Le Zigoto Café
``Need a break from checking out the Jean Talon market?
The Mile End Must Stop for killer cappuccinos (only in the am, please) and other coffee drinks the rest of the day. All their coffee-based drinks are made from fair trade and organic beans. Vegan & vegatarian plates offered daily. http://www.lezigotocafe.blogspot.com/``

Text by Writer Rick T. taken from Dead Sexy Magazine / October issue / Ooh la la....Montreal
http://www.deadsexymag.com/Toronto/2009/October/Travel/Montreal_Part1.html



***Classic breakfasts until 3pm on Saturday and Sunday.***

I paint what I know. And I know that I only paint places that I’ve been and taken something from. I could paint a space for years and still be fascinated with it, in its place and how its surroundings really shape its being. I am interested, continually, in what happens in shadows and how the cityscapes cut the sky, creating geometric shapes, which become a focal point to my work, compositionally.
As the minutes and hours pass through a day, the character
of a space changes, inviting me into yet another chapter in its history. I paint to invite you there to see it for yourself.

Le Zigoto
http://www.hour.ca/food/food.aspx
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Bohemian rhapsody Ze many charms of Le Zigoto
by Catherine Macpherson
photo: Marianne McEwen

Purveyor of healthy comfort food in Mile End, artsy café
`le Zigoto` fits right in. This city is lousy with cafés, a facet of urban life I sorely missed whilst living in more café-deprived metropolises, and one I was happy to reconnect with upon returning to Montreal. Heck, even some local financial institutions boast in-house cafés, although I'm not entirely sure that I would relish whiling away my afternoons with a banker and a cuppa.
If Montreal is the café capital of North America, Mile End may be the café capital of Montreal. Why review yet another bobo-chic, tea-and-sympathy enterprise in this hood? Because Le Zigoto goes beyond the standard croissant-and-panini lineup to offer some genuinely tasty alternatives to basic café fare. Plus, they may have some of the cheapest cups of fair trade, organic coffee and espresso on offer ($2.45 for a small café au lait or cappuccino).
The organic-ness extends to the café's interior. The floor is made from reclaimed wood. Most of the furniture is second-hand yet so tastefully chosen that it looks like it's fresh from the showroom; the regular rotation of great, local artwork adds to the gallery vibe. A shelf at the back holds games and crayons to keep the kiddies happy, and if you can't linger for one of the café's musical soirées, the to-go cups are eco-friendly.
On a recent lunch, the herbed chicken and marinated red pepper sandwich, served with a small side of potato salad, impressed us, mostly due to the full, roasty flavour from the tender chunks of chicken; it was a pleasant surprise to have the delicious meat be so worth noting. Other sammies include a hummus, red pepper, onion and fresh herb combo, Genoa and Calabrese salami with goat cheese and tomato, and breakfast sandwiches (served all day) such as the herbed omelette with goat cheese, onions and tomatoes or with bacon and Emmental, served on toasted country bread. Try some toast with labneh, that tangy, impossibly thick strained Lebanese yogurt served with tomato, onion and fresh mint. "Classic" breakfasts are served on weekends.
There is always a daily vegetarian and vegan special. The plates include salad (greens and tomatoes with a tart, lemony dressing), soup of the day (an earthy mushroom and lentil number on our visit) and the entrée. Cabbage rolls stuffed with chickpeas, rice, tomatoes and plenty of fresh herbs and garlic tasted about as healthy as comfort food can get, or vice versa. Vibrant yet homey, the rolls were very tasty and not too filling. Hummus and slices of country bread rounded out the generous special.
We overheard a discussion between Laurance Chediac (co-proprietor) and an employee discussing the finer points of soups and whether socca (the chickpea flour crèpes of Nice) or pissaladière (another southern French specialty of dough topped with caramelized onions and anchovies) could be offered on the menu. Yes, please!
The Mediterranean influences, primarily Lebanese, add zest, tang and a certain freshness to the menu. "Glacées" of rose, blackberry or date syrups, mixed with soda and served over ice, are dreamy refreshers and go down particularly well with a comfy chair in the sunny front window. And pastries, including homemade muffins and brownies, plus maamoul, traditional Lebanese cookies filled with pistachios, walnuts or dates, are the perfect accompaniment to a $2 organic, fair-trade espresso.
Le Zigoto5731 Parc Ave.
514-867-9005l
ezigotocafe.blogspot.com
Dinner (or lunch) for two, before beverages, taxes and tip: $15-$22

Le Zigoto Café
Comptoir
ARTICLE - 4 septembre 2008
Olivier Pratte / VOIR
http://www.voir.ca/publishing/article.aspx?zone=1&section=21&article=60252

photo: Dominic Gauthier

Pierre Bouthillier et Laurance Chediac, les deux copropriétaires du `le Zigoto`, ont parcouru Montréal à la recherche du meilleur café qui soit. Ils ont eu leurs habitudes dans plusieurs repaires de la ville. Il y a cinq mois, ils ont ouvert un café à leur mesure sur l'avenue du Parc et décidé de devenir les habitués de leur propre local. Le couple sert de l'excellent café équitable et biologique à prix raisonnable:
2,45 $ pour une petite tasse de café au lait ou de cappuccino et 2,00 $ pour un espresso. Leur cuisine, quant à elle, est simple et fraîche. On aime les "sandwichs-breakfasts" - des omelettes enveloppées dans deux tranches de pain de campagne - garnis notamment de fromage de chèvre, d'herbes fraîches, de tomates et d'huile d'olive (5,75 $), les muffins et brownies faits sur place, les soupes et paninis originaux. Parmi ceux-ci, notons le panini de hummus, tomates, oignons et herbes et le panini de poulet, oignons, poivron rouge, mayo, aneth et coriandre. Adeptes de la scène artistique locale, les propriètaires organisent souvent des concerts intimes de musiciens et chanteurs montréalais dans leur café.
Ouvert de 8 h à 19 h du lundi au vendredi, de 9 h à 18 h le samedi et de 9 h à 16 h le dimanche. http://www.lezigotocafe.blogspot.com/
5731, avenue du Parc
Tél.: 514 867-9005

`le Zigoto` café is available for private celebrations, soirées, CD launches, vérnissages, company events or private parties, filming ....etc.

We also cater for small groups (up to 40 persons) and have a delicious and varied menu, including many vegan choices. What will be on the menu may be left entirely up to you or we are also always ready with plenty of delicious and wholesome suggestions! Be sure that if you chose us, you will be in for a treat infused with the herbs and spices of the Mediterannean and one of Montreal`s BEST organic & Fair Trade coffees!References from Greenpeace`s Toronto and Montreal offices are available upon request.

For reservations please contact Laurance at (514) 867-9005.

CLASSIC BREAKFASTS a la `le Zigoto` will also be served on the weekends starting in September (9-3 Saturday and Sunday). Come taste eggs + as you never have before! It`s like East meets West and so tasty at that!

`le Zigoto`café est un café exclusif qui se distingue des ses pairs, il possède une touche culturelle sans pareil et une convivialité très apparente.

Au `le Zigoto`café, l’ambiance est sereine et paisible, les hôtes sympathiques juste ce qu’il faut de musique et la nourriture simple mais bien relevée en ne sacrifiant rien sur les ingrédients de qualités. Venez et essayez notre Omelette sandwich pour déjeuner ou servie tout au long de la journée. De plus, nos muffins, biscuits et brownies sont faits maison. Nous servons également des bagels, panninis, soupes, salades, un plat VEGAN du jour et autres surprises qui changent selon notre humeur. Pour ce qui est de notre café, c’est le meilleur café équitable et biologique du voisinage. Ce qui ne laisse pas le choix aux amateurs de revenir fréquemment pour leur dose quotidienne. !

Ce n’est pas tout, pour ceux qui aiment admirer un peu d’art nous avons toujours un peintre en permanence exposant ses œuvres. De plus, nous vous encourageons à contribuer avec vos idées en organisant avec nous différent types de soirées touchant le domaine culturel ; poésie, art, musique, raconteur, partage d’expérience de voyage, environnement, des sujets sociaux…etc.


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About `le Zigoto`café

We are a cozy family owned cultural community café located in the heart of the Mile End which sells organic fair-trade coffee, delicious food and promotes local arts, music and culture.

`le Zigoto` café is a refuge which intrigues and quenches the eyes, soul and tastes of all who linger in this special place. We wish to share with all of you its serenity, beauty, fine comfort food, organic fairtrade coffee, teas, home baked muffins and brownies and environmental consciousness (with many of our furniture and lighting coming from antique shops, ecotainer to go cups, our floor using reclaimed or recycled wood...etc).

We also wish to create a place of sharing and will feature local culture in many of its forms; painting, sculpture, lanterns, pottery, spoken word, poetry , music.......

At `le Zigoto` café we serve healthy, simple and extremely tasty foods with a variety of vegetarian dishes and a vegan dish of the day as well. We also serve the best fair trade, organic coffee in the hood, delicious and innovative home baked goodies using wholewheat flower, brown sugar to its minimum and interesting ingredient combos(muffins, brownies, loaves...etc.), tasty grilled breakfast sandwiches, panninis, refreshing salads garnished with herbs, tasty soups, unique summer drinks, the most exotic artisanal chocolates I have ever tasted by http://www.blackflowerchocolate.com/ and more to come with the sunny skies!!!

We are also informing those who drop by to know that we are open to ideas which would result in organizing interesting talks or events together. Maybe you have some art work you would like displayed, music to be performed, poetry to be recited, a danse performed or have travelled somewhere interesting, read a great book, have community concerns or would like to simply suggest an activity, or you would like to organise a private event at `le Zigoto`(Birthday, Anniversary...etc.) then please do not hesitate to contact me at the above mentioned email.

Please note that `le Zigoto`café is available for private events, special occassions or company parties (Christmas parties, launches, training…etc.). Please contact Laurance for more information or bookings. (514) 867-9005.

We look forward to welcoming you into our second home.........

…Cities are a product of time. They are the moulds in which men’s lifetimes have cooled and congealed, giving lasting shape, by way of art, to monuments that would otherwise vanish with the living and give no means of renewal or wider participation behind them. In the city, time becomes visible: buildings and monuments and public ways, more open than the written record, more subject to the gaze of many men than the scattered artifacts of the countryside, leave an imprint on the minds even of the ignorant or the indifferent. Through the material fact of preservation, time…

``Afternoon Acoustics``
Concert by Goose (Rachel Elliott)
www.myspace.com/goosefeather
Saturday October 17th @ 5pm

Entrance $7 (includes non-alcoholic beverage!!!)
Come and hang out!

Performing with James Finnerty will be some of Montreal`s most talented young musicians and singer-song writers!

Miss Emily Brown www.myspace.com/missemilybrown
Risa Dickens http://www.indyish.com/author/risa
James Lamb www.myspace.com/jamiealpaca
Jean-Fred Lizotte
http://www.last.fm/music/James+Finnerty/Letters+In+a+Book+-+Single
Marcus Lobb www.villavillanola.com/demos/category/burial-song
Daniel Isaiah Schachter http://www.myspace.com/dischachter

More info. to follow re Sarah Pearson`s concert at `le Zigoto`café.....a wonderful intimate evening of song and music!

The scheduled date is for Sunday June 15th at 8pm and we are definitely looking forward to kick start our cultural events with Sarah! Her voice is simply enchanting! Please do come and join us for a memorable evening!

Light and shadow play a key role in creating mood, emotion and depth in all the artwork I create.

My current body of work reveals my perceptions, responses and experiences with nature. I feel exuberant and excited about the pattern of shapes that emerge from these observations. I’m exploring my ongoing love and fascination with colour and the portrayal of three-dimensional forms through light and shade.

Light and shadow describe the transience of all botanical life. The different light sources, represent flowers and plants as living beings in the precise state in which I witness them. The cycle of all botanical life reminds me of my own childhood memories of a garden enriched with flowers and trees.

My paintings usually start with a few ideas in drawing, colour use and composition. I begin by taking photographs and sketching botanical forms from observation.

While I use many different mediums, materials and techniques in my art process, my favourite mediums are oil paint and soft pastel. What I like best about painting with these mediums is the methodical process of creation through technique, colour and layering and the surprises that emerge.

http://www.maralart.com/

Artist Statement

``The main obsession has been with the act of painting itself. It is the constant research into paints and mediums, brushwork, colour, composition, rendering, and light which fuels my work. As much as I see beauty in technique and harmony, I am content to allow the existence of elements which are purely expressive, awkward, or unsettling. Distortions of form and color blur the line between reality and fiction. The meaning of a specific work or series evolves over time. My way of working involves observation, intuition, and feeling.

In my most recent works the content has arisen by observing and contrasting central figures and their surroundings. The varying degrees of realism and abstraction reflect the myriad of feelings which have arisen in reaction to the present day condition of the natural world, the quality of the relationships we have with nature, ourselves, and with others around us. ``


http://www.heididaehlerart.blogspot.com/

Previous Events....James Finnerty - EP Release w/ Special Guests March 26th @ 7:30pm (please see above poster)Keep your eyes posted for a Flamenco dance and music concert this May! The floor will be on fire soon!
We hosted a private event with God Speed and Mt. Zion on Thursday January 29th. youtube has a brief segment under Jerusalem in my Heart or le Zigoto. It was FANTASTIC! with a crowd of about 65 people!
Visit Youtube and type ``Jerusalem in my Heart``
Friday December 5th @ 9pm Crombez (Manu Crombez à la voix et la guitar acoustique, Julie Boivin au violon, Jean-Olivier Goyette à la guitar électrique et Étienne Lebel au trombone.
Saturday Oct. 25th @ 8pm / Doors 7:30pmMusique instrumentale saveur Flamenco.Shannon Quessy et Jean-Sébastien Vielleux sur guitar et Francis Mercier sur percussion. .

August 2nd @ 8pm
Charlotte Cornfield w/ Dan FM

August 30th @ 8pm
James Finnerty & Charlotte Cornfield
http://www.myspace.com/jamesfinnertymusichttp://www.myspace.com/charlottecornfield

Sept. 13th @ 8pm Alison Notkin
http://www.myspace.com/alisonnotkin

Sept. 20th @ 8pm
James Finnerty & Alison Notkin

Sept. 27th @ 8pm
Sarah Pearson & Guest http://www.myspace.com/sarahpearsonmusic

Oct. 31 - Halloween Night! Montreal Mile End Collective Presents an evening around Love Sufi Stories.............Words, Music, and Dance from the world of the mystic east.Readings from Hafiz, Rumi, JilaniLive Sufi Music:Sacred drumming, songs of love and seperation, the dance of the whirling dervishes.Come share an evening of warmth, fun, and community.

Friday Nov. 7th @ 8pm Kit Sodden & Guest

Rencontre Maman et BébéMommy & Baby Coffee/Tea Time at `le Zigoto`café ! Chaque Mardi & Jeudi/Every Tuesday & Thursday3:00-5:30pm

Friday August 8th at 8pm `le Zigoto` café `Les Troubles Tetes`will perform a theatrical public reading of `L`Impromptu dÒutremont`by Michel Tremblay in French. Entrance is free.Come and support our fresh young talent!

Tyler Rauman -February 16- March 1st
Amazingly talented poster artist! His works will transport you to an imaginary world of colour, prints and beauty!


Anne De Billy du 16 octobre au 16 Février
Anne Billy expose des encres et fusain au café `le Zigoto`.A wonderful exhibit of Anne`s work will be on display from October 16th -January 16th.

July 11-August 18 (Don`t miss it! ON SHOW NOW!!!)`le Zigoto`café presents photos by Marcel Mueller (Swiss born photographer based in Mtl.) , covering travels to Burma and other exotic destinations. His trips around the world have led him to Asia, Africa, the Middle East and more, where he has gathered a wealth of images which transport us to a different place, cultue and time. He treats us to a glimpse of the world around us and sheds light on a world that is intimately his own. http://www.dirxions.com/Marcel will also be doing a presentation relating to the exhibit on Sunday July 20th at 8pm. Come and join us for an interesting evening of stories, music and more photos!

Note Spécial......Geneviève Oligny et ses Lanternes magiquesLa lanterne de collection : De la préhistoire à aujourd’hui, Maison de la culture Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, (514) 872-1730à Montréal, du 17 juin au 15 août, http://www.lactualite.com/