To Market, To Market...

Mid-March, just that much closer to April! Sunday was a beautiful mild sunny day. A perfect afternoon to pile into the car, camera in tow, and head to Jean-Talon Market.

JTM is one of four large public indoor/outdoor year-round farmer's markets in Montreal. Though much of the produce is sourced from all over North America, I noticed that a majority of vendors sell local produce and products made and grown in Quebec. We sampled a fine selection of fresh produce, from plums and nectarines (not local), to hot-house tomatoes and maple syrup (local and delicious!).

At the height of the maple syrup harvest season, many syrup sellers set up little tables covered in a layer of snowy shaved ice. In the style of the sugar shack, they heat up syrup, pour it onto the shaved ice, then roll a popsicle stick over the now hardened syrup to make a maple lollipop.
Tis the end of the season for my favorite root vegetables: beets, turnips and rutabagas and the anticipated start of the asparagus harvest. There was lots to look at and loads of people crowding the narrow isles of the indoor promenade.

We checked out some local Quebec cheeses at the unfriendly and paltry sampled 'Qui Lait Cru!' and walked into an amazing spice and olive oil emporium aptly called 'Olive et Epice'. The spice selection was impressive. In addition to carrying $3 Madagascar vanilla pods and 7 other varieties of vanilla, this crowded little storefront sells their own house made blends of curries, rubs and aromatic smoked salts. Sadly, they don't have a website!

Duck, quail and chicken eggs, farm fresh were being sold by Steve Finklestein, a 3rd generation farmer. A minor celebrity who recently was written up in the local paper.

The afternoon came to a close with some coffee and pastries at Premier Moisson, a high quality, local bakery chain. (the website features a soundtrack- don't be scared when it starts up!) We sampled a maple pecan roll with a melty buttery center, a plain croissant (I always like to use that as a base for comparaison) and a walnut raisin brioche with butter. mmm. Good times!