Canada #39 Montréal
With fresh produce of all sorts in bountiful supply in Canada, it’s no surprise to find wonderful markets everywhere. While St Lawrence Market in Toronto has been declared the world’s best food market, Jean-Talon Market in Montréal lays claim to being one of North America’s largest open air food markets.
Located since 1933 in the Little Italy district of Montréal, this market is open all year round. In summer the stalls are filled to capacity by more than 300 vendors. Fresh seasonal produce sold by local farmers is complemented by delicious treats from bakers, butchers and fishmongers and stallholders selling cheeses, spices and international foods.
With such a wide selection shoppers take their time, sometimes seeming almost perplexed by the choices on offer.
There is even a book shop dedicated to recipe books; when the decisions are finally made, there’s a good chance of enjoying a delicious meal later in the day.
Competition can be fierce among the vendors and samples of food are on offer at most stalls. Visitors can easily eat their way around the market, tasting everything from freshly harvested berries to aged salami.
At one stall, the farmer is happy to discuss the difference in sweetness in his two varieties of corn and shares a piece of each, hot and steaming straight from the pot.
Along with all the food sellers there are stalls packed with cut flowers and potted plants.
Flowers of all varieties are ready to take home to decorate the table or the garden, while other plants offer more edible options.
Some even boast of their ability to repel unwanted visitors. Mosquitos, squirrels and cats beware!
With an abundance of wonderful food at Jean-Talon Market, there’s no need to leave hungry.
Join Jo for Monday Walks
The markets are beautiful. Such colorful produce. And smell of fresh flowers is delightful. Fresh is so much more flavorful. Of course samples are delicious and appreciated. This market looks fabulous. And huge.
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It was huge! We just wandered along each aisle and back again to make sure we didn’t miss anything. I enjoyed trying every sample I was offered. 🙂
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What a wonderful market. So many choices. The atmosphere must be absolutely amazing.
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Yes, there was so much to look at. If I lived nearby, I’d be shopping there all the time.
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Oh my! This makes our little market look quite unstyled and under stocked 🙂 I imagine you undertook quite a bit of tasting 🙂 but I also imagine it was a feast for all the senses!
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Yes, we tried quite a few samples – yum! I wish we had a market like this in our city.
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That’s an amazing market! My mouth is watering at all the beautiful produce, and I can smell that beautiful lavender from here. I imagine it would be possible to spend a long time just meandering round, looking at it all.
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We were there for quite a while. There was just so much to see and we had some interesting conversations with the stall holders.
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Did you sample many of the wares on the stalls?
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Corn, salami, fruit – yum!
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Now I’m feeling peckish…
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I would happily get lost in there for a day!
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And you wouldn’t be hungry either! 🙂
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Ooh yes this market is huge! I have memories of wandering around there and just trying to take it all in. Look at those berries!
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The berries were amazing and smelled so sweet. We were at peak blueberry season!
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Absolutely fantastic! I spotted some great looking pies in there, and the way those peppers are displayed so artfully! And the guy with the corn- I wouldn’t even know there was a difference! I’m no foodie, Carol, but you could die happy here. 🙂 🙂
Good news about the boot. You’d never have limped around this lot!
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All the food was beautifully displayed. I love the little baskets the berries are in. If you look at the corn, one piece is all yellow and the other one, on the right, has some white ears. They both tasted similar to me. Yes, you definitely need to be able bodied to wander here. 🙂
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My gardening pulse quickened just reading this, and then I got to thinking I’d need most of a day there plus my pickup truck to haul it all home. What a wonderful place to buy fresh food – both pleasing to the eye and the stomach. 🙂
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I can imagine you having a wonderful time here, Judy.
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What a fabulous looking market. I can practically taste and smell the scene.
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Yes, there were so many wonderful scents, with all those amazing fresh berries.
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It looks as if just this market would justify a trip to Montréal!
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Oh yes! We didn’t buy anything because it was the start of the day and we had a big walk planned, but next time I would plan ahead.
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Such yummy photos, Carol. What a great market. 😍
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The range of fresh fruit and vegetables was wonderful. If we lived there I wouldn’t shop anywhere else.
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Great captures of the market Carol. I felt I was there eating that delicious juicy corn and smelling that fresh lavender. Awesome 🙂
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Thanks! That corn was very good.
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I just love a good market, and this one looks fantastic.
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If we lived close enough, I would shop at this market all the time. The food was fantastic and the prices were great.
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I continue to learn a great deal from your Canadian explorations! The market looks very inviting. So many vibrant colours. I feel happier for just having seen the photos. Thanks for showing me yet another of the great finds in Canada.
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You’ll be booking an East Coast holiday by the time I’m finished. 😉😀
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We have spent quite a bit of time in Nova Scotia as I have family there but definitely want to explore the rest of the Maritimes. I’ll look forward to seeing where you went!
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We wanted to go there but didn’t have enough time in this holiday to do it justice. It’s on the list though. I’m nearly at the end of this trip. Montreal was our last destination in the five week adventure.
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A great reason to return!
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Definitely!
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Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Sete Cidades | restlessjo
Love markets of all types and around the world, but I especially love food markets.
Your photos are luscious!
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We like visiting markets because that is where all the local produce is. We love trying new foods.
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Totally agree ☺️
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This is the way to shop, and eat a pie while you’re doing it
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And some salami, corn, berries…I could have bought so much food. But it was at the start of our day and we were walking so I didn’t.
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