Les Filles Fattoush brings Syrian home cooking to stay at Jean-Talon Market

Les Filles Fattoush has been bringing the delights of home-style Syrian food to the tables of Montrealers for the past eight years, and it all began with one question in 2017: “Do you know ladies who would want to work?”

That was the start of this women-owned social enterprise that has since become a locally beloved part of the Montreal food landscape.

“When we talk about refugees, this means they had to leave. It’s not like the case of an immigrant who wants to change their country,” says Adelle Tarzibachi, one of the co-founders of Les Filles Fattoush.

A win-win social enterprise

In December 2015, Syrian refugees began arriving in Canada, part of government efforts to provide refuge to those escaping civil war in their country. Two Montrealers, the Syrian immigrant and businesswoman Tarzibachi and documentary filmmaker Josette Gauthier, sensed how overwhelming it would be to be uprooted from home: the uncertainty of arriving in a new country with few if any connections, and the need for meaningful employment.

They came up with the idea of creating a social enterprise that would be a win-win, both for women needing work and for the greater community who could learn about these new Canadians through food.

It's been quite the journey for the women who became Les Filles Fattoush. Named after the tart, crunchy salad that’s one of the social enterprise’s most popular products, cooking wasn’t necessarily a dream job, but it was a job in a new country. Some of the women had not worked outside the home, while others were professionals in their fields. Eight years later, several have remained within the organization as team leaders, while others have gone on to study or work in their chosen fields.

“This is what we eat at home—our own authentic Syrian recipes, with no changes,” says Tarzibachi. “We want people to be able to enjoy a real shish taouk at home thanks to our good quality spices, freshly ground in our kitchen.”

Finally, the flagship

To complement their online business, Les Filles opened a seasonal, street-food focused kiosque at Jean Talon Market two years ago. Open from May to October, the stall offers snacks to eat at picnic tables set up in the market, or for takeaway. There’s kibbeh cheese rolls, falafel, salads and dips like that famous fattoush, muhammara, with walnut and red pepper, and hummus, among other choices, and classic Syrian bouza mastic ice cream.

“It’s two locations, two experiences,” says Cynthia Chackal, manager and co-owner of the boutique and kiosque.

“We had the idea of putting our flagship at Jean Talon Market. We were the first in the restaurant alley,” she says.

The sleek new permanent boutique in the Place du Marché du Nord, at the southern end of the main market building, has two refrigerated cases stocked with prepared dips and dishes. Lining the walls are shelves featuring Les Filles’ branded spice mixes (including one for meat marinades) and homemade salad dressing, along with a range of jams, spices, grains, grilled olives, Syrian-made soap, and sweets like baklava and loukoum.

When everything is in place—hopefully very soon, explains Chackal—the boutique will offer Turkish coffee and a hot pita chip station for munching at small tables in the boutique or on their small terrasse.

Positive impacts

With the opening of the boutique, has Les Filles Fattoush met their objectives? The business has seen over 30% growth year upon year, Chackal says.

Les Filles Fattoush now has a production facility, an online shop, two cookbooks, distributes fresh and prepared items through IGA, specialty food shops, and Lufa farms.

They continue to innovate with more products sourced directly from Syria such as their own brands of pomegranate molasses and sumac. Baklava, in beautiful boxes suitable for gifting, is made to their specifications in Syria by a pâtissier who’s been making the honey-drenched specialty for the past fifty years.

Tarzibachi is proud of what they’ve accomplished. 

“For the women working, being financially independent, and having a place in society means a lot,” says Tarzibachi. “Their children have integrated well, and some have started at university,” she notes.

And just like Les Filles Fattoush, now with its own permanent home, two women on the team have now been able to buy their own homes in their new country.