A Gallery: Delights & Splendors of Cascadia

This is a little different.

There was a restaurant in Portland called Le Bistro Montage, or, more often, just Montage. I don't remember the original location, but for most of the time I went there it was under the Morrison Bridge. Long picnic style benches and popularity meant you shared tables with strangers every time. It was primarily Cajun food, and I loved all of their various jambalaya (alligator was better than I thought it would be), but they were also well-known for their assortment of macaroni and cheese dishes. One night, more as a joke, I asked the waitperson for the recipe. She brought me a recipe card with the hand written recipe below, the base for their dish. It blew me away that the chef did that for me, and I had a safe at the time, so I told people I had Montage's original Mac and Cheese recipe in my safe. Oh, so very hot!

Turns out they gave it out to anyone who asked, but still...

Montage's original Mac and Cheese Recipe
4 ounces heavy cream
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
12 ounces cooked elbow macaroni
Pinch salt
Pinch white pepper
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
Pinch paprika (for color)

Heat a sauté pan. Add cream and garlic. Reduce the cream by about 1/3, then add the pasta, salt and pepper and heat through. Plate, top with cheese (I usually add the cheese in the pan beforehand to melt it) and sprinkle with a bit of paprika.

It is ridiculously easy and delicious. Montage did not survive the pandemic, but they have some food carts now. I haven't made it to one yet. But I miss this place, a Cascadia legend.

1280px-Montage-2.jpg

(Photo attributed to "Visitor 7," from Wikipedia.com)
 
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Sorry to have neglected this thread while I was travelling in parts very far from Cascadia.
Home again and fall has arrived with the 1st atmospheric river of the season.
 
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