Guided tour and tastings at Jean-Talon market with a food writer

Meet Mayssam

Mayssam was born and raised in Lebanon, lived in New York City before finally settling in Montreal – her home for about 25 years now. In a few previous lives, she worked as an interior designer, a graphic artist and have even dabbled in catering. However in 2010, she reconnected with her true passions: food and travel, and has been a food and travel writer and blogger since. Mayssam enjoys traveling the world in search for her next culinary discovery, and love showcasing her discoveries, especially when they happen to be in her hometown of Montreal. She dreams food, lives food and loves food, all day, every day! From Michelin-starred restaurants across the planet to the latest hole-in-the-wall down the street, she wants to taste it all! Her suitcase and passport are always ready and her wanderlust spirit never satiated.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Market visit (2 - 10 guests) Enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of Jean-Talon market, Montréal's largest farmers market and one of the biggest markets in North America, with a passionate food and travel writer. Mayssam lives just 2 blocks away and knows the market and its vendors really well. It's her ‘corner store’, a place that she frequents a few times a week and one of her favorite spots in Montreal. A visit to Jean-Talon market is unmissable when in Montreal, the ideal place to buy fresh local produce, cheese and meat from regional producers, authentic international discoveries, flowers, gourmet cookbooks and other products exclusive to Québec! Discover the wonderful smells, the colorful stalls and the culinary diversity of this outdoor market with Mayssam. On this 2 hour walking tour of the Jean Talon market, Mayssam will give you insight on the market's, the neighborhood's history and Montreal's food scene. You will also stop at her favorite stalls and stores, where you will do some tastings and have one on one conversations with the vendors about their products. You might visit a cheese monger, a smoked fish producer, an artisanal bakery, an ice cream parlor, a forager’s stand, a chef’s stall, and quite a few fruit and vegetable vendors. At the end of the tour, if you wish to buy some edible gifts or produce Mayssam can help you shop. Come hungry! Bring a tote bag, your camera and walking shoes.

Please note that during Oct-Apr, instead of visiting the outdoor market at Jean Talon, Mayssam will take you to Little Italy, which is the neighborhood the market is located in. You will walk around Little Italy and visit a pastry shop, an old school Italian café, and may grab a pizza, if time permits.