The good weather has arrived heralding the start of summer and being able to enjoy an aperitif on a patio after the long winter months, is one of the unique joys of the sunny season…
Here’s our guide to getting the most out of a relaxing cocktail hour (typically 5 to 7 p.m.) on the terrace of the OMG Resto!
Do you know where the tradition of the aperitif—colloquially called “apéro” in French—comes from? This end-of-the-day pre-dinner drink goes all the way back to Antiquity! The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all followed their own version of this ritual.
The word apéritif comes from the Latin "apertivus"—to “open” (as in to “open the appetite”). In ancient times, people drank glasses of wine laced with honey, homebrewed herbal liqueurs, or strange concoctions, in order to warm up or to whet their appetites. This kind of aperitif was considered to be medicinal and was not at all pleasant!
Serving snacks to accompany an aperitif—wine, champagne, brandy—is a more recent custom. It was really after World War II that drinking an aperitif took hold. The cocktail hour became the time of day when people relaxed in the company of friends with a glass of wine or some other drink and nibbled on snacks before dinner.
Of course, nowadays, there are just as many ways to enjoy an aperitif as there are the number of Quebecers!
An aperitif is supposed to stimulate the appetite but not make you feel full, like eating a meal. (Again, to each their own!)
The OMG Resto menu has a good selection of light dishes that go well with an aperitif and are also suitable for sharing. On a hot summer’s day, there are few things better than our new scallop ceviche, our popular salmon tartare, or the fried, peppered calamari.
Want a more substantial starter? Then you can opt for onion rings, chicken wings, or mac ‘n’ cheese fries! If you’re having difficulty in deciding what to choose, we suggest you order the Party Mix, a platter of different starters that you can share with your fellow diners.
And should you want to linger beyond the cocktail hour, then you can always order a burger, something from the grill or one of our signature dishes…..
Traditionally, wine is the drink of choice for an aperitif. We can certainly oblige because we have an excellent wine list!In summer, diners usually prefer a white wine, an orange wine (the colour is produced through maceration) or a crisp rosé. And why not go for a glass of bubbly? That’s what the French do!
Centuries ago, the first alcoholic aperitifs were distilled from juniper berries. That morphed into the drink we know as gin and tonic—the perfect aperitif! Order a G&T from our extensive Gin Bar, which features a variety of gins, many from Quebec.
If you’re more of a cocktail lover, we can come up with plenty of those as well! Try our oh-so-English Pimm’s Cup (a favourite with London pub-goers) or the popular Aperol Spritz, for an aperitif with an Italian touch.
Even although the terrace of the OMG Resto is provided with patio umbrellas to create shade, don’t forget to wear a hat, to slather yourself with sunscreen and to drink plenty of water. The last thing you need is to fall prey to sunburn, heat stroke or dehydration!
Head for our lovely terrace this summer. We will be delighted to welcome you!
