A Group of Refugee Women Are Serving Syrian Cuisine at Jean-Talon All Summer

A catering service run entirely by Syrian refugees is set to start serving to the public this summer, opening a stall at the Jean-Talon Market.

Les Filles Fattoush has been catering groups of up to 800 people for over a year — it was formed by a group of Syrian women who had difficulty finding work after arriving in Montreal.

While the events they previously catered were typically private, this summer, the Filles Fattoush will be serving to everyone — they’ll have a kiosk on the north side of the Jean-Talon Market for the whole summer, alongside flower store Binette et Fils. On offer will be a variety of mezzes, hummus, baba ganoush, Aleppo-style red pepper dip muhammara, and meals, including a vegan option.

Les Filles Fattoush will also serve Syrian-style juices — including apricot and tamarind options, as well as orange nectar.

Some retail products will also be available: in the last year, the Filles Fattoush launched their own line of spice blends and other products, including tangy za’atar and sumac mixes, made with ingredients imported from Aleppo, as well as pomegranate molasses.

The team will also keep up its catering operation; the new Jean-Talon kiosk will also double as a pick-up point for catering orders.

STATUS — Les Filles Fattoush is open daily on Place du Marché-du-Nord at the Jean-Talon Market for the entire summer — hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

• Les Filles Fattoush [Official]
• This Group of Syrian Refugees Is Montreal’s Newest Catering Service [EMTL]