A Croque Monsieur on Mont Royal, Montreal

One of Montreal’s quintessential dining experiences is going to bistros.  They aren’t exactly like French bistros; however they do have similar qualities, the relaxed air, the prominence of bread and cheese on the menu etc.  Last night I went for dinner at a small bistro with a good friend of mine.  We laughed, caught up, and he poked fun at my slight obsession with all things French.  This short moment reminded me of so many other simple and wonderful moments I have spent in this city, most of which involved sitting in a bistro or cafe with great company.

Croque Monsieur from etc Bistro on Ave. Mont Royal

Out of nostalgia, and a craving for melted cheese, I ordered a croque monsieur.  Despite the haughty name, this sandwich (I can feel the French cringe as I call it a sandwich), is nothing fancy. Croquer means to crunch and monsieur means mister, so I’m sure there is an interesting story as to how the name came about.

The croque monsieur sounds way more interesting than a ham & cheese sandwich, yet the components are very simliar.  It is a very easy thing to make.  All you need is a piece of bread or baguette topped with ham and cheese, melted to delicious, gooey perfection.  Although simple, the ingredients are what make the dish, the fresh baguette, the gruyere cheese, the salty ham similar to jamon serrano etc.  Oh yeah and order the frites.  You can have a salad at home.

Tagged as: Croque Monsieur, French, Montreal