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Why
Canadian cuisine
is special
Canada - the world's second largest country geographically - is a melting pot of diverse culinary heritages from Europe, Asia and North America.
Canadian cuisine heritage
British and French settlers influenced Canadian cuisine the most. The British imprint is today evident on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts while the French mark is obvious in Quebec Province. However, much credit belongs to the native First Nations and Intuit peoples who helped teach the British and French settlers how to forage, farm, hunt and cook the distinctive bounty of Canada.
Famous specialties
that help define
Canadian cuisines
Many of the specialties listed below are now popular throughout Canada. I give their geographical origin, when relevant.
Butter
Tarts
Small cup-shaped pastry shells will various fillings.
Canadian
Bacon
It’s from the pork loin, not pork belly, which is why it is also named back bacon.
Canadian
Game
Includes beaver, caribou, deer. duck, elk, moose, partridge, and quail meat. Ranges from the familiar (venison steak) to unusual (beaver tail).
Fiddleheads
Eastern Canada
Edible fern sprout that looks like a coiled musical fiddle head when it emerges from the ground in early Spring.
Fish
and
Brewis
Maritime Provinces
Salt cod and hardtack cracker. Each is boiled separately, then served together.
Jigg’s
Dinner
Maritime Provinces
A mixture of corned beef, potatoes and other vegetables is accompanied by peas pudding mashed peas.
Lumberjack
Breakfast
Huge serving of eggs, bacon, ham, sausages and pancakes.
Maple
Syrup
Eastern Canada
Used as a pancake syrup or cooking flavoring agent.
Montreal
Bagel
Quebec Province
A slightly sweet, junior-sized New York style bagel.
Oka Cheese
Quebec Province
A French-style creamy, semi-soft cheese with buttery, nutty, pungent notes.
Nanaimo
Bars
British Columbia
A three-tiered cake: chocolate layer over a custardy icing layer over a crumb layer. It's cut into squares.
Pate
Chinois
Quebec Province
Literally, “Chinese Pie”. It’s like a Shepherd’s Pie, except a corn layer lies between the meat and mashed potato layers.
Planked
Salmon
British Columbia
Fillets are cooked on a wooden plank hugging a campfire.
Poutine
Quebec Province
French fries and cheese curds are mixed together and crowned with gravy. Some call it and the Tourtiere the national dishes of Canada.
Tourtiere
Quebec Province
Pork pie with an enveloping flaky crust. Other meats can be used, too. It is traditionally served after Christmas midnight mass.
Saskatoon
Berries
Saskatchewan
It's not a berry, but visually resembles blueberries. In taste, its milder and a bit sweeter. Used in jam, jellies, syrups, dressings, and pies.
Note: I did not include popular Canadian specialties like bannock (Indian fried bread), Belon oysters, bison (buffalo), Brome Lake duck, donairs, lobsters, and wild rice because they - or similar versions - are also associated with the cuisines of other countries. But do try them when in Canada.
Famous
Canadian beverages
Bloody
Caesar
A Bloody Mary perked with clam juice. This Canadian creation is now popular around the world.
Canadian
(Rye) Whisky
Nearly all are made with a blend of grains. Smoother than the American and Scotch varieties. Canadian Club is the most famous brand.
Test
yourself
How many of these
major
world cuisines
do you know well?
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