Expatriates can get homesick when living abroad. But how do Canadian expats try to bring a slice of Canadian culture to the rest of the world? How would the rest of the world react to Canadian culture?
It’s a question I found interesting, so after a bit of digging, I’ve discovered three - count 'em, three! - Canadian-themed bars located around the world, tailoring to the needs of both Canadians abroad and locals who are at least a bit curious about the Great White North. As one blogger reviewing the Canadian bar in London put it, “Canadians aren’t used to having our identity celebrated in any way—we’re not even sure we have one. So the existence of a Canadian-themed pub in a foreign country is both an honour and a curiosity.”
Starting in England, there’s the Maple Leaf Pub in London. I plan on making a visit when I take a trip to the UK in September, so I hope it lives up to my expectations. The Maple Leaf, based on the many, many reviews online (I had no idea that visiting and later reviewing pubs was such a massive hobby in England) is a tribute to all things Canadiana, and while some accuse of it being tacky and stereotypical (log-cabin feel, stuffed bear, various hockey- and mountie-related paraphernalia on the walls) it does offer a few things that the average Londoner has probably never experienced - poutine, chicken wings, and reportedly the only bar offering Molson Canadian on draft outside of North America (plus a selection of other Canadian brews in bottles). The place turns into an all-out street party on Canada Day, July 1st (well, until this past year - canceled, apparently!) and is probably the only place in London to watch NHL hockey - on a tape delay, naturally. Some longtime Maple Leaf patrons have been grumbling online that the bar has gone downhill from its glory days, but I’m not one to judge on that front. Note that although they do serve poutine, they substitute in grated cheddar cheese rather than authentic cheese curds. Not exactly a travesty, but to a native Quebecois this would be as authentic an experience as serving Taco Bell to a Mexican.
Seemingly no official website, but just Google “Maple Leaf pub London” for more than enough information.
Next on the docket is Houston Texas, where they have… wait, again? Yeah, they’ve got another pub called the Maple Leaf Pub. A Canadian-themed bar in Texas? Hey, anything’s possible. There’s a major hockey emphasis here, it looks like the bar sponsors their own hockey team and they have all kinds of hockey-themed stuff, which is odd for a non-NHL market. Labatt Blue is their only Canadian beer on tap (despite the bar’s logo being an altered version of the Molson logo!) but they have a downright impressive assortment of bottled Canadian beers available, with 7 Unibroue beers for the beerophiles out there. No poutine, alas (since when would fries, gravy and cheese not fit in with Southern cuisine?) but get this - they’ve got a vintage table hockey game, and one of the tables is located inside a replica hockey penalty box!
Link: http://www.themapleleafpub.com/
Finally, Korea! The Rocky Mountain Tavern was started as a Canadian bar to cater to the needs of the sizeable community of Canadian expats teaching English in Korea, but has grown into a bar frequented by both foreigners and local Koreans, and now even has two locations in Itaewon and Hongdae respectively. The menu looks delicious, and from the sound of reviews online, it must be a huge comfort to be able to eat nachos, wings, and poutine (yes!) in Korea. They’ve got Alberta’s Big Rock Brewery on tap (impressive!) plus they make Canada’s national cocktail, the Caesar. They also have an impressive list of shots available (God only knows what mixture of alcohols is in the so-called “Halifax Explosion” or “Newfie Payday”). Top that off with NHL hockey on TV and their own recreational hockey team and I couldn’t think of a place I’d be happier to see if I was living in Korea.
Link: http://www.rockymountaintavern.com/
Well, that’s all I had. Anyone have any other experiences with Canadiana abroad? Canadian pubs, restaurants, stores in odd places? Been to any of these? I’d love to hear more, now I’m hooked.
