Around Montreal’s Dining Table: A Discussion with Beautys Luncheonette and Restaurant Beba

At Beautys Luncheonette in the heart of the Plateau, patrons are treated to breakfast favourites like the classic “Mish-Mash” omelette, bagels & lox sandwiches, or homemade pancakes. Since opening in 1942 in Montreal’s Jewish garment district, Beautys has become a beloved family-owned staple, now in its third generation. Down in Montreal’s southwestern neighbourhood of Verdun, a newer restaurant shows us how diasporic traditions can be created with dishes that speak to layers of history and innovation. Restaurant Beba, owned by brothers Ari and Pablo and opened in 2019, focuses on Argentinian cuisine that uses flavours from the country’s Spanish and Italian communities, altogether crafting a menu that is inspired by their global origins and the local culinary domain.

On October 4, join us for a virtual roundtable discussion with Larry and Elana Sckolnick of Beautys Luncheonette, and Ari Schor of Restaurant Beba. Moderated by food historian Lara Rabinovitch, we will chat about how these restaurants – one that has been around for three generations and another for nearly three years – use their family’s traditions and personal experiences to bring light to contemporary Jewish cuisine and culture in Montreal.

To add to your experience, all registrants will receive a discount on dine-in or takeout at both participating restaurants. More details to come upon registration and during the event.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is free and registration is required ahead of time on JLive. Click here to register. You will receive a link to join this virtual event upon registration and before the event is scheduled to begin.

We thank the support of the Nussia and Andre Aisenstadt Foundation, the Jewish Community Foundation, and Federation CJA for making this event possible.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:

Larry Sckolnick:
Hymie ”Beauty” and Freda Sckolnick took over the Bancroft Stationery Store in 1942 and quickly grew it into a popular neighbourhood coffee shop. Their son Larry joined them in the business in the late 1960s and developed the coffee shop into Beauty’s Luncheonette. Under Larry’s guidance, Beauty’s has become a Montreal institution, famous around the world for the quality and authenticity of its food and its warm and welcoming ambience.

Elana Sckolnick runs Beautys Luncheonette alongside her father Larry and her sister Julie. After graduating from McGill University, Elana spent more than ten years working in marketing and philanthropic development. She joined the family business in 2005 for the unique opportunity to work with her father and grandfather Hymie, and is proud to continue her family’s passion for food and hospitality into the next generation.

Ari Schor is the chef and co-owner of Restaurant Beba. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ari moved with his family to Winnipeg, Manitoba at age 13 and, soon after, at age 16, began working in kitchens. After moving to Montreal in 2012, he spent six years as the chef de cuisine at Liverpool House, part of the Joe Beef group of restaurants. In 2019, Ari left Liverpool House to open Restaurant Beba with his brother, Pablo. Beba is the culmination of all of Ari and Pablo’s experiences with food, both in fine dining and around the family table. Ari lives in Montreal with his wife, Ashley, and daughter, Isabel.

Lara Rabinovitch is a writer and specialist in Jewish food history. Her PhD covered Romanian immigration to New York City and Montreal, and she has since consulted for a variety of companies and organizations such as Google and the Skirball Cultural Center In Los Angeles, where she is Co-Curator of the upcoming national exhibition on the history and culture of Jewish delicatessen. She was a producer on the Sundance/IFC film “City of Gold,” about the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jonathan Gold, and you can also find Lara’s writing in the Los Angeles Times, Saveur magazine, the Globe & Mail and other media outlets.