Michael Haggert
As we turn to February on the culinary
calendar, we see some great occasions
coming up. Imbolc, the Feast of St. Brigid
doesn’t have much popular appeal. Then, we
come to Groundhog Day. And while many of
us would like to see him roasted on a spit if
he sees his shadow, I don’t think we’re going
to see a proliferation of roast groundhog
sandwiches on menus.
Perhaps we should turn out attention to
the middle of the month, and that great
celebration that pulls at our heart strings.
It’s Heritage Day on February 16, that
festival of patriotism during which we tout
all things Canadian, and particularly feast
on those uniquely national delecacies.
What is Canadian food?
I like maple syrup, but my friends in
the northeast United States tell me it isn’t
unique to Canada. I’m a fan of Montreal
smoked meat, but it isn’t the same outside
of Montreal. It has a regular flavour that
isn’t completely national. In the same way
that peameal bacon is just a sliced pork loin,
Montreal smoked meat is just another
smoked meat.
Ketchup, dill pickle and all-dressed
chips aren’t marketed outside of Canada,
but it’s a stretch to hold them up to the
standards of national cuisine.
As we observe the 50th anniversary of
our maple leaf flag, I hope you will join me
by finding our truly naitonal dish: poutine.
Poutine also has its roots in the
Montreal area but has spread from coast to
coast. While there may be some variation in
the gravy or sauce, the real genius of
Did you know there are
several popular snacks
on the market that can
only be found in Canada?
Ketchup, dill pickle and
All-dressed flavoured
potato chips
Double stuff oreos
Smarties
Coffee Crisp
Red River hot cereal
Swiss Chalet sauce
Breton crackers
poutine is the addition of the cheese curds.
This rich, savoury, calorie-laden dish is
perfect for a frosty Febuary day, especially if
your New Years resolution concerned a
calorie-reduced diet, and you want to dash
more than six weeks of good behaviour to
bits with a fork.
In addition to the fast food restaurants
jumping on the poutine bandwagon, there
are a number of local eateries with this treat
on the menu, from Simon’s to Frenchy’s
Poutinery. Their offerings stretch to include
toppings from pulled pork to beef, but I’m a
poutine purist – I think it’s best with just
the sauce and cheese curds.
If you still have room – maybe you
shared your poutine and want some dessert
– choose a Nanaimo bar or, better yet, a
butter tart. With raisins, walnuts or pecans,
or just plain, butter tarts are Canadians’
reward for living in a frozen land and are
one of the best examples of a distinctly
Canadian food.
Should the person you shared your
poutine with happen to be the person you
forgot to give a Valentine to two days before,
I strongly suggest a heart-shaped box full of
butter tarts. It won’t get you out of the
proverbial doghouse, but at least you’ll have
a heart-shaped box of butter tarts.
And if you happen to know anywhere I
can get such a box of butter tarts, let me
know. I want to feel like a proud Canadian
this February, and food matters.
Tell us on Facebook about your adventures with food this month,
or tweet us @thehubWE #foodmatters
February 2015 - The HUB 7