Coping with Hunger

I live downtown (Guy-Concordia area). I shop at Provigo, PA Supermarche and Mourlatoes. I like PA the best as it has the best selection of fruits and vegetables and includes a more healthy selection. I love to buy vegetables, hummous and rice cakes. The best things in the store are the fresh fruits and vegetables, as they have a massive selection, though the whole store smells kind of fishy as they sell live lobsters out of the tank.

I live in Cote-des-Neiges, a great location close to downtown with the best park in town. You can get just about anything here. For regular items, I shop in Metro and Exofruit, because they are close to my house. There is a great open air fruits&vegies market open 24/7 from March to November. There is also a well-stocked Chinese food store. My favourite shop is the German store Atlantique, because it has a lot of European stuff that you don't get anywhere else. I usually buy their home-made sausages and Czech sauerkraut. There isn't anything I don't like about this place, it is indispensable, especially when I make cakes!

I live in the Petite-Patrie neighborhood, close to the Jean-Talon market and Little Italy, and therefore grocery shopping is not a problem for me. Moreover, near my house there is also an IGA, a METRO store, and a Marche tradition. However, my favourite places are Milano on St. Laurent, because it sells a great variety of Italian products, and the market.
When I have time to cook I like to vary, and at the market I can find a lot of very fresh and even Bio products. The greatest things about it is that you can buy local products, and then sit to rest, drink a good coffee or cappuccino and enjoy delicious crepes, and french and Arabic pastries.

My meals usually revolve around some kind of vegetable stir-fry or stew including a bean or tofu product, plus a grain dish, so my shopping list generally includes predominantly vegetables, grains, and dried pulses. Because I live in the plateau area there are many fruit markets and small grocers near by (which I try to go to instead of the Intermarché which is also just down the street) where I can go to get these things, but my favourite place to shop for fresh veg is at Jean Talon market. There, the vegetables are copious and cheap, and the shopping experience is made extra enjoyable by the tasting samples which are found at several of the stalls. For all the grains and beans I need, I like to shop at the Frigo Vert- a small cooperative food store located near Concordia University on McKay. The Frigo is tiny inside, but they have an excellent variety of bulk foods, with subsidised prices for coop members (Concordia students have free membership, you just have to sign up at the store). The Frigo Vert also sells canned foods, packaged foods, natural cleaning and health supplies, teas, and a delicious selection of prepared foods including my favourite 50 cent samosas.
The only downside to shopping at these places is that you have to pay!

My favourite place to buy unusual products and amazing fruits and vegetables is National on Sherbrooke street in Westmount (Victoria Village). The staff are in the back kitchen,which opens into the store, and they prepare a buffet of mostly vegetarian foods with an asian bent.There is a long buffet-style area where you can take-out these meals. The eggrolls, freshly prepared are to die for. Grab a bunch of these near the cash. They sell small containers of freshly cut fruits like pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe and berries. Ask at the kitchen for a whole pineapple or watermelon. They will cut it for you and make sure it is ripe. If it isn't ready, they keep cutting until they find the best one. What service! The vegetable section is filled with delicious and fresh greens, herbs and brightly coloured veggies. There are buckets of fresh tofu in the cold section with assortments of cheeses, eggs and milks (soy, rice, almond, goat or cow's milk. Some people complain that it is more expensive but I like to splurge on good quality food. It keeps me healthy and happy.

I don't live in Montreal but since I'm in the city a lot I do grocery shop there. I have to agree with Morgan, PA is one of the best places. When I used to go to school a block from there, many of us would get our lunches from there since they had amazing fruit and veggies.

When I started cooking Mexican food, my friend who lives in St-Laurent introduced me to this Latin grocery store called L'inter Marche, at the corner of Marcel Laurin and Louisbourg. I was able to find a lot of stuff I couldn't find in grocery stores at that time, mind you nowadays I can find some of the stuff at Loblaws (the one at the corner of St-Jacques and Cavendish)since they have a great variety of international foods.

One of my favourite places to shop, however is Bulk Barn. I used to shop there all the time when I went to Ontario but now we have one in the West Island. It's beside Marche de l'Ouest (near Sources and Salaberry, just north of the 40). Basicalyl the store sells stuff you would use for baking, spices, nuts, pasta, rice, lentils, dried fruit, and candy. Everything is in big bins and when you go in you just put however much you want in plastic bags or containers, so you can buy as much as you want (or as little). Some of the harder to find flours, nuts and spices can be found here.

I still live with my parents so I don't need to do much grocery shopping, however, every now and then I find myself shopping for ingredients for cakes and special dinners. I normally go to a local Italian supermarket close to where I live, L'Inter Marche de Risi. It has any and all things Italian in there. I'm also lucky enough to live close to an organic supermarket which sells lots of organic fruits and veggies, and some healthy alternatives to some wheat and dairy products. The place is called TAU. I usually end up spending a lot more than what I budget for, but its always worth it in the end.
Jean Talon market is also an awesome place for grocery shopping. The fruits and veggies look so fresh and delicious and the fish market had some of the best stuff ever.
I also really love going to the BulkBarn in D.D.O. it sells a lot of stuff in bulk, like different types of flours, pastas, rice, and chocolates, at some very affordable prices. Its a little far from where I like though, so I try to stock up every time I go.

BULKBAAAARN!!!!!!

One of my favourite places to shop is the Atwater Market and Super C area. It is located on Atwater Street below Notre-Dame. Super C is a grocery store (part of the Metro chain) but it is very cheap. However, I like fresh food, and so I always stop at the Atwater Market (which is open year round). It is essentially a farmer’s market but it has some great additions inside. Upstairs there is a fabulous bakery, a row of butchers (all kinds of meat and meat products), a pet store, Italian prepared-food stalls, chocolateries, bulk shop, and the list goes on. Downstairs are the cheese, speciality gourmet shops. There are florists, fishmongers and pizza-makers. The atmosphere is lively and friendly. The colours are vibrant and strong. The experience is very Montreal!

I live in the Saint Henri area and I am fortunate to have the luxury of an IGA three blocks away from my apartment, so that is where I do the majority of my grocery shopping, I also like that I accumulate air miles there. I would have to agree that the Atwater market is a really great place to shop. I like to pick up treats there, like dessert at the bakery. The market is located next to the Lachine Canal, and a rather nice way to spend a day is to grab a coffee and go for a walk along the old seaway. Next to the Atwater market is the Super C, which is where I would prefer to do some of my bulk shopping. The prices are really, really good there but that can be problematic. I got an incredible bargain on a box of 80 frozen waffles, but now I have to eat 80 frozen waffles. In the same parking lot to the Super C is the biggest SAQ I have encountered, and I am always able to find something tempting in there as well.

I live in the West Isand about five minutes from Dorval's airport so with a skip and a jump I can hop over and catch my flight when I am travelling to foreign destinations. But for the most part, I travel by bus, metro, and walking, when put together you get a world famous BMW! I am not a great cook but I tend to try out all kinds of foods. When I do cook, I cook Italien, Hungarian, West Indian, Spanish, Ukraine and last but not least canadian foods. I shop in bulk and love to shop at Costco because the variety and prices are great. My local supermarket closest to me is a Maxi store, but it does not have a delivery service so I have to take a taxi home because I do not drive, as yet, I am working on obtaining my driver's licence.

I also like to go to Marche de l'ouest which off Boul des Sources and Brunswick. (Dollard-des-Ormeaux) They have some farmers who sell their produce at a much higher price than the supermarket. I go there sometimes to get fresh seasonal items, such as, corn, beets, strawberries, blueberries. I pickle and prepare canned items for the winter months. One of my favorite preserves are beets but I have prepared other items such as peach chutney, corn relish, butter pickles etc. I also eat a lot of dry bean products and have been shifting to a diet of more fruits and vegetables with less red meats. I am not a complete vegetarian but I aspire to eat healthy and sain diet.

Since I prefer buying fresh, local products, I do most of my shopping at Atwater Market, where I can find everything I need for my quasi-vegetarian meals that consist mainly of vegetable stews, fish, and pasta dishes. I live on Nun's Island, so it's fairly easy for me to get to the marketplace by car. This farmers' market has its charm with its fruit and vegetable stands and with all its small shops. I am particularly fond of the Première Moisson stand; I can never leave the marketplace without buying at least a croissant from this bakery. Their products aren't exactly cheap, but they are delicious :). The marketplace also offers a variety of shops selling excellent dairy products (and the best goat milk in town), sausages (my husband’s favourites) and fish. When I don’t have time to go to the marketplace, I shop on Nun’s Island at IGA and Loblaw’s. What I like about these shops is their cosy, well-designed interior, which gives you the feeling you’re in a small shop not in a supermarket. Additionally, they are never crowded and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

My favorite place to buy food in Montréal is "Marché Jean-talon (Jean-Talon market). It's definitely the best place to do your grocery. You can buy products from a huge variety of countries and taste different cultures without living Quebec. It really looks like european markets. Fruit and vegetables are always fresh, and so is the meat and everything else. There are also a few restaurants. It's epecially nice during the summer. You can find bakeries, fish shops, cheese shops, etc. Sometimes though, it's overcrowded, especially during the weekend. It's worth a try!

I find groceries cost a lot more money today. What used to cost $5 now costs $7,50.
Surprisingly, fruits and vegetables cost a fortune at grocery stores like IGA and Loblaws. Fortunately, I have a friend who loves to cook and been telling me where to go to get cheaper groceries. If you want to spend .99 a pound on tomatoes instead of 3.99 go to SAMI Fruits (http://www.samifruits.com/). They have fruit pyramids that practically reach the ceiling. It's such a colorful place. You can buy fruit, vegetables, nuts, eggs, honey, and the best pita bread. The first time I went to Sami's I came out with 4 bags of groceries for $20. Unheard of anywhere else!

I live in Villeray, so very close to the Marché Jean-Talon. When you start to get used to the freshness and diversity of a fresh market. it becomes virtually impossible to do without! For fruit and vegetables, you have plenty choice, but my heart leans to Chez Louis, which provides fruit and vegetables you will not find anywhere else in Montreal. The heads of the biggest restaurants in town go there for their shopping! For meats and sausages, La Boucherie du Marché is the best, you will find everything for the meat lover plus european fine products, and an absolutely charming staff who will be happy to answer you. For cheese, head for Chez Hamel. From France to Québec, the choice is amazing, and they'll even let you taste before you choose! If you finish your purchases in a hurry, there is a branch of the SAQ, and the Première Moisson bakery to complete your purchases.
Le Marché Jean-Talon, open 7 days, 364 days a year, and I don't remember which day is the day off!

I live in Ahuntsic and I have a lot of choices. I have the Fleury Street, the Jean-talon Market and a Metro at a small driving distance. A little farther, but I don't go often, I have another Metro, an IGA (too small) and a Maxi (too far).

I discovered the Jean-Talon Market this summer and I love it. My little one really enjoyed seeing the street entertainers and tasting the food.For the rest, Philippe described it really well so I won't repeat what he said.
The Fleury Street is nice for the good home-made food you can find there, but walking up and down the street with big bags and my little one isn't my best choice.
Since I always go grocery shopping with my little one, I prefer going to the Metro, because they have a big parking, their fruits and veggies are fresh and I can do all my shopping at once.

George Tsoukalas

I leave in the "ville St-Laurent" area north of downtown and seldomly do I go grocery shopping. I'm more of a guy who eats out, but when I do eat out I usually shop at Provigo and Super C two store franchises that I've beeing shopping from for a while. What I really enjoy doing when grocery shopping is checking for things I see on TV, like the new oreo 'halfers' one side is chocolate and the other vanilla. Yummy! I think I'm heading out for some right now...

I live in the Snowdon area. I buy food in Maxi usually, they have everything. From fruits, vegetables, canned foods, dairy, poultry... I also buy in IGA. They have many products that Maxi doesn't. For example, coffee. I'm a coffee person, and there's a specific kind of coffee that i like. I find this coffee only in IGA. So sometimes i would go shopping in Maxi, but stop at IGA just for coffee.

I find l'intermarche to offer quite a variety if you're looing for any ethnique ingredients....I'm of Italian origin and I find most items easily there. Another great place is Adonnis on Cote Vertu... there you will find a wonderful selection of fresh produce, cheese, meats, fish, poultry.... you name it. In addition, they offer a nice selection of prepared items as well. It's definately worth the extra distance.

I live in Villeray and close to the Jean Talon Market which I adore especially in the summer. Even now I am remembering the local strawberries that I used to buy and finish before I get back home with my groceries! I recently discovered and tiny stand that sells organic products at the market. Their selection of non-wheat flours is amazing and the organic vegetables are not much more expensive than their sprayed counterparts elsewhere. I've been discovering some healthy bulk foods at Aliments Merci also at the market. Their staff is super friendly and helpful. On the corner of St Denis and Jean Talon there are two Chinese stores with really good prices and exotic choices. I love to shop there for Asian food, obviously; things like tofu, noodles, teas, glutenous balls, sesame cookies and veggies. For when the meat cravings hit, I go there as well. The meat, chicken or fish are the cheapest I've seen anywhere but the downside is that the staff is not of the friendliest and I sometimes have to wait a bit to be served.

Living near the Pie-IX station, I find myself in a desert when it comes to shopping for groceries.

I usually head over to marché Jean Talon to shop for vegetables, fruit, and eggs. Everything else I buy at the Costco store near Galeries D'Anjou. It's kind of a long trip in either direction, but I only have to do it twice a month (each) and I am able to purchase thrice as much food as I would if I bought everything in an IGA. I still buy milk at IGAs though...

I shop at metro because it is near my place. I buy milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables from there and I make soup. The worst aspect is that is is expensive but I dont have much of a choice.

And I live in NDG, near villa maria metro. The other thing I have to like about metro also is their delivery service!!!