Bison Steak Tartare from Canada with a Madiran Rouge from France at Gaspar Brasserie Française in Montreal, Canada, the Largest City in America, where French is the Primary Language (April 2026)

 

 

Dinner at @Gaspar Brasserie Francaise in Montreal/ Canada. The steak tartare Bison was amazing as was the Madiran, with Annette Schiller.

 

We were en route from Washington DC to St. Lucia, to join Cornelia, Chris, Viatrix and Ernst for 2 1/2 weeks on their 7-month sailing trip in the Caribbean.  

 

What is Montreal? (US Travel)

 

First and foremost, Montreal is the second-largest French-speaking city in the West, after Paris, and the largest city in North America where English is not the primary language. However, it's important to note that all residents can communicate in English, and there's no language barrier when exploring the city (or snooty faces like in Paris). 

 

The city is built on a large island on the Saint Lawrence River, fleuve Saint-Laurent, an island with Mont Royal at its center, after which the city is named. 

 

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Québec, with about 1.7 million residents. Its greater metropolitan area houses more than four million people. Historically, it was the important commercial center of Canada and the largest city in the country. Today, it's the second-largest city in Canada, both in size and importance, after Toronto, which has surpassed it in the past fifty years. 

 

Montreal is one of the important university cities in North America, with nearly two hundred thousand students studying there each semester across 11 academic institutions, deeply influencing its youthful character. 

 

The city was named by the famous French explorer Jacques Cartier, who sailed up the Saint Lawrence River in 1535 and named the mountain on the island Mount Royal. More than a hundred years later, the French began to settle on the island, and in 1642 Montreal became an official city. In the mid-17th century, Montreal became part of the British Crown, and English speakers also settled there, but generally, it retained its French character. With Canada's partial independence in 1867, Montreal became the most important and largest city in the country. The city became a sought-after destination for immigrants from the late 19th century and grew rapidly. In the 20th century, it welcomed immigrants from all over the world, making it very cosmopolitan.

 

Montreal is a developed city with a high quality of life. The separatism of the Quebecois affected the city's status both politically and reputationally. The peak of French nationalism events occurred during what is called the October Crisis in 1970 and the activities of the separatist socialist organization, the Front de libération du Québec. During the October Crisis, the group resorted to violence, which deeply damaged the city's reputation and led to the departure of major companies to Toronto. This shift moved Canada's leading city from Montreal to Toronto, and since then, the city seems to be lagging behind. Today, events of the Front are less prominent in the city, but occasionally the political tensions bubble to the surface. Every now and then, the city, along with all of Quebec, threatens to secede from Canada and gain independence.

 

Welcome to Gaspar Brasserie Française (menu-world.com) 

At Gaspar Brasserie Française, located in the vibrant heart of Montreal, culinary tradition and contemporary flair meet in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. This charming brasserie celebrates the richness of Quebecois cuisine with a menu featuring exquisite dishes like flavorful duck and savory onion soup. Guests rave about the attentive and energetic service, ensuring a memorable dining experience for every occasion, from casual brunch to special celebrations. Highlights include artfully presented seafood and decadent desserts, complemented by a selection of fine wines. At Gaspar, the passion for food and hospitality shines, making every meal a delightful culinary journey.

Buffalo (Bison) Steak Tartae (Tasty Eats - Chef Ronit Penso) 

4th of July weekend was dedicated mainly to BBQ, and it feels like it’s time for the very opposite of BBQ – Steak Tartare. 

Steak Tartare is a classic dish made of fresh chopped meat, seasonings and egg yolk, mixed and served raw. It is traditionally made with beef, yet, as it’s still 4th of July weekend, I’ve decided to use American Buffalo (actually Bison) meat, instead of beef. The result was even better than the original. Originally, the chopped meat was served with the condiments or Tartar sauce on the side (hence the name). Here, I’ve use a version in which the meat served already seasoned, as I think it is more flavorful this way. You can, of course, switch back to the original and serve all the seasonings on the side. 

Bison is raised mostly in free-range farms and is grass-fed, therefore has leaner meat compared to beef, that can dry fairly quickly when cooked. So steak Tartare is actually a great way to keep its unique texture and flavor. Try it and enjoy.

Madiran is in France’s South West (schiller-wine blog)

Madiran is one of the many wine regions in what is generally referred to as South West France, around the village of Madiran in the Gascony.

The two Appellations d'Origine Contrôlées (AOCs) of the 1300 hectares of vineyards are: Madiran for red wines and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh and Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec for white wines.

Pircture: Map of South West France

Madiran AOC was created in 1948. Only red wine can be produced under this appellation. The main grape variety is Tannat, which must account for 40-60% of the wine and can be supplemented by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fer. Madiran AOC is typically deep ruby red in color and high in tannin. It needs some aging before drinking it. As a student, I always found Madiran AOC an interesting alternative to Bordeaux wines, because of the price differential. Much less known are the dry and sweet white wine and sparkling wine that the area produces.

The wines of the Madiran region have a long history. In the 11th century the Benedictines founded the abbey of Madiran and improved the quality of the vines. The pilgrims of St Jacques de Compostelle passed through this region and spread word of the excellent Madiran wines.  

Arriving in Montreal

Dinner at Gaspar Brasserie Française

 Leaving Montreal

From Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique - Amazing 2 1/2 Weeks on the Catamaran Sailboat "Wanderlust" in the Caribbean, with Chris, Cornelia, Viatrix and Ernst (April 2026)

See: From Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique - Amazing 2 1/2 Weeks on the Catamaran Sailboat "Wanderlust" in the Caribbean, with Chris, Cornelia, Viatrix and Ernst (April 2026)

  

  

Chris, Cornalia, Viatrix and Ernst Tremann: We're a German/American family from Munich who decided to ditch the rat race and sail the Caribbean. Join us as we explore on our catamaran "Wanderlust!" 

 

Annette and I took up the invitation and joined them for 2 1/2 weeks, from Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique. They were already beyond the mid of their trip and on their way back to the home port of Wanderlust, in the British Virgin Island. 

 

During our trip, I posted regularly on facebook about our wonderful experience. This posting on schiller-wine blog puts all the individual facebook postings in one place: From Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique - Amazing 2 1/2 Weeks on the Catamaran Sailboat "Wanderlust" in the Caribbean, with Chris, Cornelia, Viatrix and Ernst (April 2026)  

I, Annette, so much enjoyed this boat tour. I always felt very much home in the water: I love the seas, bobbing waves, swimming, tropical weather, raw nature, and this boat tour provided all of this. Living on a sailboat makes you aware of how much humanity depends on nature, and how small we are in this universe. You cannot sail without wind, you cannot live without fresh water, you cannot see without light, you cannot cook without some source of energy. Being together with our daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids age ten and eleven in this relatively confined space was such a joy and taught me once again that teamwork and respect for one another are the most important skills for living in harmony and to overcome daily challenges. I felt honored to be part of this close-nit, adorable family for a delicious moment.

 

Related Postings on schiller-wine:

 

From Marigot Bay in St. Lucia to Saint-Pierre in Martinique - Amazing 2 1/2 Weeks on the Catamaran Sailboat "Wanderlust" in the Caribbean, with Chris, Cornelia, Viatrix and Ernst (April 2026)