Cookies! They are not just something we eat. This site uses cookies so we can provide you the best user experience and deliver advertising and offers that are relevant to you. To read more about our cookie policy, including how to change your cookie settings, please read our Privacy and Cookie Policy. By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to our cookie policy.
I accept
VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Mayssam

Montreal, Canada

USD
$96-$100 per person

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

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

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.

Languages spoken: English, French

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • 6-7 tastings, that may include pastries, seasonal produce, local cheese, ice cider (alcoholic), smoked fish, dessert, etc.
1a1c7eff 7067 4338 bea4 05ea09817068

Mayssam

$96-$100 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
Market Tour
 Not offered $100 $96
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour
 Not offered $100 $96
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour
 10:00am-12:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm

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.

Languages spoken: English, French

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • 6-7 tastings, that may include pastries, seasonal produce, local cheese, ice cider (alcoholic), smoked fish, dessert, etc.
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ ppl
Market Tour
 Not offered $100 $96
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour
 Not offered $100 $96
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour
 10:00am-12:00pm 1:00pm-3:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.