Foods You Must Try When Visiting Canada
Many Americans don't know a lot about Canadian culture and cuisine. However, if you are going to be spending time in Canada, for work or pleasure, make sure you go out to eat and try some of these amazing foods.
Appetizers
If you are going to be in Quebec then try the split pea soup as your appetizer. This hearty soup is made with dried yellow split peas and smoked ham hock. This soup is seasoned with celery, carrots, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, thyme and bay leaves. It is comfort food at its finest.
Bannock is traditionally an Inuit or Eskimo dish. Read the menu description carefully because bannock can be fried or baked. Sometimes it is cooked as a large round loaf and then cut into pieces called scones. Sweet bannock is usually drizzled in honey, while savory bannock can be served with smoked meat or fish.
Entrees
Canadian restaurants regularly have game meat on their menu. You can find bison, venison (deer meat), boar, elk and caribou on the menu. Often times the restaurant works directly with a ranch to provide delicious game. Try a buffalo strip loin steak with garlic butter or braised elk short ribs.
If you are looking for an entrée that is not quite as heavy, then consider ordering Donairs. This sandwich is served on a pita covered in spiced ground meat, tomatoes, onions and lettuce. You must have the traditional Donair sauce with this. It is a sweet combination of vinegar, evaporated milk, sugar and garlic powder. This dish can get a little messy, but the taste will make up for it.
Another pita filling is falafel. Falafel is made of ground chick peas mixed with spices and is then stuffed into a pita with pickled veggies and cucumber sauce. Falafel can be found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants, like Athens Restaurant.
Tourtiere is most commonly found during the holiday season, but some restaurants will offer it on their menu all year long. This is a meat pie, but don't confuse it with something like a chicken potpie. Generally the pastry is filled completely with meat. It does not have gravy or lots of vegetables in it. The meat inside the tourtiere will vary. If you are at a restaurant near the coast you might find one filled with salmon. Other restaurants will fill theirs with game meat, such as elk or bison. If you are feeling very adventurous, search for one filled with rabbit.
Desserts
If you like cookies, then ask your server if the restaurant offers Nanaimo bars. The bottom layer will be a combination of chocolate and wafer or graham cracker crumbs. The center layer is custard or icing that sometimes is filled with coconut, mint, peanut butter or mocha. Finally these bars are topped with a melted chocolate that is allowed to harden before it is served.