Aliments Papillon Foods, a by-the-pound store, now has a spacious, renovated, and enlarged store. They were so clever when they re-did their bins because they tagged the items with special diet labels:  wheat-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, sugar-free, organic, Kosher, nut- free, low sodium, fat-free, or even locally sourced .

In those bins you will find: herbs de Provence, toasted corn nuts, psyllium husks, jelly bellies, blackstrap molasses, 12 kinds of chocolate-making wafers, brown basmati rice, glazed fruits, probiotic cereal, Montreal steak spice, pickling spices, whole nutmeg, flax seed, buttermilk powder and chia seeds.

You can rent one of their 150 cake mold pans, and find many cake decorating necessities, and even buy pinatas. You may be looking for soy beverages, retro candy, or Japanese rice candy. For gluten-free diets, there’s a nice selection of: bread (even quinoa), pizza dough, cakes, cookies, pasta pie dough and frozen dinners. There’s an organic section now, gourmet groceries and chocolate letters ($2.39).

Location: 303 boul. St-Jean, Pointe Claire
corner: Autoroute 20
Tel: 514-697-5157
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-9, Sat 9-8, Sun 10-5

Le Panier is my favorite gift store in Montreal. It won an award as “the best gift store in Canada”  so others agree with me. It is chock full of gourmet food items,  kitchenware, jewelry, retro candy, pet stuff, kids toys, and fun gadgets. If you can’t decide what to buy, gift baskets are easily assembled from the jams, hot sauces, condiments, Rogers chocolates, scented items, and much, much more.

Look for the little tasting bowls and crackers to try out new products, oogle the candy corner or feast on their own 5 year old cheddar, sausages made by the Mennonites, and their homemade fudge.

Location: 300 Lakeshore Rd, Pointe Claire
corner: St-Joachim
Phone:  514-695-7038
Fax:  514-695-2820
Hours:  Regular plus Sun 10-5
www.thepanier.com

After all the holiday cooking, it’s time to re-stock your pantry. Buying food by the pound is a good way to save money, because you buy exactly the amount you need for your pantry or for that one recipe.

At this spacious newly enlarged store you’ll find herbs de Provence, toasted corn nuts, psyllium husks, jelly bellies, blackstrap molasses, 12 kinds of chocolate-making wafers, brown basmati rice, glazed fruits, probiotic cereal, Montreal steak spice, pickling spices, whole nutmeg, flax seed, buttermilk powder and chia seeds.

You can rent one of their 150 cake mold pans, and find many cake decorating necessities, and even buy pinatas. You may be looking for soy beverages, retro candy, or Japanese rice candy.

For gluten-free diets, there’s a nice selection of: bread (even quinoa), pizza dough, cakes, cookies, pasta pie dough and frozen dinners. There’s an organic section now, gourmet groceries and chocolate letters ($2.39).

Location:303 boul. St-Jean, Pointe Claire
corner:  Highway 20
Tel: 514-697-5157
Hours: Mon-Fri 9-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5