Cassis Bistro brings the French market experience to Calgary

'I’m delighted to bring the authentic French market experience here to Calgary,' says market co-owner

Image | Little French Market 2

Caption: The space that was Market 17 has been transformed into The Little French Market, bringing in specialty products from France such as fresh pastries, cheeses and takeaway meals prepared at Cassis Bistro. (Julie Van Rosendaal/CBC)

Much-loved Cassis Bistro, at the corner of 17th Avenue S.W. and the turnoff to Crowchild Trail, recently expanded to include a cycling-themed coffee shop called Vélo Café(external link).
The bistro was already a popular hub for the city's cyclists and is home to co-owner Gilles Brassart's chef-heavy cycling team, a group of around 100 who meet up every Saturday morning to go for a ride.

Image | Gilles & Andrea - Little French market

Caption: Co-owners and married couple Gilles, left, and Andrea Brassart, right, have expanded Cassis Bistro to include a cycling-themed coffee shop called Vélo Café. (Julie Van Rosendaal/CBC)

More recently, they've expanded the bistro even further, transforming the space that was Market 17 into The Little French Market(external link), which brings in specialty products from France, fresh pastries, cheeses, takeaway meals prepared at Cassis Bistro, local produce and local food vendors.
They also plan to host pop-up shops with small Calgary businesses.
"We've asked a lot of our French friends and asked what they'd like to be able to buy in Calgary," says Andrea Brassart, co-owner and Gilles' wife. "So it's all either French, or it's local."

A Parisian café in Calgary

At the opening, local accordion player Penny Sanborn added to the romantic French atmosphere as guests perused cheeses curated by Peasant Cheese in Kensington, selecting 10 cheeses each week with a focus on those from France and Quebec.
As Sanborn played, patrons perused a selection of charcuterie including salumi from Empire(external link) and VDG(external link), olives and cornichons, enormous jars of French mustard and almost ottoman-sized cans of duck cassoulet and confit.

Image | Accordion player Penny Sanborn

Caption: Accordion player Penny Sanborn performed for patrons at The Little French Market. She says there are over 1000 accordion schools in France and the music is often associate the with a Parisian café. (Julie Van Rosendaal/CBC)

There are French baguettes and rustic loaves delivered daily from Sidewalk Citizen(external link), dairy products from Vital Green Farms in Picture Butte(external link), and select high-end frozen items straight from France — including you-bake croissants, duck fat fries, pommes dauphine and dishes of escargot in their shells, sealed in with herbed garlic butter, ready for the oven.

Image | Little French Market - Calgary

Caption: The Little French Market sells high-end frozen items straight from France and features goods from local producers like Peasant Cheese in Kensington. (Julie Van Rosendaal/CBC)

Some wine with your cheese?

Next door, J. Webb Wines(external link) has a well-curated selection of wines to pair with your purchase (you don't even have to go outside to wander over), and if you're not in the mood to cook, there's Cassis Bistro on the other side.
"In France, I grew up going to markets like this," says Gilles. "I'm delighted to bring the authentic French market experience here to Calgary."
The Little French Market is located at 2505 17 Ave SW.
Visit their website(external link) from more information.