The Origin Story of Five Iconic Canadian Restaurant Dishes
Explore the rich culinary history of Canada through its iconic restaurant dishes. Discover the stories behind these delectable creations.
Classic Canadian Dish: Hodge Podge
Learn how to make the perfect summer stew, Hodge Podge. This Maritime classic is full of fresh flavours and seasonal vegetables.
The History of Hodge Podge, a beloved Maritime stew
Discover the rich history of Hodge Podge, a traditional Maritime dish that celebrates local produce and family recipes.
Classic Canadian Dish: Flapper Pie
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Flapper Pie, a classic prairie dessert. Learn how to make this quick and easy dessert using pantry staples.
Canada’s Forgotten Dessert: The History of Flapper Pie
Discover the history of Flapper Pie, a forgotten Prairie favourite that has remained a cherished dessert in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Dessert in a Bag: The History of Figgy Duff
Discover the story behind Figgy Duff, a beloved boiled cake dessert from Newfoundland and Labrador with a rich history and no figs.
Classic Canadian Dish: Figgy Duff
This traditional Newfoundland and Labradorian boiled pudding delivers all the flavour of a one-pot dessert steamed in a pease pudding bag.
The Snack Story: A history of Canada’s favourite snack foods
Delve into the fascinating world of Canadian snack foods. Learn about the history and origins of these delicious treats loved by all.
Meat Pie Magic: The History of Tourtière
Discover the unique flavours and history of Quebec’s Tourtière, a double-crusted savoury pie with ground pork and beef, baked to perfection.
Classic Canadian Dish: Classic Tourtière
This Quebecois meat pie is a comforting holiday favourite for many with a flaky pie crust encapsulating a fragrant spiced meat filling.
Jam Jam Cookies
A Jam Jam is a soft, chewy molasses sandwich cookie made with two cakey cookies with jam sandwiched in between.
In a Jam(Jam): The History of Jam Jams in Canada
The iconic Canadian Jam Jams is a baked sandwich cookie made with two cakey cookies with jam sandwiched in between.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Date Squares
The Date Square (a.k.a. Matrimonial Bar) is beloved by many despite the plethora of names it’s known by, and perfect with a cup of tea.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Nanaimo Bars
Nanaimo bars are a Canadian favourite and are a prominent feature on any cooking tray across the country, especially at Christmas time.
Triple Threat: A History of the Nanaimo Bar
The delicious Canadian phenomenon found at every church basement tea, farmers market and community bake sale across the country has been beloved by generations. And the most famous of them all? The Nanaimo Bar.
Delicious Squared: History of Date Squares
The humble date square is surprisingly sweet and perfect with a cup of tea, enjoyed from Victoria, British Columbia to St. John’s Newfoundland. Whatever you call it, it is comfort, squared.
The History of Fiddleheads in Canada
Learn the history of fiddleheads in Canada, how to pick them and prepare them for eating.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Split Pea Soup
This classic yellow split pea soup has some versatility when it comes to one of the main ingredients: the ham.
One-Pot Fiddlehead Pasta
This simple one-pot fiddlehead pasta recipe is a fresh taste of spring with a hit of zesty lemon and herbaceous basil.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Molasses Baked Beans
These classic baked beans have East Coast roots — the use of molasses versus maple syrup is a Maritime tradition stemming from New England, in particular Boston.
The History of the Iconic Jiggs Dinner
Jiggs Dinner — a melting pot of salted beef, root vegetables and yellow split peas — is one of the most recognizable and beloved meals in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The History of Pea Soup in Canada
Hunger is the necessity of invention for many traditional Canadian foods and pea soup is the mother of them all.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Jiggs Dinner
This Jiggs Dinner with Pease Pudding recipe is flexible when it comes to the amount and variety of root veg included because it’s all in one big pot.
The History of Baked Beans in Canada
While many ingredients are incredibly regional, the versatility and history of the humble bean spans from coast to coast.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Pouding Chômeur
Traditional pouding chômeur, was made with brown sugar, but now most makers use maple syrup which makes for an even more Quebecois classic Canadian dessert.
Classic Canadian Dishes: Cod au Gratin
Cod is still king in the kitchen. Not only is it a versatile whitefish, but Newfoundlanders and Labradorians know how to make it taste darn good.
Classic Canadian Dishes: The Lobster Roll
Summer on the East Coast of Canada can be summed up in a few words: salty breezes, lighthouses, and lobster rolls.
Gabby Peyton
Gabby is a food writer, culinary historian and recipe developer. Based in St. John’s, NL she is the city’s restaurant critic for The Telegram and writes a syndicated food trends column for the Saltwire Network of newspapers. Gabby travels to eat, is always planning her next meal, and is currently writing a book about the history of restaurants in Canada.