J.H. Karpati

Hey ma, we’re famous! That’s right, these 5 Montreal foods are some of the many that have made the city a happy hub for the hungry. But what are they all about, really? Let’s tuck in. 1. Bagels This baked good of decidedly humble origin has risen from shtetl staple to world-conquering white bread icon over the decades. Whoulda thunk it? But nobody—looking at you, America—does bagels like we do in Montreal. We’re the boss now. The secret? What, you mean besides (deep breath) hand-rolled circles of freshly-risen dough bathed in honey water, rolled in copious amounts of sesame or poppy seeds (GTFO açaí, and take chia with you) and baked on a hearth in a wood-burning oven until burnished with a golden crust with an exquisitely chewy crumb? That’s it? Photograph: Alison Slattery 2. Smoked Meat Carnivores endlessly adore Montreal smoked meat galore. And you know why? Because this town knows how to put the brisket in the basket. Look, we’re gonna be charitable here and point out that basically all cured or smoked or pickled meats are good, from basturma to burnt ends to brontosaurus burgers. But Montreal smoked meat is truly the cure for what ails you. Well, as long as what ails you is a lust for luscious sliced beef piled high on rye bread with ballpark mustard. You can also tear into it by the chunk like a neanderthal, we won’t tell anybody. Just save us a piece. Photograph: Courtesy Yelp/Randy F. 3. Poutine Fun fact for unilingual English-speakers, Vladimir Putin’s last name

Yep, we’ve got a rep. And you know what? That ain’t a bad thing. Well, mostly. Here are 9 of the things Montreal is known for on the international stage. RECOMMENDED: 27 best Montreal attractions for tourists and locals 1. O La La Sure, it cost a bajillion dollars, and has the ambiance of a prison bathroom. But the Olympic Stadium is a distinctive architectural standout that makes our skyline instantly iconic to visitors and residents alike. Photograph: Hélico - Yves Tremblay - Tourisme Montréal 2. Clown Town You don’t need to run away to join the circus, just move here. Not only is Montreal the birthplace and hub of Cirque du Soleil, we also have a circus school here on seemingly every corner. There are more people walking around town on stilts in the summer than on rollerblades. Photograph: Les Jardineries 3. Elite Frites Forget teen culture, this town is most famous for ‘tine culture. Poutine is arguably Montreal’s most famous culinary export. Fries + gravy + squeaky cheese curds is a love triangle better than anything on Euphoria. Photograph: JF Galipeau | Campo, Time Out Market Montréal 4. It’s Snow Joke What’s cooler than being cool? Ice cold. Everyone around the world knows Montreal as one chill and chilly winter wonderland. Snow doubt! Photograph: Shutterstock 5. Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good What can we say? Montrealers are a pulchritudinous bunch. Our climate may be incredibly cold, but — irony alert — we’re also famous for being really, really hot. Guilty a