Canadian Food & Drink

So I get asked this question a lot..."What is typical Canadian food & drink?" And sometimes it's spedifically alcoholic drinks.

And the only thing I can ever come up with is poutine!

If you had to answer this question, what would you say?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barry Reed on September 8, 2009 at 1:09pm

A few of the things that I have had people look at me like I have 2 heads are:
- Butter Tarts
- Caesars (You put Clam Juice in a drink?)
Potato Chips with wacky flavors like All Dressed, Ketchup, Dill pickle, Bacon, etc.
Cheese Whiz in a jar that feed a family for a few months, not these little jars that they have down here that are like a single serving size!
When we were young and our parents would vacation down here in the US, we would go into the grocery stores and look at all things different from what we had in Canada. Now I wish we had a lot of the stuff we have in Canada as the US stores are boring now.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Erin Dozal on September 8, 2009 at 1:56pm

I completely forgot about ceasars!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ruby matthews on February 6, 2010 at 7:34pm

Yummy - we love those. Good thing we can buy Clamato down here.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Carolyn Jardine on September 17, 2009 at 1:57pm

On the East Coast, we eat donairs, fried pepperoni, and donair sauce with our pizza.

How about "rye and ginger"? Don't often see ginger ale in restaurants here, or Crown Royal referred to as rye.

I second the Ketchup chips! But I really only think I miss them because I can't have them, you know? I used to miss certain items at the grocery store too, but I've been here a while and tend to forget. When I was home a couple years ago, I couldn't find fresh cilantro or a decent bottle of hot sauce, AND I know I'd miss Mexican food if I ever left Texas.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David McGregor on September 21, 2009 at 10:56am

- Arctic Char
- Buffalo (tho you can find them all over the USA also)
- Salmon, especially Pacific salmon.
- Maple Syrup (tho you can find a lot from Vermont, too)
- fiddleheads
- cod tongues / cod cheeks
- Shreddies!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Melanie Croxford on December 1, 2009 at 7:16pm

Milk in bags, they just don't get that. You ust can't leave out Tim Horton' Coffee

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kim LeDonne on December 3, 2009 at 10:00am

yep, i agree with all of these, plus on the drink side:
-Crispy Crunch shot (or the chocolate bar for that matter...there's a long list of chocolate bars the US doesn't have which Canada does)
-Polar Bear shot

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Merry-Lynn McDonald on December 3, 2009 at 11:44am

Nanaimo Bars... totally Canada... I have made them for supper club here in Houston and they are a big hit.

http://food.chatelaine.com/Recipes/View/Nanaimo_bars_1

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff Whitsett on December 15, 2009 at 8:16am

Ginger Beef: that disturbingly good Thai inspired dish only found in Calgary. Big Rock Beer. Wunderbars. Old Dutch anything. Moose chili.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Quynh on January 24, 2010 at 1:37pm

"What is typical Canadian food & drink?" And sometimes it's spedifically alcoholic drinks.

I think "typical" Cdn food is similar to American food. But if you're looking for oddities, I would also include Moonshine, Schooner Beer, Moosehead Beer, Beavertails, Rhubarb pie/jam, Tortierre, pemmican (yes, I had to learn how to make in in Gr6 history so it's still relevant); Zuchini bread; Tim Horton donuts (none of this silly Krispy Creme fluff for us), Second Cup and A.L. Van Houtte; Smelt; Buttertarts; Fish and Chips. I've been told "Double cream, double sugar" is distinctly Cdn. (?)

-Yes, some of these things can be found in the US, esp northern states, but almost never hear of them in TX.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David McGregor on February 5, 2010 at 3:16pm

Van Houtte brings back good memories to a lot of Canadians. But the big news is that they have targetted Texas for business expansion! I see the local coffee nook in my neighbourhood convenience store / dépanneur is branded "Van Houtte".

It also looks like they have purchased a major Houston coffee importer and roaster; that their coffee is available at Target, and, for those of you who shop at ConocoPhillips, there are indications online that a lot of their US franchises are at Conoco stations.

You know what would make a fun event some day? A Canadian pot luck meal. Quynh brings the pemmican. In case anyone likes Kokanee beer, I have some!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Quynh on February 7, 2010 at 10:45pm

Yes, I've been spreading the word about AVH since you tipped it off to me. Personally, I'm not a coffee drinker, but I'm excited to hear that Tim Horton's is expanding into the US. Read somewhere that in Feb, they're going to release more locations for new Tim's in the US. Below is link about Tim's recent penetration into the US market although it doesnt' mention about new locations for 2010. DM, can't you use your power in the consulate to order them to open up in Houston first??
http://www.brandweek.com/bw/content_display/news-and-features/retai...

I'm in for the potluck! Whoelse?