A Gem at the Foot of the Mountain

4500 Avenue du Parc, Montréal, QC H2V 4E3

Patisserie La Ruche, situated perfectly at the foot of Mount Royal (corner Mont Royal and Park) typically serves one of two purposes:

1. To grab a latté pre-walk on the mountain

2. To reward myself with a decadent brunch or pastry post-walk on the mountain

This time around I visited La Ruche for the latter reason. A friend and I went for a lovely fall walk on the mountain and nothing complements a long walk outside better than brunch, so brunch we did. We validated each and every bite with the uphill walking we did prior and felt zero guilt while eating. The. Best. Feeling. (even though we both very well know that not even a bootcamp class could burn enough calories to cancel-out brunch….OH WELL).

Your first instinct when you walk into La Ruche will be to order a pastry. And you should. They are simply irresistible. I have tried their amazing Kouign Amann in the past and look forward to trying others on my next visits.

Do your best to walk passed the pastries and baked goods on display and walk over to their chalkboard brunch menu. The menu is seasonal and short. Though it is short, I guarantee you will still waver prior to settling on your order (I know I did). I settled on the Poached Eggs on Zucchini Bread with Roasted Garlic Ricotta, Bacon and a Tomato Salad-  I loved the fresh tomato salad, but don’t love garlic, so I wasn’t wild about the ricotta. My friend decided on the Grilled Cheese (made with Quebec Oka cheese and caramelized onions) with an Egg in a Hole served with potatoes and fruit, which was flavourful and filling.

Since we were both craving savoury dishes, we passed up on the Waffles with Lemon Whipped Cream and Quebec Strawberries. We regretted our decision when we saw the waffles go by, and I am still regretting our decision as I write this. Thankfully, there is always next time.

Walk on the mountain next weekend anyone?

Mind, Taste, Lifestyle.