This new fast delivery offers you an overview of the “Nord” restaurants, which are the pride of Strøm spas. We will also take a quick but not very happy tour of the difficult year 2023 that restaurateurs experienced to finally introduce you to Ciccio’s coffee.
First, the Nord de Strøm restaurant/laboratory in Chambly offers exceptional cuisine, offering creative dishes crafted by chef Raphaël Podlasiewicz and his team. Added to the Strøm campus last August, the restaurant is named the “Culinary Lab” and also serves as a place to develop new recipes. It replaced the old Fourquet Fourchette in Chambly, which did not reopen after the pandemic. The venue offers an intimate atmosphere with a capacity of around thirty guests and a large terrace will be available in summer.
Although the restaurant is simply called "Nord", its menu reflects a local orientation with ingredients such as Opercule char, Quebec cheeses, meats from Ferme d'Orée, mushrooms, haskap, local herbs and spices as well as Quebec spirits and wines.
The Nord restaurant in Chambly offers an exceptional gastronomic experience in an enchanting setting. Chambly residents are lucky to have such a table in their village, and Montrealers are encouraged to make the short trip. Additionally, in 2024, the North restaurants of the five Strøm establishments will open their doors to the outside public, allowing guests to enjoy the cuisine without necessarily visiting the spa.
Then, restaurateurs in Quebec are facing a difficult year, marked by the closure of numerous establishments due to the consequences of the pandemic, teleworking and the increase in the cost of living. Since the start of 2023, around 30 restaurants have declared bankruptcy each month, already totaling 337 restaurant bankruptcies, well exceeding the average of the last six years.
The vice-president of the Quebec Restoration Association (ARQ), Martin Vézina, expresses his concern about the drop in traffic, noting a decrease of 5 to 10% during the fall. Although December may offer some relief with office parties, restaurateurs are preparing for a difficult winter period, looking to replenish their coffers during the festive celebrations.
Finally, let's talk about Ciccio's, a charming café and Italian sandwich counter, which is located on rue Petite Saint-Nicholas in Old Montreal, offering a modern and bright decor. Owner Gian Paolo De Riggi, a restaurant veteran, created Ciccio's with the idea of getting back to basics by offering quality food at an affordable price, evoking a "good quality fast food restaurant." The name Ciccio's means "chubby" in Italian, reflecting the generosity and cuteness of the cafe.
Gian Paolo, also a designer, designed the concept from A to Z, from menu to decor, in partnership with the Carma Hospitality group, planning to open other branches in the future.
The menu offers seven sandwiches, three salads, antipasto platters, desserts such as cannoli and tiramisu with pistachio cream, as well as a grocery store with fine products imported from Italy and also offers corporate catering services for Old Montreal.
