Farmhouse Frenzy
gourmet food shopMontreal
(Aug.05.05)
A dark wooden cellar buried beneath a decrepit old farmhouse somewhere in Eastern Europe might be the first image that pops to mind when you think of good ol’ fashioned pickled produce and confits. But this stereotype is quickly (and delightfully) dispelled after visiting Serge Bourcier’s brightly lit kiosk at the Atwater Market. Presiding over a sea of glowing glass jars, the smiling farmer offers up unique, must-have delicacies like rose petal jelly (125ml, $4), blueberry relish (250ml, $4), cantaloupe jams (250ml, $5) and marinated beets & mushrooms (250ml, $4). And they’re all home-made to perfection at his family’s Mercier farm on the South Shore.
While perusing his fine selection, we couldn’t help but sigh on behalf of all foodies – how wonderful it would be to don an apron smudged with strawberry stains, preparing jam and pickling veggies in 35 degree-summer heat (yeah right!). Thankfully, Serge has spared us the barefoot-in-the-kitchen scenario (ok, some of us would love to trade in our office cubicles) and given us delicacies that brighten up any recipe.
Quick Tips: To awaken the gourmet goddess in you (even if you are a spaz in the kitchen), try serving crackers with Brie and a hefty dollop of almond and apricot jam (250ml, $5). Or, to turn a BBQ into a culinary feast, offer up the delicious jalapeno jelly (250ml, $5). Click here for a scrumptious recipe for Grilled Chicken Mediterranean Style made with farmer Serge Bourcier’s to-die-for lemon confits (250ml, $5).
At these prices, you pretty much can’t afford not to buy an extra jar of green ketchup.
Atwater Market
The Serge Bourcier kiosk is located right outside the main entrance (centre of the market) on the ground floor
(450) 691-7690