Marche G & D
Shopping at IGA and Metro is so vanilla. Everything comes in nice clean well labeled packaging orderly arranged on shelves in brightly lit aisles with a sketchy looking security guard always nearby. Don't get me wrong, the big chains have there place, I mean they do have a great selection of canned corn and frozen pizzas.
Those times when Montreal starts to seem a little bland and I want to tickle my taste buds, I walk over to Chinatown and stop in at Marché G & D. As the largest Asian grocery store downtown they stock loads of stuff from pretty much every Asian cuisine.
Like so many businesses in Chinatown, they are in an odd location. Find the entrance and push aside the long strips of clear plastic dangling across the doorway. Then descend down the stairs and WHAM! cluttered aisles, questionable smells, blaring Mando-Pop, strange animal parts, seemingly random organization totally devoid of windows and lacking any cellphone signal. It's a whole different world down there.
They've got everything from fresh lemon grass (great when making Thai) to frozen chicken feet (if you are in the mood). You can also find fresh soy milk made in Montreal and a tasty selection of candy from Japan. You'll also find a pretty awesome selection of fresh green leafy vegetables, many that I've never seen before and some that I might consider weeds.
Prices are generally better than the elsewhere in Chinatown and they have the best selection. Unfortunately they have a loyal following so shopping after work can be nightmarish.
The place has tested my patience more than once but I still love it. Without Marché G & D I'm not sure I would survive.