Just because you’re a mook, doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate good food. For a long time I’ve eaten like a true vagabond. I did it all, from sugar sandwiches to tuna with crackers. That was only because I was broke or too busy getting high in some toots den with an empty fridge. Ever since I could afford food for myself, I’ve always tried to do my best to eat well. I think that food is one of those things worth paying for. It is what keeps you alive and might keep you alive longer if you feed yourself right. It is one of the most essential things in life. If I can afford what I want to eat, I will get it, no questions asked. Why wouldn’t I?

There is a huge difference between having a meal for nourishment and having a meal for entertainment purposes. When you hit Romados and stuff your face with half a chicken, salad and a mountain of fries for less than $10, you are definitely getting your money’s worth. No doubt. When you go to Toque and your bill runs up no less than $150 for a medium size meal, you are paying for something different than quantity. You are paying for quality. You are paying for an ambiance, for the proper wine and service. You are paying to get fed by a reputable culinary artist/designer and a dedicated team that works their ass off. People seem to get these things twisted.

I’ve had sushi in tons of places in Montreal, from Kaizen to the all you can eat spots like Kanda. You either get the heavy rice with plenty of imitation crab and cucumber, or you have to break your wallet for something slightly more original.  It’s rare to come across a place that gives you the best of both worlds. Queen Sushi is one of those gems with an extra twist. If you are like me, once you’ve found that golden spot, you stay loyal. When you are loyal, people tend to notice it and they make sure you come back. That’s the type of relationship I’m looking for when I go out for my food. I could go as far as saying that Queen Sushi is the official Mook-Life spot, or at least one of them. Let me show you why and demonstrate some of these exclusive sushi creations.

Location is key. This place shares a wall with possible one of the most mooked out shake junts in the city. Just think about it: you’ve just had an epic meal and you’re feeling like you own the world. Sex should be the next thing on any healthy man’s mind. You don’t even need to put on your jacket and shit. Just swing from one door to another and the party continues. You know this location is perfect for a mook, plus it got the Ceos stamp of approval.

Inside, Tom and Chef Kevin are putting those hands to work like some true Kung-Fu masters. These guys are artists in every way possible. Not only do they design their own sushi and sauces, the presentations are always on some next level Ghostface extravagantly lavish shit. Peep the science:

Rubie

The squid is so money. I remember going to Queen Sushi for the first time when it was still on Queen Mary. My boy got some generic rolls and let me try some. I had a couple of pieces and it was good, but nothing special. Little did I know, they had a whole specialty section waiting to be discovered. The second time I hit that spot, we got some of these exclusive creations and the shit totally devastated me. I was in a state of shock. It was like I just discovered pussy for the first time. I did not know sushi could be this fresh. This wasn’t your ordinary California rolls, this was something totally out of the ordinary.

Happy Time

Chef Kevin is a crafty mook, to say the least, and he gets real creative with his sushi. From the name to the color of your plate, nothing is overlooked. It’s good to know that the Chef is having fun when he’s cooking for you. Might sound corny and all, but you can taste the love and dedication in a meal, that’s for sure.

Lots of epic night where spent at the Queen. We took over the terrace at the old location one night last summer. No word of  lie, I remember seeing Mickey Rourke chilling at the Russian spot next door with his anorexic model girlfriend, looking hella-bored. I could see the envy in his eyes when he would glance at our table and catch 15 mooks screaming, laughing, eating like kings while chugging down some fine VSOP. I could tell he wanted to join the party. This was right after Ironman 2 came out and nobody even got up to take a picture with him. Fuck that, we was feeling like stars ourselves, he should’ve been asking to take flicks with us. The food, the people, the yak, the nice summer breeze, it was all perfect. Then you got the Chefs and workers wilding out with us, stopping random girls on the street forcing them to down hard liquor. I even remember we almost got in a scuffle with some enraged neighbor from across the street for having too much fun a little past midnight. The idiot ran back to his building like the Road Runner when 5 massive mooks hopped the fence while he was bitching. Legendary Queen Sushi chillings.

Scorpion

Oh La La

Chef Kevin has this gift of placing the right things together. Just like a talented painter, he knows what to throw in the right spot in order to compliment and balance the overall feel of his work of art. A combination of raw fish and fresh fruits, crafted with the old traditions in a new-school sauce. If sushi was graffiti and Chef Kevin was a writer, he would be someone like Rime MSK. Just like Joe, he’s got that solid traditional base to his creations, but he spices it all up with abstract glamor and subtle highlights that make it unique.

Maki Sashimi

This right here is is the ultimate truth. Holy shit is this thing good. An explosion of freshness, followed by rush of seafood flavor. I pity the fool who comes to Queen Sushi and leaves without eating at least one of these.

I forget what this is, but I remember him saying something about a giant sea snail of some sort. Whatever the creature, it was delicious. Chef Kevin always has some off-the-menu exclusive shit he gets for his diehard fans. When you get to know him and frequent the place as much as I do, you get to eat fish you can’t pronounce and animals you didn’t know existed. Every week, he gets something special on the side as a treat and hooks it up at the end when you think it’s all over. You might never eat that thing again, but you will remember it for the rest of your life.

A constant reminder that fun times await next door at the slightest desire.

Oh My God!

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but every dish so far has it’s own sauce. These are specially designed to the needs of each creation. None of these plates are served with that regular-ass soy sauce we’re all used to when we go out for sushi. No way. Just like most quality things, they demand custom care and flavoring. Ain’t no half steppin’.

Blue Ocean

Once you get spoiled by Queen Sushi, there is no going back. Ever since I’ve been eating there, getting sushi anywhere else is a big disappointment. Once you know, you can’t un-know.

Petoncle Pamplemousse

Everything relates at one point in time. Parallels and comparisons could be made for most things you enjoy in life. I like my music the way I like my graffiti; on some cocaine boogie, traditional-futuristic, outlandish fly mafia shit. Same goes for pussy and weed. Why would food be any different? Chef Raekwon and Chef Kevin are one and the same. I appreciate them for the same reasons. Both Chefs are skilled vets, top dogs in what they do. Both Chefs believe in originality, craftsmanship and true artistry when it comes to their art. Both Chefs deliver mouth-watering joints with no fancy ad-libs or fake additives. They make you live and experience  things that are out of the ordinary and very much official. Most of all, they can both cook some good fish. Think about it.

It’s the holidays, stop being a broke faggot and treat yourself to something worth living for. Bring your girl and she will give you that extra sloppy blowjob with the spit and gagging you always wished for. Bring your girlfriend and “accidentally” forget your wallet on some mook shit. Whatever it might be, it’s well worth checking this place out at least once in your life so you can judge for yourself. If you are not going to take advantage of what this city has to offer, do us all a favor and move to some shitty suburb where all they have is McDonald’s, Scores and your occasional dutty Chinese buffet.

Here at Mook-Life, we have a particular philosophy that makes the site what it is. Unlike most of these other blogs, we only endorse what we truly believe in. We won’t tell you to go buy something just because some dude sent us a couple of free t-shirts and stickers for giveaways. It ain’t like that. We do this out of love, we do this out of passion. I won’t be getting any free shit for this article and it’s perfectly fine with me. I just honestly want people to enjoy this city and have fun in it at as much as I do.

For more info about Queen Sushi, visit the website. Catch you there.