Big vacation getaways are grand, but when money’s tight and your schedule’s even tighter, treat yourself to an extended 4-day weekend and take off on a mini break . My favourite destination for such an occasion: Montreal . In between the great shopping and the novelty of hearing “la la this” and “le le that” there are great food destinations and discoveries entrenched in this city, no matter the time of year. Here is a quick highlight reel from my recent trip: Au Pain Dore 1415 rue Peel If it’s fresh-baked goods you’re after, then you’re in luck. The boulangerie chain known as Au Pain Dore has several locations throughout the Montreal area and stocks a selection of fresh breads, tarts, pastries and sweets. It’s a good thing the location on Peel St. also has a small café sitting area on the second floor so you can inhale your treats without having to head back to the hotel. Bistro Le Contemporain 185, Sainte-Catherine Ouest Get your art fix and fill your tummy at the Museum of Contemporary Arts resto, Le Contemporain. Housed on the second floor landing it is a chic little nook of a resto that features lovely bistro fare highlighted by artisanal cheeses and salmon. The service is parfait and the atmosphere is charming (even if the current construction on St. Catharine is a bit of an eye sore—flip through your museum guide to distract yourself). Renaud-Bray 150, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest One of the only bookstores that stock all French books, Renaud-Bray also has a great selection of cookbooks for you to peruse. They had a lot of favourites as well as some titles I’m not familiar with, but are big hits in the French-speaking world. For instance, Sexy: Cuisiner pour deux c aught my eye immediately (the accompanying picture of Louis-Francois Marcotte didn’t hurt either!). Suite 88 Chocolatier 1225 de Maisonneuve West Surrender to the sweetness that this stylish shop offers in the form of truffles, chocolate dipped-snacks and decadent gelatos. One of their most sought-after products is “Les Shooters,” hallowed chocolate cones that are filled with premium liqueurs like Absolut Mandarin and Hypnotique. You need to upgrade your Flash Player to 9 or greater View Spotlight: Montreal Mini-Break in a larger map Related: Spotlight: Forging Ahead with Good Food, Hamilton Spotlight: Florence for Food Lovers

Recognized as one of the best restaurants in Quebec and "the planet", according to chef and author Anthony Bourdain , Au Pied de Cochon is owned by the award-winning chef Martin Picard . Located in the Plateau-Mont Royal neighbourhood, "Of Pig's Foot" is a must-eat Montreal destination. Picard, who's also the host of The Wild Chef , combines traditional Southern French cuisine with an inspired, Quebecois twist. Go hungry, prepare to indulge, and get ready to slip into a well-deserved food-induced coma (my boyfriend and I succumbed to slumber as soon as we got back to the hotel). Well-priced, our bill was less than $130 for seven gorgeous dishes and a bottle of medium-priced wine. The room isn't overly large and it smells delicious upon entry with a bustling vibe (reservations are highly recommended) and friendly, knowledgeable, bilingual service. Check out the photo gallery below to read about what we ate and to see it in all its delicious glory. You need to upgrade your Flash Player to 9 or greater View Larger Map Au Pied de Cochon 536 Duluth Est Montreal, Quebec (514) 281-1114 Related: Glow Fresh Grill and Wine Bar, Toronto Bewitch Your Taste Buds in Buffalo More Montreal posts Alicia Cox is a food-loving producer for HGTV.ca who can't get that tartlet out of her head.

There are few things that get the day started better than freshly brewed coffee and a glass of pressed orange juice served alongside two eggs Benedict . The decadence of a perfectly poached egg topped with a smooth, velvety lemon and butter sauce is one of the best ways to begin the weekend. These restaurants are my three favorite Montreal brunch spots : they all serve up their own style of eggs Benedict, good karma, and a guaranteed line-up after 10AM. Bagel Etc. 4320 Boulevard Saint-Laurent (514) 845-9462 For those who enjoy breakfast on a smaller scale, Bagel Etc is a local favourite, tucked in among the shops and restaurants on St. Laurent Street. The restaurant is intimate and bustling, with bright colored walls, and a myriad of anachronistic decorations that oddly meddle quite well with one another. The restaurant is bursting with kitsch, in the most charming of ways. This place hits a soft spot because the eggs Benedict are served atop a toasted bagel. Try the goat cheese, tomato and spinach bagel with its homemade potatoes; it’s the perfect way to enjoy the dish. The trademark hollandaise sauce tastes light and airy (although let’s not fool ourselves, it’s in fact anything but!) and is the finishing touch that completes an amazing brunch. L'Avenue Restaurant 922 Avenue Du Mont-Royal Est (514) 523-8780 L’Avenue is one of those perfect brunch places. Big comfortable booths (if you’re lucky enough to get one!), multicolored graffitied walls and anything you could possibly want for breakfast with no misses. The potatoes are absolutely amazing. They are served in little red marmites, and are definitely one of the highlights of the restaurant… as are their eggs Benedict. They twist up the classic with Chorizo Eggs Benedict (with chorizo, onions and red peppers), and Steak and Eggs (with flank steak and mushrooms), but my all-time favourite is their Sucre Sale. If you’re like me, you get torn by indecisiveness at breakfast at the prospect of having to choose between a sweet or savoury dish. Here, you get the best of both worlds with a perfectly moist French toast, maple syrup, gruyere cheese and black forest ham (I substituted the ham for a few slices of crisp bacon and couldn’t have been happier). Eggspectations 1313 De Maisonneuve West (514) 842-3447 Sure, it’s a chain and franchises have popped up in most cities around the country, but their eggs Benedict have never failed me. Their Florentine Eggs...