Actualités By JP Karwacki 676 Views

Jean-Talon Market's new summer street food spot to host Montreal’s Black and Indigenous chefs

With the launch of La Maison Onyx in Jean-Talon Market on July 7, Montreal now has a new dining destination to discover some of the city's best Indigenous and Black chefs. Part of the Community Food Program from the DESTA Black Youth Network, an organization that supports Black youth aged 18 to 35 in education, employability, and entrepreneurship, the new market eatery represents a new spotlight for underrepresented communities in the city.

A portion of the profits from each chef will be donated to DESTA Food to expand their services to communities.

This first season of Le Maison Onyx begins with chef Jae-Anthony serving Caribbean specialties from his Saint-Henri restaurant Tropikàl, serving food in a street food-style format that subsequent chefs will follow.

Other names coming to the farmer's market include chef Marissa Leon-John of Elle Jay's, a two-time MasterChef Canada contestant and private chef; chef Evy Mendes of Cantine Toca Toca doing vegan West African dishes; chef Jermaine Wallace of Boom J's Cuisine offering food from his famous Pointe-Saint-Charles Jamaican restaurant; chef Solange Pati cooking up the Afro-Quebecois cuisine of Maquis Yasolo; and Richard Taitt of Bistro Nolah doing Southern/Soul food.

DESTA's own Community Food Program Coordinator Berlin Reed is the chef of Atelier Etta, who will be adding desserts to the menu with his creative partner Zoe Cousineau. More chefs will be announced as well via DESTA's Instagram page.

Throughout the summer, DESTA says the menus offered by chefs will be "featuring a variety of cuisines and local products, chef-led market tours, and on-site food demos" as well.