Jean-Talon Market, Montreal

August 11, 2012 By Leanne Vogel May 23, 2014

The Jean-Talon Market in Montreal is a thing of dreams. Really, I’m sure I’ve dreamed of a place like this at one point of another. The Market is easily accessible by public transit – a 15 minute ride on the metro from downtown followed by a 5 minute walk from the Jean-Talon station. They operate Monday – Sunday with varying hours, and they look to be open year round. Corporation de gestion des marchés publics de Montreal; the group that runs the 15+ markets around the city, even has a seasonal chart available on their website so one can plan their purchases before they arrive. Sure, it’s in French… but that’s half the fun of it! It’s filled with the magic I’d mentioned was missing from the Atwater Market. There’s a constant humming of activity – people shopping, merchants talking, produce being washed, cut, sampled… it’s amazing! Each row of produce I came upon was brighter than the last. I’ve never seen blueberries so blue, strawberries so red and juicy… and the cherries? Gosh, I was wishing I hadn’t had a big lunch at Aux Vivres before arriving. There are spaces for patrons to sit and enjoy their foodie treasures in the middle of the market, as well as to the side in one of the accompanying bistros. They had loads of produce I’ve never seen… like purple cauliflower! And white bell peppers? I was so curious about this one. Many of the booths are managed by the very knowledgeable staff that are passionate about what they do, and can answer every single question you may have about their product. There were multiple sales throughout and many variety baskets with discounted produce at $1 or $2 for a giant helping of over-ripe items. Even a lady who understands minimal French knows that this is a good sign – Non-GMO corn! Each vendor had a slight variation to their produce that made walking through each isle of the expansive market landscape. One of my favorite aspects to the market was the variety of flowers available, and for a pretty reasonable price, too. Gorgeous sunflowers, and beautiful wild flower bouquets that would be a perfect addition to my wedding Pinterest board! The merchants to the side of the market, closest to the main building had items similar to those found at Atwater – meats, cheeses, pastries, honey, and health products. It really is a one-stop shop! Ah yes, and the natural, homemade popsicles. Don’t they look delicious? Jean-Talon market is definitely on my list of places to revisit during a trip back to Montreal! What’s the most beautiful food market you’ve ever been to?

This entry was tagged: gluten-free travel, healthy travel, montreal, travel