What Makes Up Montreal

On our way through Canada to get to Maine we were able to spend some time in Montreal. We only had one day there, so we decided to explore some of the local food scene, visiting a locally beloved bagel shop and the large markets of Petite Italy.

We made our way up the hillside of Mt. Royal (Montreal name sake), zig- zagging through the streets until we came to the Bagel Factory, which we were told was the best in the city. They certainly seemed to be baking bagels for most of the city!   They had one man working on a huge mountain of dough which he was shaping into  thin circles  as other workers loaded the bagels into the wood-fired ovens. Others were filling crates and mixing more dough, they seemed to never have enough bagels.  It was a sight to see this small kitchen overflowing with bagels!  A man in front of us ordered five dozen bagels for some event and two young women behind the counter scattered to  pack paper bags to the brim with his bagels.  He looked quite happy leaving with his arms full of warm bagels.

We ordered  an “everything bagel” and a cinnamon-raisin bagel, our favorites from our time in New York. We sat in a nearby park and tasted this Montreal staple. These sweet and doughy bagels must have been boiled in water with a bit of molasses before going to the oven (they do this to help the outside get the chewy texture). As we ate these bagels, which are a “must have” for the locals, it reminded us of our favorite bagels from New York.

It was a hot day in the city, so we took our time walking to Petite Italy. Our first stop in Montreal’s little Italy was a large Italian grocery store which was brightly decorated with Italian flags. First we came to an aisle that was full of different shapes and colors of dried pastas, something for everyone’s needs. Another aisle had Balsamic vinegars of all different ages in elaborate bottles. A high pyramid displayed all the different cans full of Italian tuna fish in olive oil, great for tuna salad.

Fresh pastas were displayed in chilled counters that showed off the intricate shapes of each one from the tortellini to the ravioli. All the pasta is handmade in the store. The meats looked so fresh and were well cared for by the loving butcher. He was rearranging and adding to the display as sausages and new cuts were brought to him from the back. He seemed to enjoy his job a lot! The care was obvious in the look of each display, quality of the products, and cleanliness of the store.  The neighborhood is lucky to have such a unique store in the area!

Near the metro we found a magnificent outdoor market called Jean Talon. Stand after stand offering fresh produce, meats, pastries, and cheeses welcomed us with smells of freshness.  Tastes of the tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, and strawberries were being offered to the people as they passed a stand. Tastes of  ripe summer tomatoes and first-of -summer peaches were such treats. As we tried a cherry tomato it popped and oozed its sweet juices as we first bit into it, bringing back wonderful memoirs of summers past.

We bought a pint of local strawberries to snack on as we went through the market. They were a tart and sweet snack, soft and juicy. The smell of warmed-in-the-sun peaches carried itself through the market leaving that mouth-watering lust for the perfect summer peach. I can’t wait to get my hands on another good one!

At one  stand, a woman offered us a taste of unpasteurized, perfectly tempered- by-the-warm-weather goat cheese. It had a sweet, grassy, and a gentle, creamy tang that was just plain yummy. The soft slice was wonderfully smooth and creamy as it almost melted on our tongues. The rind was stiff and tasted of dried mushroom, a very nice musk that matched the acidic notes of the cheese very well. We bought a large piece so we could enjoy it again later.

Though we couldn’t see everything this grand area has to offer, we did get to experience some of the local culture and learned a reason why Montreal is such a popular city to live in; it is diverse and offers something for everyone. We will have to visit again to see and eat more of what makes up Montreal.