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| - Location: Right at the back of Jean-Talon market. There's parking on the premises (go early) or street parking available. If you prefer to use transit, the de Castelnau station is close-by.
The place: Not a huge store by any means, but it's packed with mostly Italian specialty items. Looking for authentic Nutella? They've got it - and for you amateurs, no, the crap you buy here isn't the same as the Nutella you'll find in Italy! Need some salami or parmigiano-reggiano? Some Italian caffé or pasta? Olives? Yup, they've got it.
The goods: Having recently returned from Italy, I am presently going through what I like to call, Salami withdrawal. As such, I've been scouring the town looking for a place that sells proper salami - not Mastro, and not 'home-made' Montreal-style salami - Italian salami. Surprisingly, not that many places seem to carry this, and this includes Milano, my usual go-to for Italian fare. Now, it's possible that they were just out the last time that I went, but my understanding from the clerk was that they didn't carry it. Anyway, these guys have a few kinds of Italian salami and prosciutto and they let me try it before I bought it, which was a real bonus because I happened to be hungry when I stopped by. I opted for the Il Golfetta salami and the 18-month old prosciutto, both of which were delicious. While I was there, I grabbed some black (Moroccan) olives, some Parm, Mozzarella di Bufala and some Lavazza.
Service: Pretty good. The guy was patient while I decided (and tried) what I wanted to buy, though he didn't know anything about a brand of prosciutto they didn't sell there, which I thought was a but weird for someone working in the meat section of a place that specializes in Italian fare.
Price point: if we're talking meat (i.e. the above items) then they're not cheap. However, I saved $2 on the Mozza and $2 on the coffee, and their Parm was reasonably priced compared to other places. So at the end of the day, it will depend on what you buy.
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