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IF YOU GO

Boutique Point G is at 1266 Mount Royal Ave., Montreal; (514) 750-7515; www.boutiquepointg.com.

Maison Thai is at 1351 Mount Royal Ave., Montreal; (514) 529-9000; www.maisonthai.ca/home.php.

David’s Teas is at 1207 Mount Royal Ave., Montreal; (514) 527-1117; www.davidstea.com.

Mount Royal Park, Montreal; (514) 843-8240; www.lemontroyal.qc.ca.

Related Photos

  • Macaroons, traditional almond pastries, are less than $2 a piece at Boutique Point G. Staff Photo / Kelli Catana

    MTL_Under_Fifty1_1-21-12

  • Tom Yum soup and a pair of Asian dishes at Maison Thai in Montreal. Staff Photo / Kelli Catana

    MTL_Under_Fifty3_1-21-12

  • Chef Siv Khon Khay stir-fries dinner for two at Maison Thai in Montreal. Staff Photo / Kelli Catana

    MTL_Under_Fifty10_1-21-1

  • Tea dealer Bonnie Leibel (above) steeps a love potion at David's Teas in Montreal. Macaroons, traditional almond pastries (at left), are less than $2 a piece at Boutique Point G. Staff Photo / Kelli Catana

    MTL_Under_Fifty15_1-21-1

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February 12, 2012

In Montreal, amour is the word

Make a romantic north-of-the-border trip for under $50

SHAUN MALLEY Press-Republican

MONTREAL — The temperature is on the verge of rising, days are getting longer, and chocolate companies are fighting a pitched battle for your hard-earned cash.

Yup, Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

And what better way to spread romance than by packing your passports and venturing on a spontaneous little getaway, all for under $50.

With the greenback at parity with the Loonie, now is the perfect time to visit Montreal. The city has it all: good food, cozy corners and enough old-world charm to make anyone swoon.

For a prime view of the skyline and the quickest route to the next stop, take the Jacques Cartier Bridge into the city.

TASTY TREATS

Driving along the bustling Mount Royal Avenue, keep an eye out for the friendly colors of Boutique Point G.

The shop's macaroons — traditional, lighter-than-air almond pastries — are all the rage. Here, the treats are said to be the most authentic outside of Ladurée, a Parisian bakery to the kings and queens of France.

Pick up two plump, vividly crimson Poppy Macaroons ("cocquelicot" in French) for under $4.

THAI CUISINE

A few doors down, settle into a dinner for two at Maison Thai, where soup, a pair of authentic Asian dishes and a decadent fried banana cost less than $30.

Chef Siv Khon Khay, who jokes that his name means "Handsome Dude" in Thai, is almost constantly wrapped in steam as he stir-fries the restaurant's goodies.

Start with his signature Tom Yum soup, which blends a coconut-rich broth with succulent chunks of fresh pineapple. For an entrée?

"I like the weirder stuff," said restaurant owner Linda Sir. "Lots of lemongrass, basil, sticky rice and mango. The tofu and chicken is my favorite."

TEA FOR TWO

A short walk from Maison Thai is David's Teas.

Take a minute to soak up the heady odors and browse through hundreds of teas. Given the day's theme, opt for Love Tea #7. This tea, laced with romance, is steeped in dark chocolate and red rose petals. Take two to go for a total of $5.

ROYAL ROMANCE

With warm drinks in tow, head for a breathtaking view of the city from the observatory at Mount Royal Park.

Enjoy your teas, snuggle with your Valentine, and drink in the warm glow of city lights — a priceless end to the perfect evening.

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