Notice to curious palates: a first Romanian street food counter has opened in Montreal. Comforting for the Romanian diaspora, surprising for Quebecers: Mici d’Ici makes the (tasty) promise to merge the two culinary cultures.
Longtime friends Radu Iosif and David Ponce had no restaurant experience when they went head first into the project. But they shared a contagious passion for food and a common love of micis!
A popular dish in Romania (Radu Iosif, who ate it all his youth, can attest to this), mici is a mixture of grilled meat (often made from lamb, pork and beef) that stands out for its savory taste and its texture juicier than that of a sausage. According to restaurateurs, it is the perfect dish to introduce Romania to the plate of Quebecers.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LAPRESSE
Inspiration section. First Romanian street food restaurant. Mici ici is the first Romanian street food restaurant in Montreal. Portrait of two founders, David Ponce and Radu Iosif (glasses). Image of the restaurant and their iconic dish, the mici served here as a sandwich.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LAPRESSE
Inspiration section. First Romanian street food restaurant. Mici ici is the first Romanian street food restaurant in Montreal. Portrait of two founders, David Ponce and Radu Iosif (glasses). Image of the restaurant and their iconic dish, the mici served here as a sandwich.
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PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, LAPRESSE
Inspiration section. First Romanian street food restaurant. Mici ici is the first Romanian street food restaurant in Montreal. Portrait of two founders, David Ponce and Radu Iosif (glasses). Image of the restaurant and their emblematic dish, the mici served here as a sandwich.
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“The idea was to introduce something that is instantly delicious. If you like meat, you’re going to like it, ”summarizes David Ponce.
And for Romanian customers, who sometimes travel to Sainte-Thérèse or Terrebonne to get their hands on one of the precious micis, each bite brings it home. “There are one or two traditional Romanian restaurants in Quebec, but a street food like this, it is the first. To have a representation on the Quebec culinary scene in a modern way like that, they go crazy! », Notes David Ponce.
If mici is traditionally eaten alone, with mustard and fries, restaurateurs have also made a sandwich (and even a poutine!). On the menu, it is also possible to try the kieftele, a fried Romanian meatball made of pork, potatoes and onion. Also offered in its Quebec version, in a brioche bread.
19, avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montreal
Visit the Mici d’Ici website