Friday, June 6, 2008

PAUL PATATES

Les,
Yesterday, after visiting the LaSalle Coke Crane, I continued east on St Patrick to Charlevoix, turned right to Coleraine and visited PAUL PATATES as previously promised and took the following photos. I met Danny Roy, the owner and had a chat with him, a fine chap. I also met Barry Fleischer who apparently makes their Root Beer and is or was the husband of the lady who deseased a year or 2 ago and who owned  Restaurant Emile Bertrand on Aqueduct street and previously on Notre Dame street. I have also enclosed the 2 photos of these two restaurants. As you can appreciate, there is a connection between these 3 establishments with quite a story to tell. The original restaurant started around 1898. Les, could you be good enough to reprint the previous postings concerning this subject as I am preparing an article for our magazine (SHGV) and I think our members would be interested in having information on this interesting subject. Incidently, the Hot Dog, fries and root beer were excellant (app. $5.00).
Guy
 
 
 
 

56 comments:

metalman108 MSN said...

looks very good, always wanted to go there, next weekend maybe i'll go to verdun, walk the streets, maybe meet lad for that snack on the steamie and frie at paul patates also the spruce beer

les__f MSN said...

Hi Guy,.....I do have some info on this subject,and I will try to Remember to find it for you.................                                                                                                           hf&rv

les__f MSN said...

I can't wait to visit Montreal ,and for sure get in a few steamies & the origianl spruce beer,......I always made it a Point to go to the old one ,but haven't been there for a number of years now,.and was sad to hear of it's closing ,first the move around the corner from Mountain & NotreDame to the little place around the corner on Acqueduc St ( Sp?)..... I have a few pictures I took from inside the old store ( Emile Bertrand's ) and I also have a news papaer story here from the Gazette,about when the two gals were running it......I look forward to another visit one day (soon I hope) and having a Montreal treat.......along with all the other stops I would have to make as well..Smoked Meat,.Pizza's,.Steamies. Toasted Hot Dogs, Curds,.......Yikes !! can put on the pundage just thinking of it.......                                                    HF&RV

shirleyb-h MSN said...

When we go to Montreal every year = first stop Atwater Market - then perhaps across to Super C then Paul's in the Point for Hot Dogs.  We have never hit the place when he was there always just 2 girls (not very friendly either) so we get the dogs to go and eat them in the SUV.   When we were kids we lived on Versailles above St James and often went to the hot dog place on Notre Dame and Mountain/McCord - I think that my mother liked the spruce beer. When she was pregnant with my youngest sister we often went in pursuit of Hot Dogs or sometimes it was a smoked meat that she craved in that case it was to a small restaurant on Mountain just below St Antoine and across from Rockheads - not the best place for 11 & 13 year olds around 11 pm - once my mother got us out of bed to go get her a smoked meat - it had to be both of us - no way I would go there in the dark (early June)

guy5479 MSN said...

Shirley, My mother was born  at 108-1/2 Versailles street* in 1905. It is a short street thats runs just above and below Notre Dame in the St Henri/Griffintown district. I bicycled there a couple of years ago but did not find any street number, obviously the street was transformed and only the sides of the buildings are exposed. Guy   *Source Lovells directory

bettylooca MSN said...

Hi Guy; I just wanted to add some coments about Barry Fleischer. His family used to own the hot dog place that was located on Notre Dame near the corner of Mountain next to the motorcycle repair shop. It was very famous for their homemade Spruce Beer (not Root Beer) and their home fries. When their 99 year lease expired, the building owners wanted to much for the rent so the place moved around the corner. It didn't do well there and that's when he decided to go to Paul Patates. He also is the distributor of Putters pickles and cole slaw.

guy5479 MSN said...

I am told that there is another Paul Patates in Pte St Charles called Paul Patates Pool Room and have excellant Hot Dogs. I will try to get more information. Guy

les__f MSN said...

Hi Guy the Montreal Poolroom used to have excellent hotdogs as well. but I have not been near there in 35 years or more.........Yikes !!!    hf&rv

shirleyb-h MSN said...

Guy - Versailles also starts up again on the other side of CNR buiilding that ran from Guy over to Mountain on south side of St James.  Then goes St James to St Antoine.  My sister and I were born at 753 Versailles - then moved across the street 742 then 754.  My grand parents didnt move to Versailles Street until around 1933 or 1935 before that they lived near Metro Georges Vanier stop on Coursol.

shirleyb-h MSN said...

Gee there were so many great places for hotdogs in Montreal - my first job was on Inspector between St James & Notre Dame - just beyond Inspector on Notre Dame heading east was a great hot dog place - we often went there at lunch time and I think that there might have been a pool room because we never went alone always 2 or 3 girls - back then I was 17 and very shy working as a secretary for Williams & Wilson - smack across from Old Brewery Mission.

les__f MSN said...

The old brewery mission,............I worked with a bunch of Montreal Characters ,doing the roof on that place,back in real eraly 70's .We were all hired by Frank Deegan from the Point,,,,,,,,,he always had work for us young guys then,..   Christmas Dinner 1937................................before my time,........I also can't say I Remember how this place looked,.......but I guess that's it according to the info I read posted with the Photo................................................hf&rv

guy5479 MSN said...

Shirley, My parents lived in that same area, on Fulford street now George Vanier. This is in 1928, near Coursol. I woud'nt be surprised if my parents new your parents. Unfortunately they are deceased. Guy

les__f MSN said...

Guy ,.when you went to visit or see the Lasalle Coke Crane did you happen to notice ,if it now has an observation deck ,open to the public? Rememeber when we spoke of this crane some time back,I had seen something to the effect that they were planning to or had done already,built a deck for observing along the Canal (and whatever else you can see from up there?           Just Wondering?...............................................HF&RV

guy5479 MSN said...

Les, There is no observasion deck open to the public. The crane is only partially fenced and I was able to go under it to take photos. I don't know what the city intends to do with it. I suspect it is simply forgotten until a pressure group pops up to have the city fathers do something about it. I will report any information on the matter when and if something develops. It certainly would be an excellant observasion tower although it would be just a matter of time before some daredevil decides to jump into the canal from the deck. I don't think it is high enough to  bungee. Guy

shirleyb-h MSN said...

Les - where is that old brewery mission located - it looks like the building on the corner of Coursol & Canning below St Antoine just up from the old St. Anthony's Academy.

spankypheebs0 MSN said...

Hi Shirley-when did you work for Williams and Wilson....my first job ever was there! (Around 1972)

Cathy

les__f MSN said...

Hi Shirley, I thought the Old Brewery Mission was on StAntoine,near Clark maybe or Mansfield,....and it was a two tired type of flat roof,definetly not that Church in the picture ,but I had thought that if you look at the photo,the people are lined up in front of the church,and up around the corner,opast the end of the church to a squarish style building ,you can just make it out,.........sort of (if that's  it ) although either someone has a 'lot' of friends coming over for dinner or there's a Shelter close by in that picture.........hahahahah but as for the Church's name you could be right,..I really don't remember that.........maybe that wasa the original brewery mission???  That photo has a date of 1937 X-mas day,...                                                                                                                                           hf&rv I will try looking up the name of the church you mentioned & see if we can get a comparison photo to isolate that street intersection.............Good Question though.........    

shirleyb-h MSN said...

Seems as though there are 3 Old Brewery Missions in Montreal but the one that was on Inspector just above Notre Dame on the East side of the street I believe has been turned into lofts or condos. That picture really reminded me of the building on Canning and Coursol - it had a few names over the years I learned when researching the addresses of my Grand Father and Great Aunt - both had homes on Coursol.  It was called the Iverley Settlement in the late 30's and I think that it was also called Old Brewery Mission - I could be confused on that but later it was the Negro Community Center when the Iverley membership mostly white membership merged with the Negro Community Center's black membership.  In the 50's and 60's they used to provide lunch to many of the kids who went to Royal Arthur School.   Perhaps Guy will recognize the building since his parents lived right around the corner as did my grandparents - I went to school for 9 years on Canning and Coursol - the nuns residence was the next building on Coursol after the Iverley/NCC which was a corner building with entrances on both Canning and Coursol - there was a gym on the 4th floor.  Have a look at this link pity that it is only the top of the building. http://www.nccmontreal.org/ncc-eng-history.htm   Cathy I worked at Williams & Wilson late 60's - Miss O'Connell always tried to hire girls who had been taught by the nuns if she had a choice - did you know Eileen Gale  Laureen Rossy  - I used to feel so sorry for Miss O'Connell she had such bad arthritis in her hands and feet but she never complained or missed a day.  What department did you work in??  I also remember some of the old dolls - Val Senecal - Edith Duross, Edith Smith, Eileen??  she was payroll upstairs and had a thing for Mike Boyne, Iris Walker, Ann Longley, Isabel Lang, Rose Bender, Vi Goldie, Doris Cryer and the men - Bob Tyre, Jim O Leary, Jack Bleidung, Rene Tranchmontagne, Jim Quarles - upstairs Mr Hastie  Vicky Donnelly, Marlene Jefferies and her sister Diane Jefferies.

les__f MSN said...

Here's some photos of kids inside the Iverley (or something like that,.but listed as on rue de coursol: Checkout the Teacher in this photo ,.she's a dead ringer for that comedienne Paula Poundstone................................................(Yikes hope she's not teaching) not sure if this is insidne the building inQuestion,.but it referred to as the Iverley something or other.........in anycase the kids look happy,...............................neat old pictures:  HF&RV

les__f MSN said...

Seems it may have been known as the "Iverley Community Nursery School" or Community School.............so your info may be tracking it correctly:                         hf&rv

shirleyb-h MSN said...

Yes that is the same place - it was huge inside. Lots of goings on and as I said lunch for kids - almost free. I few of my friends who went to Royal Arthur school went there for lunch - I either went home or ate lunch at St Anthony's.

guy5479 MSN said...

I picked up a couple of bottles of root beer from Paul Patates this afternoon. I had already tasted it before and found it acceptable, let's say a 6 out of 10. This is my opinion for what it is worth. The price is pretty steep, $3.75 a bottle with a $2.00 deposit for the bottle. I think I will restrict myself to taking a small bottle when I drop by for a Hot Dog. One is called Emile and the other Bertrand, obviously after the original founder of the Emile Bertrand Restaurant on Notre Dame street. Guy  

les__f MSN said...

That's a big change from when the women ran the Emile Bertrand,.for instance it was a bottomless bottle ,they would let you drink as much as you wanted while in the restaurant: but i guess the cost of everything nowadays has at least tripled. also their steamies were very affordabls ( actually downright cheap) ......the deposit for those type of bottles is understandable I would imagine there are not many places producing wire-top bottles..... I broguth a bunch of bottles out here one of the times I drove across the ciuntry. and I was told just how to do it, without havinf them 'explode' in the Van....I wrapped each bottle separately with wet newspaper & secured them in a proper Cooler,.....but just as they did in the stores when were growing up, you always had to rememeber to release the pressure,every so often,.....or your going to have an explosion.  Also you can't let them get too warm ,again Kaboom if your not careful. .....We had only one casualty over the whole trip..........not bad. I can get my fill of Spruce Beer eassily enough on any visit,it's not for everyone,but I like the stuff,.........and it's way better than that bottled 'bilge  water' that they try to pass off as Spruce Beer,.....it's just a carbonated imitation worth nothing.....Apparently they sell that slop out here somewhere. hahahahahahaha  I Remember the good stuff, & have when in Montreal..........  Thanks for the update Guy,.& the photo's too...........  HF&RV

les__f MSN said...

Hi Guy I just noticed you say 'Root Beer'.....but I think you mean 'Spruce Beer' don't you? Cause they are entirely different. The bottles in your photo look like Spruce Beer bottles: Another brand of 'Spruce Beer' that I thought was really good when I lived in Montreal was called 'Marco' biere de pinette It actually was very good and it was avaialble at a number of Stores throughout Verdun,& Montreal,.they were more widely known than Emile Bertrands,....and as with different types of Beer of any kind ,it all depends on the 'brew master'  Nostailgia is what keeps Emile Bertrands brand going,......there was another HotDog Stand/ Restaurant a little further down Notre Dame on the same side of the street as Emile's ,that was pretty good also,.there Steamies were Ok ,but the Spruce beer was good,.....they also sold hamburgers too of course ,which as I remember were quite good too.....Sorry can't recall the name ,.but I would know where it is,.if it still exists,I doubt that though.                                                          hf&rv

guy5479 MSN said...

Les, You are right, I meant SPRUCE BEER. bad mistake as they are totally different. The young sales lady had to open the top to let the air out otherwise as you say it could have exploded. As a matter of fact, one of the bottles fizzled quite a bit and a lot of brew came out. The other one went OK. I had to drive home and I hate to think of the mess that could have happened. Thanks for correcting me. Guy

onesmac0 MSN said...

Can you still buy spruce beer in Montreal? When I was back there last year I couldn't find any. Send a bottle out west will you? I loved the stuff when I was a kid.
smac

shirleyb-h MSN said...

We arrived in Montreal early Saturday afternoon and stopped at Atwater Market then the SAQ for some wine.  Later we drove down to Paul's Patates and had some hot dogs and fries and the owner was telling me that he had been to a golf tournament in Longueuil (at least I thought he said les Cerf) anyway cost him $250 which included a day of golf and the lunch and dinner - they got a pair of running shoes and a jacket on arriving and he said that he won a golf bag, a flat screen TV and a high end GPS system that updates itself for 2 years and worth $650 on ebay - not a bad haul.  Last year he said he won $1000 BBQ.  We enjoyed the hotdogs - boy did I enjoy those.

guy5479 MSN said...

Shirley, Did you try their exclusive root beer and did you like it. Guy 

guy5479 MSN said...

Shirley, Here I go again, make that spruce beer. Guy

les__f MSN said...

I sure want to get back there & try Paul'sPatates ....You guys are lucky,................Hope you enjoyed it:           HF&RV

shirleyb-h MSN said...

I never liked even the smell of Spruce Beer dont like root beer either in fact I dont like beer of any sort. Seems to me that my mother liked spruce beer when we used to go to get HotDogs on NotreDame and Mountain. But - I sure love his hotdogs.

guy5479 MSN said...

I was at Paul Patates again today and had my usual hot dog and spruce beer. I asked the young lady to put a few french fries on the hot dog and she obliged. The owner Dany Roy (that's the guy with no hair) was there as well as the gentleman with the baseball cap (forgot his name). He's the one who makes the spruce beer. There was a lot of activity and business seems to be very good. I also bought a large bottle of spruce beer to take home. You have to be carefull not to shake the bottle as the least movement causes the foam to escape from the top. Guy     

onesmac0 MSN said...

I love spruce beer, steamy hot dogs, etc. Every time I read about someone eating a hot dog and french fries in Montreal my mouth waters. You just cannot get spruce beer out here in BC. There is one wonderful place in New Westminster BC called "Annies" that makes Montreal Smoked meat sands., poutine, and steamy hot dogs. The place was started by a french, Montreal couple that felt we needed a good Quebec fast food restaurant. It's a small place and the walls are lined with pictures of maple syrup farms. They also make the best soft ice-cream, made from pure cream, and spiraled with their own invented maple syrup sauce. This ice-cream is to die for. Whenever I feel homesick for Montreal I go there from a steamy and a soft, maple ice-cream. I still wish we could get some spruce beer up here.
Funny how all us Montrealers get so wound up about our food. It becomes one of the main topics when a group of us get together.
Sandy (smac)

les__f MSN said...

Hi onesmac ( Sandy)  would like to go there, & I have a sister visiting this weekend who lives over in Chilliwack, so i will for sure mention this place to her & I'm sure her & Ken will definetly try it out........... ps: Guess what my sister -in-law made us today for a snack   Yup , Steamies avec chou & a sprinkling of cayenne...it was great........I had 3................ BTW : nice to see you back on the boards.........Cheers  hf&rv

sharon_starr MSN said...

I believe the butcher who is on Verdun Avenue between 6th and Desmarchais sells those bottles of spruce beer too. If the butcher is still there that is? Was it named "Pierre's", I think? I used to buy a lot of my meat from there. I NEVER knew you had to be so careful with those bottles haha I actually brought back TWO on a PLANE 2 years ago when I was visiting Montreal! I took them in my carry-on and everything! It explains why when I got home and opened the bag the bottles were in, one of the bottles were half empty! Strangely enough tho, there wasn't any spruce beer in the bottom of the bag as you might think...did it evaporate? haha It's only an hour and a half flight from Montreal to Virginia...lol. I got my hubby to taste some and he didn't much like it hehe He said it was like drinking a Xmas tree. I replied "ok...and your point is?" These Americans, eh?

football19610 MSN said...

 Sharon:   You are 100 % correct with respect to the location and name of the store. In April of this year we moved closer to the Ontario / Quebec border.  The first thing I did after settling in was take the 2 hour drive to Verdun to buy a case of Spruce beer at Pierre's and drive back home. I hadn't had a Marco Spruce Beer in a  very long time. When I arrived home it was only 10:00 AM and my wife asked where had I been. I told her Verdun. She didn't believe me until I pulled the case of Spruce Beer from the trunk of the car.  Her responce was " you are nuts - You drove four hours for a case of Spruce Beer" ? My answer was " yea " Why not? LMAO   George

onesmac0 MSN said...

Hi Les

She should come down and try "Annies". It's great. There is another place called "Frenchies" on Hastings st in Vancouver, with decor that resembles 1960 cafe's, with checked floors and chrome stools, etc., but the food is not as good.
I was going to see if someone could one day ship out a case of spruce beer, but it sounds like it doesn't travel well and why is that?
Smac

les__f MSN said...

Hi Sandy I will try that Annies one day, when I go over to visit my sister maybe. As for downtown I Remembr going to a Chicken joint run by an ex-montrealer, & it was good BBQ chicken,.,.there have been some decent places over hte years for Smoked Meat Sandwhiches,.etc etc but they don't seem to last. As for the Spruce Beer, I brought a dozen or so back many years ago ( driving) and you have to relieve the pressure every so often, that's why they had those wired on caps, & usually the guy in the store would go over & open each bottle to lessen the pressure, As for ny trip I wrapped the bottles in newsppaer & kept them in a Cooler with ice, I only had one casualty,one bottle blew up,while I was on the ferry coming over here. Not bad for a 3000mile trip.......                                             HF&RV

onesmac0 MSN said...

So less should I be expecting that case of spruce beer any time soon? lol. I"m only 3500 miles. Just drive slow.
I remember that chicken place that was downtown on Denman st. I also forget the name of it. I haven't been down there in so long I don't know if it's there anymore. It was great chicken and Montreal style sauce. yum. I'm getting hungry. I think I'll go to Annie's for a smoke meat.
Smac

les__f MSN said...

Hi Sandy just yesterday I was at my brother's place & my sister-in-law just came back from somewhere, & had decided to make some Montreal Style Steamies..I don't eat hot dogs very often (probably for years now) but she made us a bunch of Steamies avec chou & cayenne sprinkled on top.....it was like being in Norman's Patates in Verdun.....hahahahah  of course I washed them down with some cold beer......hahahaha               Your right that chicken joint had the right sauce too,.I have not been downtown Vancouver for many years ( I try to avoid it actually) but it was a good spot to go when I went over to catch a Habs game at the old PNE grounds rink ( what was that place called)..So it was a Montreal Style chicken dinner & then off to the game.....almost like having dinner at the old Bar-B-Barn for chicken & ribs then off to the Forum in the good old days...                                                                            have fun & remember Verdun

fresco750 MSN said...

Man I haven't had a La Belle Fermier Steamie in years. Remember Allan's Ginger Beer? There is a fantastic Ginger Beer just as good as Allan's called Goya. I used to get it in New York and it is in the stores in Florida also. 59 cents for a 12 ounce bottle. I try to always have at least one in the fridge. If you guys come State side out west check the supermarkets for Goya Ginger Beer.  

fresco750 MSN said...

  Boylan's sells a Birch Beer but no Spruce Beer

onesmac0 MSN said...

Hi Less
My daughter use to live around the corner from that Chicken joint. I'll see if she recalls the name. I'll let you know if I find out.
Smac

onesmac0 MSN said...

/Users/smac/Desktop/1200310.jpg

How do you get a picture on here? I tried to post a picture of the only Ginger Beer I can find out here that is great. It's stewards ginger beer. There should be an attachment.
smac

fresco750 MSN said...

  Smac, We also have the Stewart's Ginger Beer in Florida. It's great as is Goya. I used to love Allan's Ginger Beer back in Montreal-Fresco  

onesmac0 MSN said...

Hi Fresco,

I don't recall trying Allen's ginger beer, but then I don't recall much. I left Montreal at 17, (a few years ago) and didn't get to experience lots of places and stuff.
You still didn't explain to me (incompetent computer person me) how to post a picture on here.
smac

sharon_starr MSN said...

To add a pic here click on Reply as you do when you post a message - on top of where your words are typed are several icons, you want the one that looks like a snapshot of mountains and when you roll over the icon it reads "Insert Picture...click on that.  A box will pop up that contains 3 tabs- My Online Photos/My Computer/Clipart. If you want to post a pic that you have on your hard drive, click on My Computer, Browse and find the photo where it is on your computer and double-click it. Then you simply click on the words "Save Photos" and it should appear in your post :-) Hope that's not too confusing. Alternatively, you can also click near the top of your text box, the words Attach a File and then browse and find the photo on your computer that way, only difference is that it will show beneath your post as a file members have to click on in order to open it rather than it showing up right in the body of your post.

sharon_starr MSN said...

This is one of the bottles that I brought back on the plane 2 years ago...lol..empty now of course.  It has aplace of honoUr (damn I miss using the letter U in words like that! haha) on my window sill.    

onesmac0 MSN said...

Hi Sharon,

When I get home from work at 4am I'll try it. Your instructions sound pretty straight forward. But I may still mess up. lol
thanks.
Smac

onesmac0 MSN said...

I don't think this is going to work. There are no icons. Could it be that using a Mac may be the problem?
Smac

Attachment: baby Nik and mom.jpg

fresco750 MSN said...

Hi Smac, Your Mac Computer is the problem. I know that first hand because two friends talked me in to getting a Mac. My wife loves it, I do not. You cannot get font in MSN Groups or paste anything in MSN Groups using a Mac. I wrote to MSN Groups and asked about this. I asked if there was a Mac fix to correct the problem. The answer they sent was not at this time and that MSN Groups are not Mac compatible but hopefully that will change in the future. I use my Windows Laptop for MSN Groups-Fresco

fresco750 MSN said...

  Smac, Stewart's Ginger Beer is just like Allan's was. Allan's started making Old Tyme Ginger Beer in the seventies. By this time I lived in New York and at many stores in New York you could buy Old Tyme. I even saw Old Tyme in Puerto Rico. Allan's was now big time but something happened. I do not think they are still in business. In the fifties they were big in Montreal. They sold Biere d'epinette Spruce Beer, Hires Root Beer, Snow White Cream Soda, Nesbitt's Orange, Allan's Ginger Beer, Allan's Ginger Ale, Uptown Lemon Lime. I worked summer jobs at Allan's in 1958 and 1959. I loved it. My job was at the soaker machine where the empty bottles left the cases and went in to the bottle washer. Nesbitt's Orange was the biggest selling product. One production line was Nesbitt's all the time. The second production line produced the other beverages. The Spruce Beer was a huge seller. One time about twenty years ago when I was vacationing in Montreal I had a CRUSH (as in Orange Crush) Spruce Beer. Now I feel like a Spruce Beer but I've never seen it on sale in Florida-Fresco .

sharon_starr MSN said...

Smac, that's a lovely pic of your wife and baby! If that's who she is. So it worked with the Attach a File but yes, I believe your Mac is the problem if you don't see the icons. Sorry wasn't thinking about Mac users... I just got a new computer last Xmas and it has Windows Vista on it. I really like the program but I can't use a lot of my old programs because they aren't compatible with Vista. Even had to buy a new scanner. So I feel your pain, buddy!

guy5479 MSN said...

Since we are back on the subject, here is a reprint of Paul's Patates home-made spruce beer. I have a bottle in my fridge of the yellow label but I think I prefer the white label. The price is pretty steep, $3.75 plus $2.00 deposit for the bottle     Also, we must not forget the Bingo Restaurant at the corner of Verdun and Egan wich have very good hot dogs also and you can't beat the price, $3.15 for 1 hotdog, french fry and cola. I believe the restauration of the building is now completed since I last took this photo on the 29th of March 2007. Notice Au Coq's red delivery car at the left. Their restaurant is across the street on the right.        Guy  

guy5479 MSN said...

I would also like to add that the Bingo restaurant seems to be a meeting place for residents in the immediate area as I noticed many customers greet each other as they go in and out in both  English and French. Guy

football19610 MSN said...

Thanks for the picture of Egan and Verdun Avenue. At the extreme left hand side of the picture I can see the doorway to the flat I use to live in. (over Binette's Hardware)