Strolling Plaza St-Hubert

I always love a stroll through Plaza St-Hubert: the stretch of St-Hubert street between Jean-Talon and Bellechasse. There seems to be a little something for everyone on this street. Whether you're looking for jewellery or junk, fashion or fabric, electronics or furniture, food or entertainment, you can probably find it somewhere in this covered strip.

When I'm shopping in the area, there are a few food places that I like to drop in on. They also happen to be close by each other and the Beaubien metro!

If you're not looking for it, you might miss Les Delires du Terroir (6406 St-Hubert), a tiny shop that specialises in local microbrewery beers and Quebec products. From its tasteful interiour explore fragrant honey from Iles de la Madelaine, wild spiced mustard made in Rawdon, or jams and jellies from the townships. Everything is the store is made by small producers and a lot of the products are seasonal. Not sure what you're looking for? Ask for a suggestion. The owners are happy to help you select a beer to match your taste, or pair it with a cheese or other local product.

Tucked away almost right next door, La Queue du Cochon (6400 St-Hubert) is an artisinale butcher that carries local and organic meat choices, including suasages. It also does sandwiches and prepared meals.

A little bit further south is Pousse l'Ananas (6346 St-Hubert), a produce store with green dreams. Plentifully mixed in among the standard fruiterie fare, you'll find local, seasonal fruits and vegetables (when available), meats from La Ferme Valens in Huntington, and a selection of organic and fair trade goodies. As well, Styrofoam trays often used to wrap up meats and produce are eschewed here in favour of an environmentally-friendlier version that take only three years to degrade in a typical landfill (as opposed to a few hundred years for standard Styrofoam!). Prices are very reasonable. Bring your own bag!

Finally, F Café (6323 St-Hubert) is a colourful cooperatively run coffee shop and boutique run by Compagnie F, which helps women entrepreneurs. Sit down and check you email over their free wifi while enjoying a quick bite and a cup of fair trade coffee. The café also doubles as the resource centre for Compagnie F.

Every time I go to the area I seem to discover a new hidden gem. If you know if one I've missed, I'd love to hear about it!