afternoon and there was already a nice little crowd - the skewers of marinated meat (beef, I think) are HUGE. Easily enough for two people, but I saw a lot of people who looked as if they would consume the whole thing. Also bifana sandwiches $3,50 for a generous-looking serving, and some kind of traditional flat bread or hearth cake. As for the wine, they were serving good-sized plastic glasses (not the beer goblet, the next size down) for $2, as well as beer, juice ans soft drinks of course. I didn't partake in anything as I was down there looking for fresh Portuguese goat's cheese in brine - from the Toronto-based "Portuguese Cheese Co.", and found it at Segalls for $4.99. Already a few people dancing as well, and a guy singing - good singer, just looked like a neighbourhood, middle-aged guy. Sat Aug 11 12:15:57 -0700 2007 2836206 84119 lagatta 1 3932996 Reviving an old post here. Does anyone know the dates for this year? Tue Aug 05 17:18:22 -0700 2008 2678457 97427 Moosemeat 2 3933196 I walked by today and saw decorations up and what looked like the big BBQ pit in the parking lot...there was nothing there last weekend so it must be coming up. Yum! Tue Aug 05 18:37:55 -0700 2008 3932996 160768 stak 3 3935372 I'm guessing it will be next weekend, since Assumption Day is Aug15 (I'm guessing that is what the festival is for). Since the 15th fell on a Wed last year it looks like they did it the week before. This year the 15th is on a friday hence next week would make more sense. But someone should 100% confirm this, Wed Aug 06 12:18:51 -0700 2008 3933196 71168 ios94 4 3936226 Well, I can confirm that the tents and decorations are up and so is the heat shield thing that goes behind the BBQ. Wed Aug 06 16:47:42 -0700 2008 3935372 160768 stak 5 3950274 Does anyone know if this happened this past weekend. I didn't have anytime to make it downtown. Tue Aug 12 09:46:28 -0700 2008 3936226 71168 ios94 6 3950484 I'm afraid it did happen over this past weekend. My heart & liver have yet still to forgive me. Tue Aug 12 10:43:35 -0700 2008 3950274 12856 quitesimplysmj 6 3950837 Passed by last weekend, saw the tents, smelled the smoke and looked at the enormous beef skewers... My husband and I really wanted to try it, as we had read this thread, but we couldn't help feeling that this was a religious, somewhat private event (more than a festival). There were absolutely no posts, signs, or invitation, and the small crowd seemed 100% Portuguese. Not that we had a problem with it, au contraire, we would have loved to partake in this gourmet celebration, but we didn't want to be intrusive. We just didn't know how welcome we were to this event... Tue Aug 12 12:27:08 -0700 2008 3950274 207118 plumeria 7 4931234 Just so you chowhounders know... it's on -right now- (Aug 9th). The Our Lady of Monte Feast, and they have the huge skewers of meat to be bbq'd, cheap beer, and $3 bifanas (pork cutlet with chili sauce on a bun... simple and tasty!) I didn't brave the lineup for the bbq skewers, but I also would have needed a friend or two to even finish it. The smell was fantastic and smoky. There is music and dancing going on as well. The crowd did seem 99% portuguese, but I couldn't resist walking in and and buying a sandwich. Sun Aug 09 14:43:27 -0700 2009 3950837 1084818 iWoo 8 4932843 I heard about this on the street last night around 10, rushed up & gobbled down a couple bifanas and washed down with a brew. Awesome. Juicier, tastier sauce (obviously homemade, not tasting like bottled piri), twice as much meat, and cheaper than the stuff on the Main Madness. (Skewers were long gone, though. I gotta remember this in the day next year.) Mon Aug 10 08:19:44 -0700 2009 4931234 244720 Shattered