I’ve eaten at Au Pied de Cochon, Anthony Bourdain’s favourite Canadian restaurant, a few times over the past few years.

But my recent meal at this famous Montreal eatery owned by “wild chef” Martin Picard and known for its love of pork, affinity for foie gras and sublimely downhome-yet-modern  take on Quebec fare was by far the best yet.

Only able to get a table for two at the bar at 9:30 pm on Good Friday, my boyfriend Ross and I arrived on time to find the place humming, buzzing, alive and extremely well. Read more…