Meet a Montrealer: Anne-Marie Withenshaw

One of the most recognizable names on the Montréal media landscape, popular television and radio host Anne-Marie Withenshaw has long been an unofficial ambassador for the city’s thriving arts and cultural scenes. No longer: Withenshaw is official now as the 2015 ambassador for the annual MTL à TABLE restaurant event, 11 days of gourmet festivities and culinary discovery at 159 restos across Montréal, October 29 to November 8.

Like Withenshaw doesn’t have enough on her plate(s), she also co-hosts TV show À couteaux tirés with world-renowned Montréal chef Chuck Hughes. It pits two top-shelf Québécois chefs against each other in a friendly, albeit crazy and unpredictable, competition each week. The program airs on CASA TV every Monday (5:30 pm), Thursday (9:30 pm) and Saturday (12:30 and 6 pm). We caught up with the food- and life-loving Withenshaw in between shooting.

What’s the coolest, most interesting thing you’ve done so far this year?

“I guess probably raise a toddler. It’s funny, my life has really changed a lot since I had a kid. Maybe four or five weeks before I got pregnant I was on tour with Rihanna. I did five cities in five days for [Montréal radio station] The Beat… Now, when I get to go out for like one concert a week, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m free!’ …But I’m happy because I have a cool husband who helps a lot and it’s really interesting and cool to rediscover life and the city through a two-year-old’s eyes.”

What’s the next big thing you’re planning?

“It’s the beginning of the TV season so I’m not planning anything because we just began, but I just started season nine of C’est juste de la TV [ICI ARTV], which is super cool. And the same goes for À couteaux tirés, which is in its second season and we’re already planning season three.

À couteaux tirés looks ridiculously fun to make – what’s your favourite thing about doing it?

“Oh my God, it’s so many things! But my favourite thing is doing it in front of a live audience because it really gives it that ‘fight’ feel… My other favourite part is shooting it with Chuck at Garde Manger, which sort of feels like home because that’s where we shot every episode of Chuck’s Day Off, which I produced, and Chuck is one of my best friends and we have kids the same age. We shoot two episodes a day on Mondays and in between episodes we eat supper at the restaurant with the kids and it’s just a fun family vibe. While at the same time being full of knives and fire and alcohol [laughs].”

What do you love about MTL à TABLE?

“The reason it really speaks to me is because I hosted a TV show for six seasons called Guide Resto Voir, so I got to eat at all these restaurants. People would always say, ‘You’re so lucky!’ and I loved sharing my favourite finds, but I know people have limited budgets and when they do go they want it to be really good and worth their hard-earned money. So I think MTL à TABLE is a really cool way to give people who are maybe on a tighter budget access to a great restaurant, and it’s also a great discovery system.”

What’s your favourite MTL à TABLE restaurant?

“I have a lot. I love restaurants like Mercuri. The chef is a Montréal legend, all the young Montréal chefs look up to him. I’ve also rediscovered Brasserie T! , which I think is a great option if you’re in the Quartier des Spectacles. People should also check out the three-course meal at Birks Café because it’s $21 and Birk’s makes you feel fancy. And definitely go to Brasserie Centrale because Paolo, the owner, is one of my favourite people in the whole world.”

Where do you like to go for drinks and socialize with friends?

“Since it’s been open, I think the old standby for my group of friends has always been Buvette Chez Simone on Park Avenue. Just because when we meet we tend not to have the same schedules, so the people who haven’t eaten can eat, and the people who just want to drink can drink. They’re a restaurant that’s just not bothered by that. They have great wines and their food is amazing so I’m always there.”

What’s the one thing anyone visiting Montréal should absolutely do?

“Whenever I have friends from out of town and they visit Outremont and Mile End they’re like, ‘Wow! This is amazing!’ So start a walk in Mile End under the pretext of getting a Montréal bagel, then you can distract them with the bagel and bring them all the way along Fairmount to Outremont Park, and then walk on Bernard and stop at Lester’s Deli. I think these neighbourhoods should be part of every trip to Montréal.”