July 26, 2022

After breakfast on Sunday, we set off for Montreal’s Little Italy…specifically the Jean Talon market. (When I say ”set off” – of course I mean we called an Uber.) This wonderful indoor/outdoor market space is open seven days a week. We tried three times to practice our selfie skills with the colorful market sign behind us. All I can say about our efforts – pitiful…just pitiful.

Waiting for the Uber
Third try to incorporate the sign behind us🤨…hello? Wrong sign…pitiful. Just. Pitiful.
Giving up on the selfie…I said ”Hey Timmy, humor me …under the sign please”

The highlight of our time at the market was observing local families shopping and eating. This was the one location in Montreal where I noticed almost 100% French was spoken. Timmy loved having the opportunity to practice with the vendors.

Prices were all over the place, varying wildly from vendor to vendor. This stall had such beautiful offerings at great prices
The market is enormous…the size is very deceiving when viewed from outside.
Discounted fruits and vegetables popped up throughout the venue
These cherries were so sweet.
This photo does not capture the enormous size of the lemons.
We stopped and relaxed several times to enjoy the passing parade of people…on this occasion I left Timmy and did a quick ”recon” around the back end of the market. Please note the storefront behind Tim.


The streets bordering the market are lined with interesting shops.

When talking with Lucien Gobeil in Old Montreal last week – Tim mentioned that we hoped to visit Jean Talon market. Lucien suggested that if we found ourselves in Little Italy near the market…to look for Hamel Cheese shop. He highly recommended it. We totally forgot the suggestion, until I looked up from the bench we were sitting on and saw this sign. Serendipity! We entered and met two lovely people. Nicholas and his boss. We sampled various cheeses, made our choices and asked for a Wine suggestion. For the wine, Nick went and fetched his boss. I’m so sorry to say that we have forgotten the manager’s name…he was such a delightful man…spending some bit of time discussing our likes and describing his wines. Timmy being Timmy, we also had a very enjoyable conversation with him about our visit to Montreal and our plans for the rest of the day. Nick’s manager suggested a short walk through Little Italy and a stop at his favorite bakery.

Nicholas describing an aged Gouda.
The manager writing down the name of his bakery recomendation.
Canadian law requires that cheese shops sell only Canadian wine. We purchased a red blend for our anticipated picnic.
Tim came prepared with a sack to carry our provisions away, but we decided to purchase a sturdier version.
Picnic provisions in hand, I said ”Hey Timmy, go on over near the mural…I’ll snap a pic”. Have I mentioned what a great sport he is?

We began walking through the quiet neighborhood towards our new target: Alati Caserta bakery.

Typical apartment in Little Italy.

Here we have a flag of Quebec flying next to a Ukrainian flag.
One of several Vespas that we’ve seen during our time here.
We were grateful to discover a bench in front of the bakery.
These lemon granitas were so refreshing.

We spent about 40 minutes on the bench, enjoying our ices and watching local folks come and go. Oh, and we practiced our selfie game … here’s the best we could do… not our finest effort. But we did manage to include the sign…so progress.


I snapped this pic on our way back to the hotel…we have passed this alleyway several times this week…no clue what the pink signifies…but it always makes me smile.

Back at the hotel, we old folks took a nap before venturing off to Restaurant Bonaparte. This is an elegant restaurant that we visited when we were here in 2009. Our dining experience was everything we remembered…and then some. The service was impeccable and the food among our favorite this trip.

When we walked out of the hotel to meet our Uber I was so excited to see this vehicle waiting…only to be directed to the blue Toyota behind it. Whatever.
Did I tell you this was a special dining experience? The tone is set with the menu presentation.

Second time in two days…lobster.
Duck magret.
Clasdic onion soup for my sweetheart.
Between courses melon sorbet.
Grand Marnier soufflé for me…Chocolate chip for Timmy… perfick ending to a fantastic day.

We really had a most delightful day. We are falling more and more in love with this city, with every passing day. Thanks for following along. Next up…a totally relaxing picnic in Mont Royal Parc.