nother bistro! Surprise surprise. The admittedly French, trendy restaurant has yet to cease its current reign of the Montreal dining scene and Truffert Bistro is enjoying the hype. Located near the Laurier park in the heart of the Plateau, the eponymous Truffert is the dream of none other than Mister Christophe Truffert, whose last name (give or take a few letters) solidifies his reputation by paying homage to one of France’s most prized mushrooms.

Some may remember him as their favourite - or least favourite, in some cases - Maître d' during his years at Garcon!, while others will remember him from a certain TV sex talk show (I smell scandal!). That being said, if you can put his personal bio aside, this new restaurant has generated buzz worthy chatter among the foodie crowd.

Like any seasoned restaurateur, Truffert is well aware of the fact that the streets of Montreal are crowded with venues and weekly openings that won’t be remembered a year from now. Therefore, to ensure his success, Truffert has surrounded himself with young and passionate people (who are naïve and full of enough zest to endure the mundane kitchen tasks and pressure of running a successful restaurant). The most fervent person is certainly the chef, Trevor Bird, a young man from British Colombia whose ideas of classic French cuisine are rethought to create plates that are both original and tasteful.

In a phone interview, Truffert says that they “always try to work the same product in two different textures, for example, in the same plate you will enjoy duck confit and braised duck, giving you the chance to appreciate the difference in texture and taste.” A commendable approach to fine dining, though not necessarily innovative.

One thing to say is that Truffert Bistro is all about honesty. Located in the old “Un monde sauté” space, the restaurant’s decor is minimalist chic with two toned colored walls and a long bar finishing on an open-kitchen that allows you to spy on the chef’s working wonders (ideal for mysophobes).