So on Canada Day, the CBC program Sounds Like Canada aired a story about Canadian food. I got to hear most of it. Interesting stuff that centered on the question of the Canadian meal. Just what is the quintessential Canadian meal? I’ve been asked that question many times over the years and I have to say that it is not the easiest to answer. Should it be made up of indiginous ingredients? Or could it simple be something that’s imported, but somehow changed a bit or just become a huge part of the cuisine for the majority of Canadians? Is there something that represents the whole country and isn’t really regional? See? It is a tough question. So is it poutine? Perogies? Burgers? Meat and potatoes? I guess I’d say it could be something with Bison (with blueberry sauce) or Salmon (possibly smoked), had maple syrup in there somewhere, with perhaps bannock and root veggies and fruits. Oh, and Butter Tarts! ANY THOUGHTS?
You can download or listen to the Sounds Like Canada podcast of the Canadian food show HERE.
I was listening to this show on my headset while working in the garden the morning of July 1st. I liked how the panel tried to guide their recommendations based on regional & seasonal availability. I liked how they properly dismissed the “What is Canadian Cuisine” question by suggesting that as immigrants bring their own cooking practices to Canada and incorporate Canada’s regional & seasonal foods into their cultural cuisine’s pantheon we inevitably get “Canadian Cuisine” - an ever evolving rich menu of delights.
Comment by Potter — July 3, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
You’ve got it Grant! Seeing as most of us in this country are descendants of immigrants, the Canadian cooking tradition HAS to draw heavily upon those of other cultures. It’s the cultural mosaic of cooking!
Comment by Kev — July 3, 2008 @ 3:14 pm