Trying Montreal Smoked Meat - Schwartz's vs Dunn's 

I'm from Montreal and I'm very familiar with both restaurant sandwiches and with those brands of smoked meat they sell from the grocery stores. I need to mention, the boxed version they sell everywhere is a very very very different products than what they sell at their restaurant. And I'm not saying that because I'm a snob or because I think smoked meat shouldn't be sold in a plastic package. Quite the opposite actually, Schwart'z even sell at their restaurant meat to go in a airtight plastic package, and it's fine, it's clearly the same meat they sell "fresh". Same cut, same taste and texture. However the grocery store version is just not the same product. My guess is that a generic smoked meat brand bought the right to use the name. It's not the same meat cut, it's not the same texture, and it's not even the same spices. Even Dunn's grocery smoked meat is very different than the restaurant. Basically it's purely a brand thing, but I garantee that both products are produced without any relation to the restaurants and their recipe. I wouldn't even be surprised that both are actually from the same company.

Dunn's smoked meat on rye with mustard and a cherry coke then a Habs game is the best time you will ever have in Montreal

In the 70’s Montreal, we had Coorsh “Boil in the bag” smoked meat just like that. The flavour is good but the texture is WAY off. Hard to chew. They stopped selling it because it was awful. You need to get the real deal and it’s worth the wait to make the trip. When I take out smoked meat, I steam the meat on the stove to rejuvenate the meat. It’s the only way to eat it. Fresh from the steamer.

Schwartz’s smoked meat is the best Montreal smoked meat! Dunn’s is a commercial version of smoked meat, less spices. Schwartz’s is the best in their restaurants!!

Hello, each pack is fot only on sandwish...do not split de bag for 2 or four sandwishes... and take a cherry cola for the full experience....where ares the pickles ans the marinated Red Pepper! ?

We had Schwartz's cater a club dinner and it was great. Their employee sliced it from a steaming hot brisket for each person.

i was in montreal last week and went to both, Schwartz first then Dunn's. Both are delicious but i prefer Dunn's.

The lack of smoked meat in the bun is disturbing! IT’S smoked meat after all. PILE IT UP👍

If I recall correctly, these smoked meat pouches were available from the supermarket in downtown Montreal as early as the mid 50's.

eating levitts watching this lol its very good mtl'er here too

Actually, they differ quite a bit when cooked and used right. The "schwartz's" one is less fatty, has a rougher texture and a has more spice (in quote because that is just another supplier using their name for franchising, the same with dunn's) . Dunn's one is smoother, almost like ham (In fact I can see that difference here in this video too). You can try a the smoker basket in the rice cooker to steam the pouches, which will minimize the water getting through and washing away the flavor, and just use a little bit of mustard.

looks great guys!. i might try this next time i go to costco :)

I never comment on any videos... I will never understand why people are so mad and pressed over a food review.... WTF. Good job on the review even though i'm 4 years late. People get so salty for no reason. I've eaten at both places no shit the bagged version will be worse but that's their opinion between the bagged version.

Sadly, no more Dunn's in Vancouver. COVID was it's killer.

I have been to Montreal many times........ Scwartz's was ok, got food poisoning at Reuben's....... Dunn's was by far the best! Best bang for your dollar out of the three restaurants.....

When it comes to the actual place in Montreal I prefer Schwatrz's although there is nothing wrong with Dunn's. However when it comes to this pre-packaged thing I have to go with Dunn's. The Schwartz's just doesn't work for me.

This is the most unforgettable video thus far

before Celine and Hubby got ahold of this great restaurant, there was only ONE location for this great speciality and it was on St Laurent BLVD and quality control had a place in the making of it. now tons of this is produced for other locations just for $$$$$

These two could make me stop eating Montreal Smoked Meat.

Which grocery store and what province did you purchase the Schwartz’s? Dunn’s is good but Schwartz’s is great.

having eaten both in Montreal the bagged stuff is not really the same... however since I'm nowhere near Montreal and getting any shipped is ridiculous expensive.. this will do... At least I've found someone local that does bagels that taste like Fairmonts.. (wish they were better ones like St Viatour but it's better then nothing..

You two are adorable

I like Dunn's better by far

THERE IS A DVD MADE ESPECIALLY FOR SCHWARTZ CALLED "CHEZ SCHWARTZ" IN TI THE OWNER AT THAT TIME A MR. DIAMOND AND FRANK SILVA THE GEN. MANAGER DISCUSSED OTHER LOCATIONS FOR THIS RESTAURANT. FRANCHISES WERE TALKED ABOUT AND BOTH DECIDED THAT THIS ONE LOCATION WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE. AS WE ALL KNOW SHORTCUTS CAN SAVE THOUSANDS BUT QUALITY SUFFERS. THERE IS NO DOUBT A PRODUCTION LINE OF SCHWARTZ COMPROMISES THE QUALITY AS ONLY ONE PRODUCT EXITS, LEAN WHICH IS "NOT" HOW THIS SANDWICH SHOULD BE EATEN. ANYONE HAVING ANY KNOWLEDGE OF REAL SMOKED MEAT SWEARS TO THIS FACT!!!

I hate to say it, but this video sadly doesn't begin to properly explore the 2 brands. Being a Montrealer who has eaten at both restaurants throughout my life, the packaged smoked meat from Dunn's and Schwartz's are not close to the real thing as they had to be much more factory treated. True Schwartz's and Dunn's have much more texture and less of the processed look and with way way more spices. Of course, if you can't get the real stuff from Montreal and only this weird packaged stuff from IGA and Costco, it's a decent comparison of the supermarket smoked meat versions.

Is Costco carrying it in the U.S.???

I've eaten dozens of each of these great sandwiches and to pit one against another is total Lunacy as each has its own recipe and some are moist while others are on the drier side and others are not even smoked in the traditional way. I only wish (all) places which sell this product could have a large size as "Chenoy's" does. one more thing, for God's sake don't compare those disgusting (lean) packages sold in grocery Stores to anything!!

Both are Montreal's best, Schwartz beaging my favorite but I find the Dunn's Sachets much better than the Schwartz. Too the point of WTF?

Yeah, those boxed meat for Schwartz does not look anything like the real thing in restaurant. This looks like deli meat. Dunns restaurant smoked meat is not comparable to Schwartz.

SO SAD CELINE EVEN WENT HERE JUST FOR MORE PROFITS AS QUALITY WILL SURLY SUFFER!!

sadly a real Smoked Meat sandwich tastes best with "medium" fat for maximum flavour and neither of these has one gram of Fat. sadly you need to know about this Iconic Meat before ever reviewing it

this review is really lousy as the WORST way anyone can review a product is from a Grocery Store's package. as well as comparing one of this great Smoked Meats from another is like saying Rolls Royce is better than Bently's, it just can't be done properly!!!!