Last updated January 5, 2010
In a city known for its lively food scene, it isn't surprising to find a varied crew of curious and critical food bloggers keeping tabs on restaurants as well as the wider world of ingredients, markets and cooking generally.
Some of these blogs are old standbys and others come and go in the manner of the blog world.
In most cases if I notice a blog's been neglected for awhile, I'll remove it from this page. Likewise, if the focus of a blog shifts permanently away from Montreal, it doesn't belong here. If you have any news of new, revived or defunct food blogs, please email me.
Also, please keep in mind that not all food bloggers constantly update their content or date their reviews. Don't make big plans to go to any restaurant mentioned in a blog without calling first.
Two well seasoned bloggers, Chris "Zeke" Hand and Ed Hawco, are doing the Montreal Burger Report, which also includes a podcast and a radio show. Ed's own Blork blog is about "food, Montreal and me."
Only in Montreal will you find multiple blogs devoted to that most choice of fast food specialties, poutine. Poutine Chronicles, Montreal Poutine and The Poutine Pundit all review poutine offerings so that you will never be without an notion where to find a good poutine in all its squeaky cheese glory.
Cartoonist Hasemeister has a food blog called Fast Food Fred with quick amusing looks at, yes, fast food options, mostly in and around Montreal but occasionally further afield. Good pix of the restaurant signs, too. In French. (This is the man with a Flickr set of images of the ubiquitous Italian chef we've all seen on a pizza box.)
Newish resto review blog Shut up and eat has tempting photos as well as reviews of a number of local eateries.
Nicholas Robinson's Montreal food blog has strayed away from food as a main topic, but he's also the owner of possibly the longest-lived of the local food blogs, montrealfood.com, site of well written restaurant reviews but perhaps updated a tad too leisurely.
Chowhound has a Quebec discussion board that is more often than not focused on Montreal, as people ask, answer and debate questions about restaurants and cookery. All in English, being part of a site operated by Americans, and has several stalwart commenters who can be relied on for interesting opinions.
One of the most delightful Montreal food blogs is ...an endless banquet, run by professional cooking writers A.J. Kinik and Michelle Marek. These two get around, so not all the entries are about Montreal, but many of them are. Their master lists A to M and N to Z encapsulate a vast amount of knowledge, both on the best places to eat and to source excellent and recherché groceries in the city. They also feature recipes and general thoughts on food and eating. All in English.
Midnight Poutine is a collective effort by a cabal of Montreal bloggers. Given the name, of course some of their entries are dedicated to food, some in English and some in French.
Worldly observers martiniboys have a Montreal resto section worth a glance.
Montreal Notebook contains the musings of two Americans who often visit Montreal and seem to spend most of their time here eating. Well written and amusing.
Shoestring Montreal looked at the more affordable side of eating out, but the blogger has left town. Some of her reviews are still good for the moment, but I'll probably take this link down in the next revision.
Banlieusardises is a well-established blog with a wide interest in local food.
Montréal Bouffe looks promising, with solid entries so far and good recipes.
Bob Le Chef promises l'anarchie culinaire. Lately the blog's mostly being used to promote his new cookbook.Under the High Chair is the musings of a young mother and gourmande in the city. Pictures and recipes, not so much on the restaurant reviews.
A Food Year has gone beyond its original year-long plan and continues to do opinionated resto reviews in English plus a few other food stories.
Food with a Point calls itself "a palatable report on gastronomy from an amateur perspective" with some resto reviews and other remarks on cooking and food.
Metro Boulot Resto links its reviews to the closest metro station. The reviews are terse, but you usually get your choice of English or French (click on the "shortest path to one's stomach" quote in either language). I still say they would benefit from dating their reviews.
Montreal Foodie offers "rants and raves from the Montreal restaurant, dining and food scene."
Eatpress offers recipes from two writers based in Montreal. Culinary Escapade is a Montreal-centric food blog done by someone who signs off as judyfoodie.
soupnancy is the thoughts of a woman who works part time as a chef in the Lanaudière. These aren't restaurant reviews, but thoughts on cooking, menus and food generally, and she really puts thought into it. Another blog that focuses more on recipes than restaurants is Jasmine Cuisine (in French).
Montreal Breakfast Review is just what it says, an assessment of breakfast and brunch places.
Jeremy and Vinita's is a Montreal restaurant guide with terse entries and minimal design foof on a page at McGill: a good effort, but not updated assiduously enough – at least, dates on their reviews would make it more useful.
Mindful Table looks out for sustainable local choices and presents interesting recipes while Homegrown Food Blog is working with the idea of keeping a vegetable garden; it's located in Toronto but some of its general advice applies in our climate too.
Have I missed something? Let me know.