Orange Julep Gibeau: A Montreal Favorite

Orange Julep: Of Hot Dogs and Hot Rods

Legend has it that since the early '50s Montreal's finest hot wheels and classic cars converge at the "Big Orange" on Decarie Boulevard, a favorite landmark/eyesore among kids, their parents, their grandparents... it's even historically possible their grandparent's parents perused the parking lot for yesteryear's modern rides as they sipped the secret recipe behind the Orange Julep, a foamy, neon orange liquid that inspired original founder Hermas Gibeau to set up his own restaurant in 1932.

By 1945, the Gibeau family moved from their first Montreal location to today's spot on Decarie Boulevard, erecting a concrete orange-shaped joint in the process. Demolished in order to expand the boulevard and build the Decarie Expressway, 1966 was year the three-story-high giant orange was finally erected.

Orange Julep Today

Basing its fast food enterprise on a beverage that's been a Gibeau family recipe since the early 1920s, Orange Julep continues to reign not only as the best place in town to check out classic cars, but as a top fast food joint in Montreal serving hot dogs, burgers, crunch-free mushy fries, poutine and other fatty options that complement the business namesake. Besides, you can't miss it. The giant orange is 40 feet wide and can be seen from the sky.

But What's in an Orange Julep?

The secret ingredient in an Orange Julep drink stayed that way for decades until August 26, 2009, when I let the cat out of the bag on About.com after some investigative sleuthing, revealing for the first time to the world—that's right, it was me—that Orange Julep's secret ingredient is... powdered egg whites. 

But before I figured it out, the Gibeau family kept it mum for generations, resisting franchise opportunities while faithfully guarding a recipe rife with "health benefits."

Claiming "health benefits" might be pushing it considering the drink's high sugar content, though orange julep's nutritional value is mildly superior to that of a typical soft drink and 250 ml contains more Vitamin C and less fat than iceberg lettuce, the arguably least nutritious vegetable on the market.

And no one is quite sure why we like a drink that looks like industrial hand soap quite so much. But this particular heavenly brew is available in only one place on the globe, right here, in Montreal. And for some, it's a once-in-a-lifetime taste bud experience. To me, it's a creamy, frothy, happy concoction that tastes like my fifth birthday. Not that I can actually remember my fifth birthday. But if I could, it would taste like that.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: The Cars

Orange Julep's exclusive mystery beverage is but the tip of its attractions. Vintage vehicles define the Big Orange as much as the food and the giant fiberglass fruit, a Montreal word-of-mouth tradition that's somehow stayed under the radar for decades ... until now.

Come on a Wednesday night between May and October —if the weather is really nice sometimes as early as April and as late as November— between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. and you'll see an informal blast from the past materialize before your eyes.

Mustangs, Panteras, Mercedes older than certain countries, this is the quintessential gathering place for muscle car and antique auto maniacs. As the tradition goes, girls and boys bring in their hot rods and locals vote on their favorites of the night. The hotter and nicer the night, the more cars onlookers can expect to see. Informal gatherings sometimes also occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays, when several pimp-my-ride style modified cars are displayed by anyone who feels like showing off their baby and socializing. But Wednesdays are you best bet.

Orange Julep: General Information

Address: 7700 Decarie, corner of Paré
Get There: Namur Metro (Directions: Exit metro station. Scan skyline for giant orange. Walk towards fruit.)
Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week from April through November. Hours reduced to 7:30 a.m. until 3 a.m. in colder months but opening hours vary by day and weather conditions. To be on the safe side, call (514) 738-7486 to make sure Orange Julep is open if planning a late night visit in the winter.
More INFO: (514) 738-7486