As a photographer freelancing for McGill News magazine, I get to meet interesting people. If you live in Montreal and you like food, check out Round Table Food Tours founded by Mélissa Simard. She leads several expeditions where you get to learn about Montreal’s rich culinary history, taste delicious food, and discover places you’ve never seen before.
I tagged along her Iberian food tour, for a Tapas Circuit. Knowing I’d be taking pictures of people happily eating in front of me, I made sure to stuff myself before going. Don’t photograph on an empty stomach. Your photography turns out cranky.
We explored Spanish and Portuguese cuisine in Montreal by visiting restaurants, specialty grocery stores, a dépanneur-looking chorizo-making place (or a dépanneur making chorizos? I’m not sure) among other things. We also saw Leonard Cohen’s house! I had no idea it was that close to downtown Montreal.
When I was there, concierges of hotels were taking the tour as part of a team-building activity. I think the tours would also be great for a group of foodie friends who want to try out a different experience. (One tour that looks particularly interesting is the Eat and Ride tour, where you bike around Montreal and eat local products.) My favourite part was seeing how the store and restaurant owners were so close to Mélissa. She seemed to be friends with everyone, knocking on windows, waving hello as we passed in front of a restaurant not even part of the tour. I thought I’d just stay to take a quick portrait, but I ended staying for much more, and did not complain. The perks of being a photographer!
It was a lovely spring day. You know that feeling after a long Montreal winter when it hits 0 degrees and you can just walk around outside in a t-shirt? Since that day of course we've had a few extra days of winter.
I sneaked in a few portraits of Mélissa between locations and also in action. It’s always easy when you have someone who smiles constantly!