What even is “Canadian” food anyway?

There are many mixed emotions releasing this episode today. On one hand, we originally recorded this to “celebrate” Canada as we have in the past. On the other hand, with recent news and the further evidence of how Canada has mistreated our Indigenous Communities it’s difficult to feel very patriotic. With that said, we have included resources in our show notes to resources and charities so you can help educate yourself as well as give back to some incredible Indigenous causes.

Ultimately, we decided to release today’s episode anyways. Today’s episode centres more around food than Canada and our guests today would be the first to tell you that they don’t celebrate Canada day. So join Tuong and The Upford Network/Natural Toonie’s  Tom Zalatnai, Alexander Smith, and David Hall as they try to figure out what is “Canadian Food” and make a Top 5 list from it!

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Resources in Education:

1. https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/resources/useful-links/indigenous-education/
2. https://indigenousstudies.utoronto.ca/resources/ontario-indigenous-organizations/
3. https://www.ontario.ca/page/programs-and-funding-indigenous-people

Indigenous Organizations you can donate to:

1. Legacy of Hope – https://legacyofhope.ca/
2.  The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) – https://www.nwac.ca/
3. Indspire – https://indspire.ca/
4. Reconciliation Canada – https://reconciliationcanada.ca/
5. True North Aid – https://truenorthaid.ca/

Ground Rules

• The term “Canadian Food” can be basically mean anything. As long as the person nominating views it as something “Canadian” to them then it counts. (Technically if you could argue that Chinese food was Canadian I guess we’d take it but…)
• We are included beverages and drinks in this list but the focus mostly will be food you eat. We don’t want to necessarily turn this into a Top 5 Canadian Beers/Cocktails list type of thing

*Spoilers* Below is our Top 5 list from this episode as well as our own personal unordered  lists.

Group Top 5

5. Nanaimo Bars

4. Smoked Salmon

3. Montreal Styled Bagels

2. Maple Syrup

1. Poutine

Tuong’s List

• Poutine
• Nanaimo Bars
• Maple Syrup
• Beaver Tails
• Canadian Pizza (Pepperoni, Bacon, Mushrooms)
• Swiss Chalet Sauce
• Butter Tarts
• Timbits
• All dressed Chips
• Peameal Bacon
• Lobster Roll
• Montreal Style Smoked Meat

Tom’s List

• Hawaiian Pizza
• Smoked Meat
• Smoked Salmon
• Montreal Styled Bagels
• Nanaimo Bars
• Pizzaghetti
• Prairie Oysters
• NS Donair
• Steamé Hot Dogs
• Back Bacon/Peameal bacon
• Ketchup Chips
• Tourtière
• Cabane à sucre
• Fiddleheads
• Cretons
• Rappie Pie

Alex’s List

• Pouding chômeur/’economy pudding’
• Clamato/mixed drinks using it as a base
• the Canada Goose/ the broader idea of responsible wild game from traditionally hunted animals indigenous to wherever in Canada you are, and encouraging the continuation of indigenous culinary practices.
• Tourtière du Québec
• Montréal-style All-Dressed Hot Dog
• Newfoundland Boiled Dinner/Jigg’s dinner
• the fast-food restaurant chain Thaï Express
• Montréal-style Bagels
• Date Squares

Dave’s List

• Split Pea Soup
• Montreal Steal Spice
• Montreal Styled Bagels
• Timbits
• Canadian Rye
• Screech
• Poutine