This little foodie went to the market

The Atwater Market encourages diners to eat, drink and stay a while
Photo by Dan Haber
 

There’s no better complement to a gorgeous Montreal summer than a little shopping alfresco at the Atwater Market. With all of the farm fresh Quebec produce rolling in from the fields every day, this is the time of year when local food is at its best. Last year’s expansion led to the addition of an outdoor food court serving everything from satay sticks to lobster rolls. If you haven’t had the chance to check it out yet, here’s a little guide to let you know what’s up.

The Satay Brothers

King of the Atwater Market food court, the Satay Brothers earned a cult following last summer and are killing it this year with their affordable Singaporean fare. It doesn’t hurt that they now have beer and are open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. From a variety of different satays served with peanut sauce to the irresistible pork buns, you can easily have a quick snack if you haven’t got the time to sit down and enjoy a whole meal. With specials changing daily, once you satay, it’s hard to stay away.

La Poissonerie du Marché Atwater

The longstanding fish shop at the northernmost corner of the market now includes an outdoor food counter giving patrons a chance to sample some of this season’s freshest offerings. With lobster, shrimp and crab rolls, seafood salads and even clam chowder, they offer a little taste of the sea in the city.

Roule Ma Poule

For a little roasted chicken goodness, roll over to this food stand, where you can get chicken sandwiches, pulled pork, smoked meat, potatoes and salads, or even take home a whole grain-fed roasted chicken for a reasonable $12.95. They also spice it up on weekends, dishing out real-deal paella made with chicken, shrimp, chorizo and mussels.

La Crêperie du Marché

With a little corner of the outdoor food court all to themselves, the crêperie offers both sweet and savoury options, depending on what you’re after. On the savoury side, they stick to classics like ham, cheese and tomato or spinach and cheese. For those with a penchant for sweets, there are both caramel and chocolate crêpes, but the choco-carmel-banana combo reigns supreme.

Mangue et Melon Juice Bar

Beat the heat with an ice-cold fruit smoothie or freshly pressed juice. My personal favourite is the homemade lemonade made with lemons and red and green apples — the perfect balance of sweet and tart, there is nothing I love more than these two flavours together. For a healthy pick, you can also try the carrot, orange and ginger mix. Or, for that extra vitamin boost, check out apple, carrot, kale and parsley. ■

The Atwater Market outdoor food court is open May–October at 130 Avenue Atwater, metro Lionel-Groulx.