While some people don’t agree with increasing immigration rates in Montreal, others are pledging the amazing qualities of a multicultural society.

And this includes the excellent panoply of ethnically varied food found right in the heart of Quebec.

I’ve lived and visited other major cities in Canada. I spent a lot of time in Vancouver looking for ‘exotic’ food joints at decent prices, but usually ended up hoarding all-you-can-eat sushi and sake. Cheap, ready to go, healthy.

In Montreal, I’ve come to a new realization. ‘Exotic’ food is a staple to any person’s diet. Although prices and quality vary, cheap, different and tasty food is at a hand’s reach in this city where immigration has brought not only new faces, but also new flavors.

Try le Bleu Nil, 3706 Saint Denis St., where Ethiopian food meets candlelit atmosphere, quiet carpeting and African art. A large plate of lamb and chicken stew mopped up in fingerfuls of sour injera bread. 

If you’re a student and living out of a tight pocket, try shopping down St. Catherine Street between Bishop and Atwater. You’ll come across several Middle Eastern food stores with ample supplies for the strapped student: canned hummus and chickpeas for sometimes less $1 and huge sacks of couscous for 10$. You might also stumble upon a small Japanese supermarket where you can find some of the strangest – yet delicious – healthy deserts: seaweed jello and soybean pastries or seaweed for your homemade sushi.

Near the corner of De Maisonneuve and Guy-Concordia, you’ll find Al-Taib, every student’s favorite zatar joint, which serves oven-toasted wraps filled with pickled beets, onions, chicken, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

And these are only a few of my favorites. Lebanese, Indian, Italian, Moroccan, Russian - this city has everything to offer thanks to an accommodating more often than closed collective attitude towards immigration and its incoming innovative entrepreneurs.