Didn't know whether to post this in food or North America - if the moderators would rather move it to food, that's fine with me.

I've just picked up the Gourmet special issue on Montréal, and will no doubt have a lot of disagreements and other topics to include!

Found one error already; editor Ruth Reichl is wrong - not all francophone Montréalais speak English by any means (though in the neighbourhoods tourists are likely to visit, most shop clerks and restaurant staffers do).

However, they aren't only concentrating on high-end places, and do seem to be spotlighting ingredients as well as restaurants - essential for slow travellers.

I'll be reading it through, and will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. Indeed we are affordable, whether you are spending Euros or US dollars, as our dollar is worth less, though it has risen with respect to those two heavy-duty currencies.

I'm double-posting here as I want to compile the best university stays in Montréal. There are also good university stays in Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto ... I'll look them up for you someday. These usually provide somewhere to cook. (Have wok, will travel). I started off with the best one for foodies, the residence at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM):

--------------------------------- Thought I'd start off with UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal) the best-located, new residences that have handy facilities. Note that although they have kitchens - (a big money saver) they say no cooking kit is included. So bring some stuff or pick up cheap stuff at nearby Chinatown and dollar stores - far cheaper than eating out.

http://residences-uqam.qc.ca/eng/e_welcome.htm Summer residence René-Lévesque east - this is close to Old Montréal, Chinatown and the lower part of Saint-Denis.

http://residences-uqam.qc.ca/nresinn/nri_welcome.htm A brand-new one, closer to downtown and Place-des-Arts – also halfway up the hill to the Plateau and the mountain.

I chose the English versions as English seems the most common language on this board, but of course everything is available in French, and is better-written.

There are also summer stays possible at the residence of Cégep (Junior and Technical College) du Vieux-Montréal, very close to the UQAM east residence, McGill University (though up the mountain) and Université de Montréal (bucolic and close to a métro station and buses, but far from downtown). I believe there is also a residence connected to Collège Français, a French lycée in the Plateau/Mile-End district. I'll check that out as soon as I get my bicycle out of winter storage.

These residences are a bit more expensive than hostels for one person, but can be a saving for a couple, and are well-suited to families or groups of friends or associates, and you can save a lot of money by being able to cook or eat at home. They are also safer in terms of theft etc than a hostel. Not very party-oriented though, but of course a group can party if it so desires.

Hope that gives other slow travellers ideas. For those in NYC and Boston, it is just a jaunt, obviously idem for Torontonians.