Jean-Talon Market & area 2013
There doesn't seem to be a 2013 thread. I'm making this one market and nearby businesses as they seem to blend in together (Jos la Croûte is technically not in the Market)...
Just wanted to point out that work is proceeding apace on Boucherie du marché, which was heavily damaged by fire a couple of weeks ago. That shop is always packed, not only for meat and poultry but also for cheeses and many fine grocery items, usually at a most reasonable cost. I'll keep you posted.
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Just wanted to announce that there is fresh local asparagus at the market - the Spanish brothers (¿Jiminez?) who sell out of the back of a small, white truck, and other vendors. I didn't make it there today - was too busy with other stuff, and the weather was unpleasant, with very high winds - but my downstairs neighbour did. The brothers are only there on weekends, but other vendors are there all or most of the week.
As for Al Khair, they are selling very good local, fresh goat's feta, not too salty. And their prices are good.
Still no sign of Boucherie du marché.
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First time at JTM in a while last week-end.
Luckily that the weather was not nice, it left time for the work on the concrete structure to be concluded before the summer setup.
It looked nice.
Max.
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re: Maximilien
Yes, it makes the non-renovated ones look a bit shabby.
On Saturday, there was even a bit of hail in the morning, as I was heading back home with my croissants and sourdough baguette from Le Pain dans les voiles on Castelnau, so few vendors outside. I really hope la Boucherie du Marché gets reopened soon.
We went to Boucherie Al Khaïr on Jean-Talon, a Moroccan butcher shop and general Maghrebi and Middle-Eastern products grocery. That place is very clean and bright, and has quality meat and chicken. There are many customers, including Montrealers of many origins other than North African. Very good prices for lamb.
Hoping it warms up soon; still a bit chilly for an early-morning coffee outdoors at the market or in Little Italy cafés nearby.
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re: lagatta
We were probably getting hailed on at the same time :) And I ALMOST stopped for croissants at the same place, only to be pulled back by SO...Would have been delicious with the fresh nordic shrimp from Atkins :)
Agreed on Al Khair. Good staff. They advertise "Best merguez in town"...We all know how that usually ends. But it is indeed the best meguez in town, IMHO. Both mild and spicy (not very) versions, and also the chicken sausage.
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re: sir_jiffy
My Maghrebi friends really like that place, unlike the OTHER Maghrebi butcher shop/grocery a few metres west of there.
Indeed, their spicy sausage is not very spicy.
Atkins shrimp was lovely. A friend who was at the market with me was buying a LOT of freshly-cooked snow crab, but he was just going the errand - he was invited chez des amis who were actually picking up the - considerable - tab.
The croissants were really good. I don't buy them often; they are very rich...
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Anybody aware if JTM is fully open? Looking to visit this weekend from Ottawa but not sure if its worth the detour since we will be downtown.
thanks.
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re: Ottfoodie
It is fully open in the winter sense; the market hasn't come out of its winter quarters yet for springtime (It has been a MUCH colder spring than last year, as you know in Ottawa). Thre is plenty so see during weekends (I hosted visitors from Toronto this past Saturday), some vendors with stands outside, buskers, etc. Snow crab (yum).
One thing to note is that there is restoration of the roofs of the concrete structures protecting farmers from the elements in summertime; I don't know if it will be fully ready for the first of May (it is usually all opened by that date).
It is up to you whether you think it is worth your while to come up here. If you are going up to the Plateau, Mile-End or Outremont, it isn't much farther north.
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re: Maximilien
Did anyone else notice that the signs posted outside of the construction area state that work will be completed Nov 2013. Does that mean no outdoor section on the north side this summer, I find that hard to believe.
It was really busy last weekend, probably because of the long weekend (seemed to be a lot of out of towners) and of course the nice weather.
Buckland cheese has boosed the price of their Tomme to $62/kg from $49, he told me they did so to control supply so they could have more stock in the winter months. Supply and demand at work. Time to raise more goats :)
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re: JerkPork
No, I didn't notice that sign. Perhaps they will arrange temporary stands where the laneways between the aisles usually are, but that would make it hard for the farmers to truck their goods in.
Yes, there seemed to be a lot of tourists - my friends weren't the only ones.
Too bad, that puts the lovely Buckland Tomme pretty much out of my range, except for a cheese plate for a special supper with friends. Yep, they need more goats!
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I found the Saguenay-Lac St-Jean event this weekend; it is under Montréal en Lumière (but the JTM site links to that event). There are quite a few events today: http://www.montrealenlumiere.com/gast...
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Anyone get to the Mtl en Lumiere events at JTM going on this weekend? IMO Le Pain Dans Les Voiles a few blocks away blows away Joe La Croute.
Also, they seem to be doing some renovations at the market in preparation for the summer.
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re: ios94
They are renovating the concrete structures that house the outdoor stalls. I think it is as much a safety concern as anything else. Hope the concrete is not from Mr Sidewalk...
Le Pain dans les voiles (just one short block north of Jean-Talon, on Castelnau, and one even shorter block east of the eastern end of the market, corner Drolet), in my opinion complements Joe la croûte. They seem to have (very good) "fancier" stuff such as cheese breads, their basic baguette is a bit more expensive and most important it is a MUCH larger space. In years past, those premises were a small Italian supermarket (like a small Intermarché). They are planning a comptoir with coffee, brioches and sandwiches at least.
Unfortunately I was at JTM yesterday, not today (Saturdays are horrible for practical shopping there); will try to get there tomorrow, though I'm working. There is a Saguenay Lac St-Jean event going on, with tastings and perhaps workshops.
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re: Glaff
I'll have to give Joe's baguette another shot because the only time I tried it I found it very sub par and not fresh. Their kamut bread is very good but I've tried some of their others and they just don't do it for me as much as Voiles, Clafoutis and Bete a Pain.
Yup figured it was some sort of structural upgrades.
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re: ios94
I am VERY fond of Joe's heavy 100% rye bread (to be cut in fine slices and used for Nordic open-faced sandwichs) but you have to like that type of bread.
Don't see how Joe's bread could not be fresh, as they run out of pretty much everything at the end of the day. But different consumers prefer different bread-making styles.
I haven't been to Bête à pain yet, will wait until I can cycle there - it is practically due north from my place, but the 55 bus only goes to Chabanel so I'd have to take two buses...
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