Road Trip to Atwater Market

Driving in the city of Montreal is nothing like walking through it. On foot, blocks seem longer, cars are dangerous metal bullets, and the right footwear can make our break you. I have learned the hard way that in winter snow rugged tread can save the exhaustion of slipping all up and down the city sidewalks.

Driving on the other hand comes with its own characteristics. Rather than curse the cars for cutting me off while I stroll across the sidewalk, I angrily wait for slow walkers to clear the path. When parking I notice the unusual system of parking meters and have become wary of those small orange signs that pop up out of nowhere indicating a parking ban for snow removal. There is a steep fine for not noticing those signs, believe me, I’ve learned the hard way.

Yet having a car in the city does come with a few perks. A heavy winter jacket can be traded for something a bit less practical and more stylish. I can wear heels and not worry about slipping on ice and falling on my face, and most importantly grocery shopping doesn’t mean that I have to haul bags upon bags of groceries back to my dorm.

That’s why this weekend, with a car at my disposal, I traveled to the Atwater Marche to do some fresh grocery shopping. The trip was actually unplanned, but after a quick lunch at my favorite microbrewery Le 3 Brasseurs with some visiting friends, we jumped in the car and decided to visit the famous market.

I had first heard about Atwater when doing some research on the city while still in Vermont. It is famous for its large outdoor market in the summer as well as super fresh produce, meats, and dairy products. The building is noticeable from a mile away. A huge cement column raises high in to the sky spelling out “Atwater.” We parked our Jeep in a very confusing parking lot and made out way into the building. As soon as the front door opened a terrific kaleidoscope of colors lay before us. Flowers of every variety were displayed in one vendor’s booth and they smelled otherworldly.

The level we had entered on resembled a crowded, colorful hallway with vendors selling fruits, vegetables, and flowers lining one side and doors to actual shops lining the other. The shops were encased in glass and I got a good view of the selection offered without even having to enter the store. Great organic and healthy options filled these stores and they resembled the co-ops I know from Vermont. Liberte Yogurt, soy milk options, hundreds of varieties of designer cheeses were just a few of the items I saw. The vendors displayed their produce like gems. Asparagus was held in bundles with bale rope, strawberries cradled in small baskets, and the zucini and squash were stacked tall like green and yellow bricks.

Delis selling smoked meats, both cooked and uncooked, completed the second floor. Row upon row of meat vendors offered some mouth-watering rib eyes and ground beef. Some even sold pre-sauced ribs for an unbelievable price. It was hard to resist snatching up the beautifully displayed food and go home to create a culinary masterpiece like a Food Network chef. I restrained myself though and only bought the items I had ventured to the market for: fresh fruit.

Surprisingly, the place was un-crowded, though I could attribute this to the lateness of a Sunday afternoon. In any case the excursion was unforgettable and I left with a large amount of very fresh apples, honeydew melon, pineapple, dried mango, and freshly sliced smoke turkey. I know that this trip is going to be repeated many times, with or without a car. While the market is certainly a long distance from the dorm, there is a metro station not too far from Atwater. The metro has its own set of characteristics, but I’ll save that experience for another day.
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