Jean Talon Market 2018

There are two large outdoor farmers' markets in Montreal - Jean Talon is on the Northeast side

and the Atwater is on the Southwest side.  I particularly enjoy the Jean Talon for its

colors and aromas and enormous variety.  I spent several hours walking around.  There are

also specialty fish shops and butchers and cheese shops and flowers.

This is one of the booths; they are open seven days a week.

Peppers of all kinds and colors were available, as well as eggplant in various colors.

Chanterelles Mushrooms are fairly rare, but the "Mushroom Man" had lots.

"Organic" fruit and vegetables are obviously popular in Canada also.

Peppers of many kinds and colors, from sweet to very strong, were everywhere.

Fishmongers were numerous and had all sorts of fish from the Atlantic and Pacific 

as well as lakes.  There was also a fresh oyster bar which had more than a dozen kinds

of fresh oysters.  They had a counter where you could sit and eat.  A tray of 12 oysters,

3 each of 4 varieties, cost $30 CAD (or about $22 U.S.)  Many people were enjoying

the oysters.

Each shop displayed their wares so beautifully, that it looked like a series of

17th century Dutch still lifes.

Peaches and plums were in season, and shops had varieties from a number of the different 

provinces  in Canada, and people obviously knew the difference between peaches from

British Columbia and peaches from Quebec, or elsewhere.

Quebec seems to like garlic of many kinds.  These were very large, but there were

dozens of different sizes and varieties of garlic.

One booth sold dried flowers for the coming winter.

Fruit was very popular, and Canadian know the difference between locations, just as  I know

the difference between a New Jersey blueberry and a California blueberry.  The light tan

fruit is "Quebec Berry" or "Cherry of the Earth."  You can find it only in Quebec and only

at the end of summer.  It has kind of a paper wrapping on it, and the fruit is very sweet and

delicious.  It is never exported or sold elsewhere.

Cauliflower came in many colors and obviously does wonders for soups and salads.

Thesde are mini-cauliflowers.

Some stalls had more than a dozen different types of eggs.

Peppers are both decorative and functional.  This florist was selling strands of peppers

to hang in your kitchen, as well as pepper plants you might like to grow.

Two shops were devoted entirely to sausages, all freshly made.  There were dozens of kinds

in each shop, and customers seemed to know them well, getting one foot of this variety and

two feet of another variety.

Several shops had specialty pates, which I enjoy very much.  Here you can see Pheasant with

Pistachio, Duck with Cognac, and many more.

Several shops were devoted entirely to cheese and had hundreds of varieties of cheese.

Employees were very knowledgeable and could tell you about the flavors and aromas

and how they could be best used.  All the stores were very busy.  These are

all soft cheese.

Mushrooms were very popular, and you could get all sorts of them.

Dried flower bouquets.

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