| 1, 2006 | | | | brothers Manny and Peter also work with him in |
| After my official Montreal bike tour, my individual | | | | the business. At 40 years of age John is the |
| explorations of the Lachine Canal and my chat | | | | oldest, and the two other brothers are each five |
| with André from Ça Roule, I | | | | years apart. John says that Manny is the people |
| decided to go for a little stroll to explore | | | | person and today Manny was seating customers, |
| Montreal’s Port area which was hustling | | | | tryig to keep up with the sheer onslaught of |
| and bustling with celebrations on this Canada Day. | | | | customers that were just streaming into |
| I strolled out on Jacques Cartier Pier to an | | | | Galiano’s. |
| outdoor concert stage where two well-known | | | | Manny is also the man with the creative ideas and |
| Canadian singers, Kim Richardson and Sylvie | | | | he was the one that came up with the idea for |
| Desgroseillers were enchanting the audience with | | | | lounge area and some of the new decorating |
| Mo-Town and R&B melodies. | | | | styles featured at Galianos. Another new idea is |
| I walked east and happened onto a huge | | | | to use a small balcony area above the entrance |
| playground area on the little island in the Bassin | | | | door as a location for a DJ or some live music. |
| Bonsecours that was a family entertainment zone. | | | | And a wine cellar next to the entrance is |
| Kids were sliding up and down and in and out of a | | | | presently under construction and will be opened in |
| whole variety of huge inflatable slides. Freestyle | | | | the near future. |
| skiers were jumping off a large ramp and | | | | John has a lot of experience in the hospitality |
| performing summersaults and various aerial | | | | industry: he started working in the restaurant |
| acrobatics. The whole area was packed with | | | | business at age 14 and has worked his way up all |
| people enjoying themselves on a beautiful | | | | the way from the bottom. He even ran a food |
| summer day. I walked up Place Jacques Cartier | | | | warehouse for McGill University which included |
| and into a small pedestrian street called Rue des | | | | restocking the vending machines and was a |
| Amables which is full of portrait artists and | | | | waiter at three different restaurants prior to |
| galleries. At the end of this little street I found my | | | | opening Galiano's. John added that he still thinks like |
| dinner destination: Galiano’s. | | | | an employee and because of his hands-on |
| Galiano’s is located in a 200 year-old | | | | experience he always treats his staff members |
| building on a small cobble-stoned street in Old | | | | with respect. His working style is very hands-on, |
| Montreal. Formerly a "boîte à | | | | he says that today he will be calling out the |
| chanson" it opened its doors eight years ago. The | | | | orders in his kitchen and preparing them for the |
| restaurant stretches over two floors with an | | | | waiters. |
| open area in the middle and a wooden staircase | | | | Galiano’s is known for its Italian cuisine and |
| leading up to the second floor with seating on an | | | | its generous portion sizes. Everything is made |
| interior balcony. The street-side patio adds | | | | from scratch at Galiano’s. John mentioned |
| additional seating capacity and ambience to this | | | | their signature dishes: Scaloppini alla Veronica, their |
| rustic restaurant. | | | | Antipasto Misto, a Filetto Tre Sapori, home made |
| Always a big fan of Italian cuisine, I was looking | | | | Lasagna as well as their Quattro Stagioni Pizza. |
| forward to a filling meal after a day packed with | | | | John recommended that I try Galiano’s |
| exercise and activities. The whole area around the | | | | Calamari Fritti. Just about 10 minutes after my |
| restaurant and Old Montreal in general was | | | | order a steaming plate of juicy and tasty calamari |
| absolutely hustling and bustling with people and | | | | arrived, the perfect introduction to a filling meal. I |
| everyone was in good spirits, ready to celebrate | | | | followed it up with a Galiano Salad: a huge plate of |
| since it was Canada Day. Street performers were | | | | salad with cold cuts and cheese. John |
| entertaining the crowd. At just before 6 pm it | | | | wasn’t kidding when he talked about huge |
| was still a bit early and I was fortunate to find a | | | | portion sizes! |
| seat in the lounge area of the restaurant that | | | | John of course had to get back to work after |
| features several tables flanking an arrangement | | | | our little chat, but I thoroughly enjoyed my |
| of leather couches in front of the fireplace. | | | | evening meal and by the time I was finished, the |
| For a few minutes I was able to catch the | | | | lineup was stretching all the way out the door and |
| owner, John Tsinas, to find out more about this | | | | down the street. Galiano’s is obviously a |
| culinary establishment. John is part of | | | | favourite destination for many in Old Montreal and |
| Montreal’s famous Antonopoulos family | | | | for me it was a great starting point for my |
| that owns a variety of hospitality restaurants and | | | | evening discoveries which would include the official |
| hotels in Old Montreal. His uncles are silent partners | | | | Canada Day Celebrations and a big concert in the |
| in Galiano’s. John’s younger | | | | Old Port of Montreal. |