Montreal Burger Report Episode 36: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1

[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20091230/MBR_36_vbr.mp3]
Episode 36: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 (13:00); (MP3 18MB / FLAC 140MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)

Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco, despite having each finished a huge eight-inch Copoli Burger at Copoli 2, decide to make a run at Copoli 1. They pay up and head out into the night. On the way the continue to discuss the Copoli burgers already ingested, as well as the nature of neighbourhood restaurants and the competitive nature of Canadians.

(Previous Episodes of the Montreal Burger Report Episode 31: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 32: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 33: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 34: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 35: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1)

Montreal Burger Report Episode 35: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1

[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20091223/MBR_35_vbr.mp3]
Episode 35: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 (12:51); (MP3 18MB / FLAC 139MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)

Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco finish their enormous eight-inch burgers at Copoli 2. Thoughts are mixed and divided. The word "gimmick" is raised. Despite the gut-busting nature of the Copoli burgers, Zeke makes another pitch for visiting both Copoli 2 and Copoli 1 in the same night.

[caption id="attachment_766" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A Copoli Burger with bacon and cheese - all eight inches of it."][/caption]

(Previous Episodes of the Montreal Burger Report Episode 31: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 32: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 33: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1, Montreal Burger Report Episode 34: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1)

Montreal Burger Report Episode 34: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1

[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20091216/MBR_34_vbr.mp3]
Episode 34: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 (12:17); (MP3 17MB / FLAC 132MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)

Settled into their table at Copoli 2, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco place their orders and Ed pontificates on the nature of neighbourhood restaurants and the question of authenticity. The burgers arrive, and the guys are impressed with the size. Biting in, things get "interesting."

(Previous Episodes of the Montreal Burger Report Episode 31: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 Montreal Burger Report Episode 32: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 Montreal Burger Report Episode 33: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1)

Montreal Burger Report Episode 33: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1

[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20091209/MBR_33_vbr.mp3]
Episode 33: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 (13:53); (MP3 20MB / FLAC 149MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)

As they prepare to leave the Next Door Pub & Grill, Chris 'Zeke' Hand tantalizes Ed "Blork" Hawco's raging appetite by reciting the pub's menu. Ed has half a mind to abandon the project and eat there at the pub. Chris evens the keel and gets them back on track.

At restaurant Copoli, the guys snag a table and settle in to the business of surveying the menu and the environment.

[caption id="attachment_764" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Copoli 2 4458 Ste-Catherine O., corner Metcalf (Westmount)"][/caption]

(Previous Episodes of the Montreal Burger Report Episode 31: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 Montreal Burger Report Episode 32: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1)

Montreal Burger Report Episode 32: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1

Play
[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20091202/MBR_32_vbr.mp3]
Episode 32: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 (13:19); (MP3 19MB / FLAC 143MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)

Warming up for their next burger report at the Next Door Pub & Grill (5175 Sherbrooke Street West) Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco are undecided about visiting Copoli 1 or Copoli 2. Chris makes the bold suggestion that they visit both in the same night. Always up for something outrageous, Ed jumps on the bandwagon. Chris reiterates his theory of Montreal burgers and declares that one of the defining characteristics is thinness. Ed disagrees. Ed then casts his mind far back to the last time he had one of Copoli's eight-inch burgers.

(Previous Montreal Burger Reports: Episode 31, Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1)

Montreal Burger Report Episode 31: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1

[AUDIO http://www.archive.org/download/20091125mbr/MBR_31_vbr.mp3]
Episode 31: Pub Next Door & Copoli 2 & Copoli 1 (11:12); (MP3 16MB / FLAC 119MB / Ogg Vorbis MB / Stream)

Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco venture out to Next Door Pub & Grill, a small bar on Sherbrooke Street West that is "Westmount Adjacent" (aka in NDG), where they survey the scene and try the house beer, called Bumping Hill, Pumpkin Hill, or Bumpkin, depending on how many you've had.

After debating the merits of various "Westmount Adjacent" dive bars, they settle into a discussion of the night's mission: a trip to Copoli, home of "Montreal's biggest burger." The burning issue: should they go to Copoli 1 (across from the Vendome Metro station) or Copoli 2 (on Ste. Catherine, corner Metcalfe)?

[caption id="attachment_762" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Next Door Pub & Grill; easy to find if you know where to look."][/caption]

Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 5

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Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 5 (11:18); (MP3 15MB / FLAC 120MB / Ogg Vorbis 9MB / Stream)




Buns on Blvd. St-Laurent as seen via Google Street View.

Episode 30 of the Montreal Burger Report. In this episode our heroes, Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) and Chris 'Zeke' Hand discover how long it takes to to cook a hamburger at Buns, Zeke becomes a diplomat, Blork can't be objective and covets Zeke's third burger. Our heroes talk about the logistics of grinding beef in house and then depart for Else's.

The Montreal Burger Report is a radio show / podcast / blog / something or other where upon Blork and Zeke go out have a couple of burgers, some beer and in very generalized terms try to inform you about the good burgers in Montreal, the great burgers in Montreal, the best burgers in Montreal and everything else related to burgers in Montreal.


Zeke eating his third cheeseburger at Buns on Blvd. St-Laurent

Zeke's Verdict

I wasn't that impressed, although drinking enough beer beforehand can make just about anything palatable.

Ed's Verdict

I really love the concept of Buns; a small place that focuses on one thing -- at a very low price. Arguably, that makes it no different from any corner casse-croûte, but I've had some mighty fine classic burgers at hole-in-the-wall casse-croûtes. The difference here is the fresh young attitude and the degree of focus. The result? A pretty good straight-forward no-frills burger. A great choice if you're in the neighborhood and you want a quick and cheap bite that will hit the spot. On the other hand, the burgers were not spectacular, but what do you expect for four bucks? The only sour note was that my burger, which was quite small, was a bit overcooked. Zeke's third burger, however, was not, which tells me the grill man needs to work a bit harder on consistency.

That said, I'll definitely go back when I'm in the 'hood and I want a quick burger that will make me smile, but not necessarily sing.

Bifteck St-Laurent
Address: 3702 Saint Laurent
Phone: (514) 844-6211

Buns
Address: 3673 Saint Laurent
Phone: (514) 759-7799


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns, Part 1, Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns, Part 2, Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns, Part 3, Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns, Part 4.)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 4

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Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 4 (13:43); (MP3 19MB / FLAC 150MB / Ogg Vorbis 12MB / Stream)



In this episode our heroes, Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) and Chris 'Zeke' Hand discuss the nature, concept, taste sensation and substance of the hamburgers at Buns. Blork states that he wants a bigger patty, then he thinks a smaller bun might do the trick, but then he decides in fact that a bigger patty would be better. He also loves the pickles. Our heroes also lament the lack of beer, and are unable to try the fries. But that doesn't stop them from ordering a second round of burgers.



Buns is located at 3673 Saint-Laurent, their phone number is (514) 759-7799 and they too are open seven days a week from 11:30 to 1 AM weekdays and noon to 2:30 AM on weekends.



The Montreal Burger Report is your source for the most in depth and comprehensive coverage and information announcing, describing, informing, and sometimes warning you about everything related to and involving hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and sliders in Montreal. The best hamburger, the crispiest fry, the coldest beer, the Montreal Burger Report covers it from every angle possible.


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Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 3

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Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 3 (14:16); (MP3 19MB / FLAC 152MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)



Before leaving Le Bifteck St-Laurent, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco solicit opinions from some of the bar hounds, such as Shan the Man. Across the street at Buns, Ed reads the menu, which takes about 12 seconds as all this place makes is burgers, and there are only a few variations.

Inside Buns, Zeke and Ed meet the owner of both Buns stores, who explains the concept and provides some details on the meat. (Canadian beef, 15% fat). The meat is ground off-premises, but they form the patties in-house daily. Zeke asks the burger cook if he can have his burger rare, and the reply is swift: "no." The boss then provides an explanation as to why rare ground beef is riskier than rare steaks or roasts.


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Montreal Burger Report: Le Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 2

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Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 2 (12:59); (MP3 17MB / FLAC 144MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)



After another round of nostalgia about Le Bifteck St-Laurent and its cheap beer, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco start talking about hamburgers. Specifically, they discuss their expectations of "Buns," the new minimalist burger joint that first opened on Ste-Catherine Street and later expanded to a second outlet on The Main (Boul. St. Laurent). Will it be the best burger in Montreal? Zeke is a little worried that the burgers will be too minimalist and plain. Ed is hoping for a good "backyard" style burger. Zeke points out the role reversal when it comes to expectations.


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Montreal Burger Report: Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 1

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Bifteck St-Laurent & Buns Part 1 (11:19); (MP3 15MB / FLAC 121MB / Ogg Vorbis 9MB / Stream)



In this episode of the Montreal Burger Report, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed (Blork) Hawco head up Boulevard St. Laurent for a visit to familiar territory. Both Chris and Ed have been on and around The Main for a couple of decades, so a trip to Bifteck St-Laurent for a few pre-burger beers brings out the nostalgia. As Ed struggles to remember if he really did get some beef at the Bifteck, Zeke recalls that this is the place where he learned it was OK to "leave beer over."

The guys get all "meta" and discuss the hamburger checklist and rating scales judiciously avoiding terms like "best," "meilleur" and delve instead into burger rating territory with words like "grind" and "crumble," while trying to come up with a better word than "gushy." They decide to have another beer as they prepare to visit a newcomer to The Main, the minimalist Buns, at 3673 Saint Laurent.


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Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 5

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Le Saint Bock & L’Amere à Boire Part 5 (13:35); (MP3 20MB / FLAC 145MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)



In the final part of the Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire episode, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco eat their burgers and in the end are not overly impressed. Blork's burger had a dirty grease flavor that was so strong he didn't even notice the bacon. In the end, the talk turns back to beer, which in this case delivered more pleasure than the burgers.

Blork's Verdict

The more I ate my burger, the more I noticed a foul taste that seems to have come from a greasy grill that hasn't been cleaned. In the end, it was the dominant flavor, and it left a bad taste in my mouth that I could still sense the next day. Perhaps it was a bad night, because this place's reputation would sink like a lead canoe if all of the burgers tasted like that. Otherwise, it was a reasonably good sandwich, but not remarkable. The kind of thing you snarf down on a beery night out because you know you ought to eat something. Since I have been known to have the occasional beery night out, I might give this place another try -- just to see if that dirty taste is still there. But ultimately, L'Amere à Boire makes my beer list, but not my burger list.

Zeke's Verdict

As I said, initially I was anticipating something extremely good especially after reading the all the rave reviews on Chowhound about the Lamb Burger at L'Amere à Boire (one, two, three, four). Unfortunately what I didn't realize at the time was that they were all written by the same person. I should have known better, I didn't enjoy my lamb burger or my beer at L'Amere à Boire at all, and unlike Blork, I'm not likely to go back. Thankfully we had started the night at Le Saint Bock where the beer was delicious and the burger menu looked to be the same.

Le Saint Bock
Address: 1749 Saint Denis
Phone: (514) 680-8052

L'Amère à boire
Address: 2049 Saint Denis
Phone: (514) 282-7448


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 1, Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 2, Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 3. Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 4)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 4

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Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 4 (11:37); (MP3 17MB / FLAC 124MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)



In this episode our heroes, Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) and Chris 'Zeke' Hand have left Le Saint Bock and order their burgers at L'Amere à Boire. Zeke wants his rare, Blork wants ketchup. Zeke doesn't know it but he will be disappointed, Blork won't be. While waiting for their burgers Blork and Zeke discuss how the Montreal Burger Report came into existence, and its reason for existing. Blork clamors for recognition, and then the burgers arrive.


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Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 3

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Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 3 (12:42); (MP3 17MB / FLAC 68MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)



In this episode our heroes, Ed Hawco (also known as Blork) and Chris 'Zeke' Hand finish their delicious beers at Le Saint Bock and are magically transported up the hill to L'Amère à boire for the main course.

Since the beers they had at Le Saint Bock were very good, both Blork and Zeke are hoping for the best with respect to the hamburgers at L'Amère à boire. Neither one expects a gourmet experience, but a good burger would complete the night.

Blork uses one of his lifelines to phone a friend and find out what L'Amère à boire means in English and what the pun is, Zeke asks the waiter for a recommendation about which beer to order and gets served the Černá Hora. Blork makes up his own mind and gets the Fin de siècle.


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 1, Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 2.)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amère à Boire Part 2

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Le Saint Bock & Amere à Boire Part 2 (11:45); (MP3 17MB / FLAC 68MB / Ogg Vorbis 10MB / Stream)



In this episode, Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed "Blork" Hawco are having beers at Le Saint Bock anticipating the short trek up the hill to L'Amère à boire for their burgers. But before they leave, they notice the burger menu at Le Saint Bock. It has what appear to be very good burgers, or as Blork would call it, "perfection on a bun." Not quite gourmet burgers, they look like they would be very good burgers. However, our heroes continue with their plan, and make the walk up the hill to eat at L'Amère à boire.


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amere à Boire Part 1.)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Saint Bock & L'Amère à Boire Part 1

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Le Saint Bock & Amere à Boire Part 1 (10:00); (MP3 14MB / FLAC 59MB / Ogg Vorbis 8MB / Stream)



In this episode our heroes, Blork and Zeke start off at Le Saint Bock a delightful microbrasserie (or as it is called in the part of the world that is not Quebec, a wonderful brewpub). Zeke orders and drinks a Malediction, Blork the Arrogant. Blork tries to goad Zeke, but is unsucsessful as Zeke quickly and gracefully steers the conversation towards more diplomatic waters.

Le Saint Bock is located at 1749 Saint Denis it is open seven days a week from 11 AM on weekdays and 1 PM on weekends the phone number is 514-680-8052 and their website is www.lesaintbock.com

The Montreal Burger Report is a radio show / podcast / blog / something or other where upon Blork and Zeke go out have a couple of burgers, some beer and in very generalized terms try to inform you about the wide and wonderful world of burgers in Montreal.


View The Montreal Burger Report Map in a larger map

Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 5

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Le Faste Fou Part 5 (13:02); (MP3 19MB / FLAC 78MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)





Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed ("Blork") Hawco tuck into their burgers and have a lot to say about mayonnaise, soft buns, beefiness, and parachuting. The burgers, while not lacking in flavor, do have some other lacks. A distinction is made between a critical lack and a non-critical lack. Listen in...

Ed's Verdict

Le Faste Fou's burger was tasty enough, and was presented on a nice soft bun (which I like), but it suffered from two problems: too much mayonnaise and not enough beef. That second problem -- not enough beef -- was the worst offender. After all, I believe that a burger's main attraction should always be the meat, and when that is lacking in flavor or volume, the whole package suffers. Had Le Faste Fou offered a double-burger option, I might have been more thrilled. In the end I'd rate it at as "pretty good" but not great.

Zeke's Verdict

It was that sense of lack that to this day stays with me. It wasn't a bad burger per se, but it really didn't have anything going for it, either. I'm not a big fan of any kind of ranking system, and it was only because of Ed's persistence that I answered the questions about which burger was the best burger among the many burgers that we had eaten. Overall, it wasn't a bad burger, but it wasn't a good burger, either.

Address: Various. We went to the location at 6390 rue St-Hubert, Montreal. (See clickable map, below.)
Phone: 514-271-3069 (St. Hubert location)
Web site: fastefou.com


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 1, Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 2, Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 3, Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 4)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 4

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Le Faste Fou Part 4 (12:36); (MP3 18MB / FLAC 80MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)



Let's eat! Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed (Bl0rk) Hawco finally get down to choosing what they think is the best burger for each of them and ordering (Bl0rk gets an American, Zeke gets a Mexican).




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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 1, Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 2, Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 3)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 3

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Le Faste Fou Part 3 (12:11); (MP3 18MB / FLAC 78MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)



Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed (Blork) Hawco get back on track and get settled into a table at Faste Fou. They discuss the beer menu, and the originality (or not) of the concept of Faste Fou. Then they take a closer look at the food menu, which is vast (perhaps too vast). There's a lot to choose from, including a burger with peanut butter (According to Zeke not quite the best thing to put on your hamburger). Zeke likes 'em sloppy. Blork likes 'em classic. Which way will they go?


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 1, Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 2)

Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 2

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Le Faste Fou Part 2 (12:47); (MP3 18MB / FLAC 80MB / Ogg Vorbis 11MB / Stream)



Chris 'Zeke' Hand and Ed (Blork) Hawco find some cracks in the belle visage of Gainzbar while trying to decide whether the Montreal Burger Report is impressionistic or expressionistic and then get into a discussion of the finer points of what makes for a good bar experience, along with trying to figure out the concept and process of the Montreal Burger Report. Just when you think there'll be no talk of any actual physical and three dimensional burgers they venture out into the cold (this was taped in January) only to get sidetracked again...


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(Montreal Burger Report: Le Faste Fou Part 1)