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The Byward Market, a (Pricey) Seasonal Delight for the Eyes

The Byward Market was my favourite neighbourhood when I first came to Ottawa. It had (and claimed) a European flair with its small open-air fruits-and-vegetables market, eclectic boutiques, Italian and French delis and bakeries, and historical buildings. I liked to stroll around the market and the surrounding streets, pretending I was still in Europe. I liked eating overpriced 100% non-buttery croissants and buying $10 thumb-sized pieces of cheese. In my wildest dreams, there were no huge SUVs parked on George and York Street but small German and French cars, and smoking was allowed everywhere.

What can I say, I was new to Canada.

And then I stopped being homesick and looking for an ersatz of France. I embraced what Canada had to offer, and even though I still buy a few European products here and there, I’m generally happy with the local equivalent. Hint: croissants, crêpes and French cheese are best eaten in France. In Canada, enjoy sugar pies, banana bread, peanut butter and Philadephia cream cheese.

These days, I don’t like the Byward Market that much. I see it as a tourist trap, where most restaurants and shops don’t try hard because many visitors are not repeat customers. Even the fruit and vegetable market fell out of favour with me—too many times I was handed out boxes of bell peppers that looked good on the outside just to realize that the produce was rotten—what a cheap trick!

Yet, the market is a gorgeous display of local products and colourful fruits and vegetables, especially toward the end of the summer. Just for the (free) pleasure to the eyes, it is worth a stroll.

Maple Syrup
Maple Syrup
Cucumbers, Radishes and Cantaloupes
Cucumbers, Radishes and Cantaloupes
Blueberries
Blueberries
Blueberries
Blueberries
Strawberries
Strawberries
Berries and Apples
Berries and Apples
Apples
Apples
Spanish Onions
Spanish Onions
Carrots
Carrots
Blueberries
Blueberries
Cauliflowers
Cauliflowers
Beans
Beans
Beans
Beans
Vegetables
Vegetables
Strawberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Raspberries
Corn
Corn
Garlic
Garlic
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Zhu

French woman in English Canada.

Exploring the world with my camera since 1999, translating sentences for a living, writing stories that may or may not get attention.

Firm believer that nobody is normal... and it’s better this way.

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