Norman Expats Invade Montreal With Caribou Gourmand Bistro

Months after the shutter of L'Atelier, the Mile End BYOW has been remade as Caribou Gourmand by Inès and Guillaume Paimparay, a couple from Normandy, France. The bistro, now open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, serves seasonal cuisine with Quebec and Norman influences. Aged 26 and 27, respectively, the Paimparays come to the project with eight years of restaurant experience under their belts. Guillaume Paimparay says they were sufficiently enticed by Quebec's warmth and friendliness to settle here three years ago. The chef started in the kitchen at Decca 77, helped open the Nuns' Island outpost of Les Enfants Terribles with S'Arto Chartier-Otis and Guillaume Belisle, and worked the grill at Steak Frite/Steak House Village, before moving on to various catering gigs.

The couple took over the Saint-Laurent boulevard space at the beginning of April and opened in earnest this week. “Me and my wife are pretty simple, and humble people,” says Paimparay. “My food isn't pretentious [see menus below]. I work with simple, fresh, and local products as much as possible. I try to contribute to the life and spirit of the neighbourhood, and work with merchants in the area. Our objective isn't to be number one in Montreal, but a good restaurant that offers quality food at a reasonable price.”

Status: Caribou Gourmand, 5308 Saint-Laurent, corner Maguire, (438) 387-6677. Now open Wednesday to Friday for lunch, Tuesday to Sunday for dinner, and weekends for brunch.

[Menu images courtesy Caribou Gourmand]