SHOP LOCAL

MONTHLY FEATURE ARTICLE: LOWERTOWN ECHO

When asked for the secret of his success, Paul Bocuse, the legendary French chef and restaurateur, replied, “De bons ingrédients, que je choisis moi-même!” Bocuse shopped for fresh produce every day at his local market; his reputation depended on this habit.

Not only does it make for better eating to buy local produce, it makes good sense. It reduces the need for complex transportation systems, thus reducing CO2 emissions and improving the planet’s health. Rather than taking the car every time you need to stock up on perishable groceries, if you walk to the shops or go by bike, your own health benefits too.

Most important of all, at this moment the small businesses in our vicinity, hit hard by COVID 19  regulations, need loyal customers. Their appreciation of our support cannot be underestimated.

We are lucky to live in Lowertown, with a gratifying variety of shopping opportunities near home. The ByWard Market is close enough for us to go there several times a week on foot, so that we never need to carry home too heavy a load. If for whatever reason we cannot go out, most stores deliver. Sasloves Meat Market, for example, offers a service that includes delivery of items from its neighbouring stores as well, the Byward Fruit Market, Lapointe Fish and the House of Cheese.

Make a shopping list at home and call 613 241 9266 to give Sasloves the order. (The delivery charge is $5 if you spend $100 or more, otherwise $10.) This can save much time and trouble, especially since their deliveries are reliably prompt.

All of these businesses make a point of stocking foods of nearby origin, so in addition to the environmental advantages, this means fresher food.

There are small-scale businesses in Lowertown where food is prepared on the premises, such as the Portuguese Bakery on Nelson Street. Inside the Portuguese Bakery, as well as Portuguese breads and pastries, you’ll also find the Syrian Kitchen, which has its own  section offering  vegetarian platters, salads and wraps. 

At the Moulin de Provence at the Market Mall or Le Boulanger français on Murray Street, authentic French loaves, baguettes, gateaux and pastries come straight from the oven and are wrapped in paper or cardboard, which is more environmentally friendly than plastic.

If you’re planning on curry for supper, visit Shafali Bazaar at the ByWard Market building; as well as curries, they cook naan bread here. Take it home buttered and wrapped in foil, and when it’s unwrapped, it is still warm and smells delicious.

You might sometimes fancy food from overseas, and you can find that in the Market, too. Wedel Touch of Europe or the Asian Fairway Trading Company on Byward Market Square, the Continental Delicatessen, the Tea Store or the Nut House around the corner, or La Bottega, within a few steps of the others, all sell unusual products from places that remind us of travelling abroad.

Wedel’s precooked sausages are handed over wrapped in butcher paper: again, that’s much better for the environment than plastic.

Help yourself to fresher food and better health while helping local businesses.by shopping locally.

Alison Hobbs lives in Lowertown and convenes an environmental Action group.