Shining a Spotlight on Jean-Talon Market
In every town, every city, every region, there’s that one place that is the beating heart of the whole ecosystem. And in every town, city and region, there are those specific people who are the beating heart of their community. Jean-Talon Market is that place for me, and Elena Faita, AKA my mom (you could even say she’s Little Italy’s mom), well, she’s one of those people.
One of the oldest markets in Montréal and one of the biggest open-air markets in North America, Jean-Talon Market sits in pride of place in the centre of Little Italy. It’s a bastion of my neighbourhood and is still—90 years after opening—the culinary and cultural cornerstone of Little Italy and the whole of Montréal. Families of all shapes and sizes flock to the vibrant hub year after year, stocking up on fresh, seasonal produce. I don’t think there are many Italian-Quebeckers that haven’t organized a pilgrimage to Jean-Talon at some point!
Jean-Talon Market actually played a pivotal role in my life. If it weren’t for the Market, Elena would maybe never have settled down in Québec. Her mother, my grandmother, worked for one of the farmers that had a stall there, and soon, our family spread its wing in the community, opening in 1956 the now iconic Quincaillerie Dante.
Elena was no stranger to the kitchen, and for years, she spent her Saturdays at the Market demonstrating how to make fresh pasta and other classic Italian dishes. Her demonstrations bridged cultures and greatly contributed to creating an inclusive environment where knowledge, talent and passions are shared between generations of merchants and customers… Not to mention she greatly inspired me to pursue a culinary career. If traditions from the boot have made their way to Québec, it’s thanks in no small part to Elena the pioneer. After all, there’s a reason why some of the city’s best chefs attended her culinary school, Mezza Luna!
Jean-Talon Market is more than just a place to shop, it’s a place to meet people, share ideas and draw inspiration. It’s the hub par excellence to mark the changing seasons and celebrate the arrival of eagerly awaited seasonal crops. And none is as eagerly awaited in Little Italy as the famous pomodoro! Demand for tomatoes was so high in Little Italy that market gardeners were forced to increase production, to such an extent that at the height of the season, Jean-Talon Market quite literally bursts at the seams with pomodori. The tradition of making passata dates back to the Old Country and it was (and still is!) the perfect way to encapsulate the flavours of summer and make it through the winter. Canning tomatoes has become a popular activity for foodies from all walks of life who religiously trek to the lively Market at the end of each summer to stock up. We think it’s the perfect opportunity to roll up our sleeves with friends, family and even our community to create strong bonds and ensure everyone can eat well all year long.
My team and I head to the Market practically every day. We shop, chat with our favourite producers, and draw inspiration from the bustling atmosphere. So, it’s not surprising that our brand is a reflection of the Jean-Talon Market spirit and the people who gravitate around it. Our products are prepared with simple, high-quality ingredients, and we are proud to celebrate the talent of our producers and artisans. We invite you to do the same. Because there’s something so fundamental about stocking up on good food while getting to know the good people behind it—and you can’t put a price on that!
Want to get back to basics and and make your own passata?
Here’s Elena’s recipe. Get together and enjoy making liquid gold!
