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Image from http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/North_America/Canada/photo148569.htm
When we first moved here and I heard about the neighbourhood, metro station and market called “Jean-Talon”all I could associate it with is “Johnny the Claw” (although in French, Talon is heel or nail, not claw). It isn’t exactly close to where we live so we have not gone there much over the past year and a half. Dan explored the Little Italy situated around that area in search of good coffee and found some ok (but not amazing) stuff. Joseph and Claudia took us around the market last year on my birthday but unforunately it was rainy and most of the outdoor markets were closed for the season. We did get to see the Italian grocery store and some very good Asian markets there.
We have visited Marché Atwater before (both are public markers in Mtl) but we have heard from numerous sources that J-T is cheaper so we finally paid it a visit last weekend for the first time. There is a LOT to see (and eat) there and its easy to get distracted. During the summer months, local farmers bring their fresh vegetables and fruits and sell them for decent prices. Certainly you can get the same types of fresh produce at the grocery store for less, but from what we have tried at the market, everything is fresh, ripe, and in good shape (and much better than what is a the grocery stores). There are also places that sell non-local produce (i.e. pineapples, english cucumbers etc.) and several boucheries (butchers), sausage shops, confectioners, organic food stores etc. where you can spend you time and money. We went back again this saturday and we just might continue to do so during the summer. So far the ritual is to go to one of the coffee places and get some freshly ground coffee, go to the market and buy the vegetables for the week, then take the metro to our end of the city and get croissants at the bakery called “Les Plaisirs du Palais” (literally the “Pleasures of the Palace”, don’t ask me where the name came from!) which is rumored to have some of the best croissants in town.
On the way home today we went to a friperie and got some old records and books for 50 cents each.
One can find almost anything here in the fruiteries, marchés and grocery stores in Montreal (except for good pre-made perogies and German food). Dan tried a fresh fig for the first time today!