Ultimate Canadian Foodie Tour: What to Eat & Where Across Provinces

Canada is the ultimate foodie’s destination. With so many provinces and a variety of culinary dishes, who wouldn’t want to explore the food scene in Canada? From savory meat-based dishes to creamy sweet desserts, there is so much to eat in Canada. Here is what your Canadian foodie tour would be like.

A Quintessential Canadian Foodie Tour

Here is a breakdown of what types of food are available in Canada, including specialty meals. These types of food are specific to each province in the country.

Montreal, Quebec

Montreal, in Quebec, is the foodie capital for popular Canadian dishes smoked meat and poutine. The deli-styled smoked meat is a beef brisket cured with salt and spices for more than a week. You can try some of the best smoked meat at the famous restaurant in Montreal, Schwartz’s Deli.  Schwartz’s Deli keeps the meat up to 10 days for preparation. Montreal-styled bagels are also popular in the region. These bagels and sweeter and smaller their New York counterparts.

Quebec City, Quebec

The quintessentially Canadian poutine national dish. is Quebec’s signature dish. Quebec’s signature dish comprises of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. In fact, some claim that people of Quebec are the original creators of this dish. Poutine is also popular as Canada’s Boutique crepes are also another popular dish in Quebec, especially Old Quebec. Tourtière is another dish in Quebec that most people enjoy eating. It is a spiced meat pie that is a must-have in the holiday feast table in Quebec households.

Toronto, Ontario

Toronto’s famous dish is peameal bacon. Peameal bacon consists of a lean pork loin rolled in cornmeal and cut thick for breakfast sandwiches. This dish is a Canadian specialty originating from Toronto, Ontario. Apart from this, Toronto is also famous for butter tarts, sushi pizza, donair, tourtière, Montreal bagels, and salted codfish, and other global favorites like butter chicken roti and Jamaican patties.

Prince Edward County, Ontario

Prince Edward County (PEC) is the gastronomical capital of Ontario. The island is located along the northeast shore of Lake Ontario and is a three-hour drive east of Toronto. It is an island with a rich history in farming and agriculture which, naturally, makes it a foodie’s destination. PEC is famous for its artisanal cheeses and farm-fresh produce due to its rich agricultural history. The island also makes use of lavender-infused dishes and wood-fired meals.

Vancouver, British Columbia

British Columbia is popular for its fishing industry and amazing local seafood dishes. West Coast fish chowder is a popular option in British Columbia, especially in Vancouver. The dish consists of local ingredients such as sockeye salmon, Dungeness crab, and smoky Canadian bacon. These British Columbian specialty dishes are perfect to savor in winter, when the air is chilly and you need something to make you feel warm.

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Okanagan Valley, in British Columbia, is popular for its wine scene. This region prepares food using fresh local produce that results in unique culinary dishes. The dishes primarily feature local cheeses, wild salmon, smoked salmon, and grilled peaches, all of which easily pair with local wines of this region.

East Coast – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

The East Coast has its own set of culinary dishes that tend to draw people from all over the world towards this region. St. John’s, in Newfoundland, is a popular area for its culinary scene. Popular dishes in this region include Cod au Gratin, jiggs dinner, fish cakes, and fried cod cheeks and tongues. Local favorites also include pea soup, toutons, and salt fish and brewis. Most of the local cuisines incorporate local ingredients and flavors.

Prairie Provinces – Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

The Prairie provinces – Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, have unique food dishes that follow the traditions of early European settlers. The dishes come from German, Polish, and Ukranian culinary heritage along with a blend of local ingredients. Prairie specialties include pierogies (a culinary dish stuffed with cheese and potatoes), cabbage rolls, kielbasa, sausages, and thick, warming stews.

Banff, Alberta

Banff, in Alberta, often feature dishes made based on local game. These dishes often feature local game meat from bison, elk, and other wild game. Specialty dishes in Alberta include Alberta beef, poutine, bison & elk meat, Caesar, maple syrup, and beavertails.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Saskatoon berry pie takes center stage among food options in the prairie province, Saskatchewan. Saskatoon berries are purple in color and have a unique tastes that falls somewhere between almonds and blueberries. You can use these berries in a lot of food items, including jams and pastries.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Winnipeg, in Manitoba, has several signature dishes that many people like in this region. The region’s specialties include chicken strips with honey-dill sauce, the Fat Boy (a burger piled with lettuce, chilli, pickles, and mayo), and Smoked goldeye, which is a local fish delicacy. Winnipeg sweet specialties include Schmoo cake, which is a torte with layers of whipped cream, caramel, and nuts.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is the first Canadian province that European colonists came to settle. Therefore, it is natural to expect the colonial touch in everything in this region. You can taste some delicacies with a touch of French cuisine in them. The most popular dish in Nova Scotia is the Rappie Pie, also called paté râpé, which the early French settlers introduced. The Rappie Pie has a rich flavor that is an all-time favorite among everyone who visits this region.

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Fredericton, in New Brunswick, is also a place bustling with the food scene. The region uses locally-sourced products to prepare various dishes. Some of the popular dishes of the region are seared coulotte steak, chicken paillard salad, roast vegetables, and customized cocktails like the sake-spiked Pushover. It is also a region with an array of local wines and artisan chocolates.

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island (PEI), is a place where you will learn to shop for ingredients and cook up your own meals using locally-sourced products. Food trucks with South East-Asian style ice cream are popular in this region. Look out for PEI –sourced ice cream flavors like mint and banana. Popular dishes of this region are chipotle tacos, mussels and frites, and other tapas.

Whitehorse, Yukon

Whitehorse, in Yukon, serves much more than its signature sourtoe cocktail. The region has much more diverse culinary treats to offer. Delectable dishes of the region include curry chicken stew, lime-basil tiger prawns, Klondike rib & salmon, crusted elk tenderloin, wild game meatballs, sold-smoked salmon and many more.

Conclusion

Canada is a culinary haven that you must not miss a chance to explore its food scene if you are there. From the East Coast to West Coast, there is something for every taste bud. It is the ultimate Canadian food tour that you must try when in North America.