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| - Completely, totally awesome:
1) Fresh produce;
2) Amazing preserves, smoked meats, sausages, etc.
3) Beautiful jams, jellies, honey, maple syrup, etc.
4) Local wines, ice wines, ice ciders, etc.
5) My wife swears she comes here just for the chocolate croissants at the pastry shop at the main intersection in the market.
6) Lots of tasty bites you can grab for lunch: paninis, pizza, sandwiches, pastries, etc.
7) Local vendors who care about what they sell, will engage you in conversation about their foods, will joke with you about US/Canadian politics, etc.
8) Coming here in the winter is awesome. I've seen people calling this a "smaller" market, but let's be realistic: how many indoor markets do you find in a cold city in North America like this? None! It's actually a really big indoor space, it's warm, and it feels like summertime inside because of all the fresh and beautiful foods - you forget it's cold and snowy outside.
This place is awesome, it's got a very European vibe and is really unlike anything you see in the States. One of the places we always go to when we are in Montreal.
I speak a bit of French, but if you don't feel free to just ask each vendor, "parlez anglais?" You'll be warmly greeted by someone who speaks excellent English and genuinely wants to be helpful.
Parking is not great. You can pay for parking, and it's actually fairly cheap (like $1/hour), but it's hard to find in the tiny adjacent lot. There is also what looks like an underground lot, but when it's busy, there is a long line to get into the entrance. On-street parking is impossible, and it's really only for local residents with permits. The best way to get here is to take the Metro and walk the block or two from the Jean-Talon Station.
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