Is that title redundant? Because I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time dreaming about taco competitions. That’s why the return of the Marché des Possibles (translation: the market of possibilities) is a big deal for me. It’s about dreaming about what’s possible for the revitalized greenspace on the corner of St-Dominique and rue Bernard in Montreal’s Mile-End neighbourhood.
Most people know it as the six-weekend-long free, outdoor summer market that takes over the spot every weekend. It’s super kid-friendly, there’s live music, a beer garden, local artisans, activities and food every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of July. There’s even a Marché des Possibles playlist on Soundcloud of all the artists performing this year.
It launched this year just last week on June 22, and the upcoming weekend, Canada Day weekend, will appropriately feature nothing Canada-related. We do live in Quebec. What else would you expect? Instead, there’ll be a taco competition featuring Mexican and Malay tacos. Future weekends will feature vegan cuisine, Japanese and a bluegrass picnic. What food is bluegrass food? Corn and raclette.
Here’s the food lineup for this year, as curated by Maurin Arellano of La Centrale Culinaire and Melissa Simard of Round Table Food Tours. Disclaimer: I’m completely biased because I love both those ladies.
FOOD FUN AT THE MARCHÉ DES POSSIBLES
This weekend, Friday, June 29 – Sunday, July 1: Tacos! The big competition will take place Friday from 6-10pm and will feature:
– 🇲🇽 Paulino Martinez who’ll be making tacos from Monterrey, from the Nuevo Leon region
– 🇲🇽 Paulino Martinez who’ll be making tacos from Monterrey, from the Nuevo Leon region
– 🇲🇽 Emilia Meillon de Manzanillo (Restaurant Calaveras)
– 🇲🇽 Maurín Arellano Frellick who’ll be representing México Distrito Federal, the capital of Mexico
– 🇲🇽 Maurín Arellano Frellick who’ll be representing México Distrito Federal, the capital of Mexico
How it works:
Go, buy tacos and vote for your favourite. There’ll also be paleta popsicles, insect snacks, tamarindos candies, music, and a surprise cultural guest.
Upcoming:
Friday, July 6 – Sunday, July 8: Vegans chefs
July 13-15: Malaysians chefs
July 20-22: Japanese Yataï week-end
July 27-29: Bluegrass Picnic
MUSIC
And here’s this weekend’s full music lineup:
FRIDAY, JUNE 29
5pm – DJ Frog & Silktits
7pm – eejungmi
9pm – Échantillons
What else should you know?
In true Mile End style, it’s an eco-friendly event, with recycling and compost stations, corn starch glasses for drinks (plastic-free) and a no-straws rule. Guess the dimsum truck doesn’t come with its bubble tea??
Bringing the kids?
Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm, there’s special programming for kids, such as Indigenous hoop dance workshops, Yogistory sessions and the market’s infamous annual water gun battle. Check the Marché des Possibles Facebook page for details for each weekend.
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