While Canada is, in many ways, similar in culture to the United States, there are definitely some differences! One of those differences is in the food. We’re all familiar with real maple syrup and Canadian bacon, but there are certain foods enjoyed in various parts of our northern neighbor country that Americans are usually not acquainted with. If you are planning a trip to Canada, here are some delicacies that you should try at least once:
Poutine
Probably the number one food that one might think of as traditional Canadian, or at least Quebecois, fare, is poutine (pronounced poo-tin). If you are unfamiliar with poutine, it’s basically thick-cut fries with cheese curd and a peppery gravy poured over the top. In order to be truly authentic, the fries should be hand cut and fried in lard. The gravy is very thick, much thicker than we are accustomed to in the USA. Finally, the cheese curds should be from cheddar cheese; they will squeak between your teeth. When it’s all together, it has been known as a heart attack in a bowl, but you should at least try a few bites if you’re in the Quebec area!
Dill Pickle Chips and Ketchup Chips
Here in America, we tend to eat barbecue- or ranch-flavored potato chips. Up north, however, some of their favorites are flavored like dill pickles and ketchup (but not at the same time!). The dill pickle chips taste, as you might expect, like dill pickles. They’re salty and have a bit of a bite, almost like salt-and-vinegar chips that are enjoyed here. The ketchup chips are supposed to taste like ketchup, but I have found them to be very unpleasantly salty. Of course, maybe a big spoonful of ketchup would also taste very unpleasantly salty. They also stain your fingers red. Either way, try at least a handful of each. Maybe they’ll become your new favorites!
Cipaille: Dating back to the 18th century, this is a very traditional dish in Quebec also known as sea-pie. You will see variations of this layered pie made with seafood, wild fowl, game or beef with vegetables. This is similar to our pot pies.
Decadent Desserts
Travel wouldn’t be as much fun if we didn’t have the opportunity to try the sweets and confections popular in other areas of the world. Canada is no exception; they have some delectable desserts that are just waiting for you to give them a try. Nanaimo bars, popular in British Columbia, are piled high with deliciousness: The bottom layer is a crumb crust. On top of that is vanilla frosting, and the whole thing is topped with melted chocolate. Beaver Tails are rounds of fried dough that are covered with chocolate, then candy or fruit. If packaged treats are more your style, pick up a box of May West. These are reminiscent of our Twinkies, only they’re round and covered in chocolate. Trempette is bread doused with maple syrup and topped with creme fraiche or whipped cream.
Many regions of Canada also offer several restaurants that offer farm to table food and eating. The chefs walk out to their gardens to see what is ripe to pick the evening’s menu. We also recommend browsing through local farmer’s markets, visit wineries and maybe take a cooking class or even learn to pluck forest mushrooms.
If you truly want to discover a culture, you’ll need to eat like the locals. While Canada is close to the United States in many ways, there are some differences. There’s no better way to experience some of the differences than to taste the firsthand! Can you think of any other foods to try in Canada? Share them with our readers!
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