# Is There Such A Thing As "Canadian Food"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274 "2010-09-27T21:15:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/1 "2010-09-27T21:15:47Z")
If I wanted to open a Canadian restaurant in, say, Dallas, Texas, what would I have on the menu? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/2 "2010-09-27T21:16:48Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > If I wanted to open a Canadian restaurant in, say, Dallas, Texas, what would I have on the menu? Poutine. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/3 "2010-09-27T21:20:23Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > > [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > > > If I wanted to open a Canadian restaurant in, say, Dallas, Texas, what would I have on the menu? > > Poutine. That’s the only thing I could think of… ---
**Author:** ![Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/4 "2010-09-27T21:24:04Z")
> **[Canadian cuisine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_cuisine)** > > Canadian cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices of Canada, with regional variances around the country. First Nations and Inuit have practiced their culinary traditions in what is now Canada since time immemorial. The advent of European explorers and settlers, first on the east coast and then throughout the wider territories of New France, British North America and Canada, saw the melding of foreign recipes, cooking techniques, and ingredients with indigenous flora and fauna. Di... ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/5 "2010-09-27T21:28:31Z")
There is a [Wikipedia article on Canadian cuisine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_cuisine) (ETA: just mentioned by **Winnipeg** ). A lot of the things mentioned there seem derived from other cultures, but there is the [Jiggs dinner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiggs_dinner) which seems original. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/6 "2010-09-27T21:33:03Z")
Don’t forget seal flipper pie and Nanaimo bars (a mari usque ad mare). ---
**Author:** ![moejoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@moejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejoe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/7 "2010-09-27T21:34:11Z")
Bacon ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/8 "2010-09-27T21:44:03Z")
Things flavo_u_red with maple. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/9 "2010-09-27T21:59:13Z")
I ended up in a Canadian restaurant in Paris. They served pub food and had a hockey game on. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/10 "2010-09-27T22:20:24Z")
Here’s menus from a couple of (very tasty) Quebec restaurants that have a Canada theme. Conclusion: Frenchy, plus a lot of wild game/seafood. [http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/menu.php](http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/menu.php) [http://www.beaverclub.ca/](http://www.beaverclub.ca/) Moving away from the haute end, yeah, beyond poutine and maybe smoked meat sandwiches (mmm), you might struggle a bit to find much distinct (or at least marketable) – see how Disney fared with the attempt at Epcot (answer – not all that well): > **[Le Cellier Steakhouse Menu , Review - EPCOT World Showcase](https://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=137)** > > Le Cellier Steakhouse - Le Cellier Steakhouse Menu 2020, Review and Disney dining information located at EPCOT World Showcase in the Walt Disney World Resort. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/11 "2010-09-27T22:43:57Z")
Variations on Nanaimo bars (I like the irish coffee one), both fresh water and ocean fish, Timmies (you’ll have to smuggle them), salt & vinegar chips, scotch broth, awesome steaks, delicious Belgian-style cakes and don’t forget the mac & cheese with cut-up hot dogs. 🙂 Be sure your condiments include mayo and malt vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/12 "2010-09-27T23:00:04Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > Timmies (you’ll have to smuggle them) Per their website, there are Tim Hortons in Michigan, Maine, Connecticut, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and I can vouch that they’re all over New York City now. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/13 "2010-09-27T23:08:07Z")
> [@moejoe](#): > > Bacon that would be back bacon ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/14 "2010-09-27T23:09:19Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > > [@moejoe](#): > > > > Bacon > > that would be back bacon Possibly peameal back bacon. ---
**Author:** ![Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/das_glasperlenspiel/32/2944_2.png) [@Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Das_Glasperlenspiel)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/15 "2010-09-27T23:18:51Z")
Butter tarts. Bannock (baked or fried). West Coast style smoked salmon(not like lox or Nova Scotia smoked salmon at all). Saskatoon berry pie. Blueberry grunt. Cod with scrunchions. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/16 "2010-09-27T23:27:04Z")
Grits? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/17 "2010-09-27T23:29:44Z")
[Pouding](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pouding_ch%C3%B4meur) [Chomeur](http://www.google.com/images?q=Pouding+Chomeur&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=639). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/18 "2010-09-27T23:31:24Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > Grits? 😃 Only in South Canada. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/19 "2010-09-27T23:48:55Z")
Goin’ the Bob and Doug McKenzie route, I’d say back bacon, cigarettes, beer and crullers. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274/20 "2010-09-27T23:54:38Z")
Humility. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-such-a-thing-as-canadian-food/555274.md?page=2)