What's the most extraordinary Canadian meal you've ever had, and why?

pizza
hi

Canadian Bacon and Pineapple Pizza

Kraft dinner.
Cuz' it was hot and cheap, eh...

POUTINE
fries cheese and gravy and no im not stupid

THAT dialogue is worthy of a blog or a site devoted to the subject! (oh, nicely done)

I canthelp much though, never beenthat side of border.
...Got a hold of a meat pie from there once, was wonderful-never had anything like it since
Doesn't seem to be an American dish.

As a wannabe Canadian, I've got so much to love:

1.) Lotus Garden. They were in Toronto, but closed a couple of years ago (to my great chagrin). They had fantastic vegetarian five-spice "duck." Went there on our honeymoon in 1996, and kept going back every year until they closed. Our first meal there was so special, the taste was out of this world. Truly the first outstanding vegetarian meal we'd ever had. Afterwards they brought us warm, lemon-scented towels. We felt so welcomed, warm, and happy. One of the happiest moments of my life.

2.) Le Commensal. Another Toronto vegetarian spot, they have outstanding offerings, buffet-style. Too many delicious choices to list! Their shepherd's pie is our favorite. Once, after a meal, I was walking back to our hotel with the leftovers (which I was looking forward to devouring for breakfast). A homeless man approached and asked if he could have them. I said, "um, are you sure? They're vegetarian." He said he didn't mind. I figured if he wanted them enough to ask for them, he needed them worse than I did.

3.) Harvey's. They have incredible veggie burgers, better than any other veggie burger out there. They apparently have their own special recipe. Recently we went there late at night, were standing in line waiting for our order. Our little boy also loves Harvey's veggie burgers (with pickles, of course). He is almost two, and is really funny when he tries to dance. He heard the overhead music, said, "dance!" and proceeded to do his stuff. Had everyone laughing, it was so cute! Afterwards we chowed down and drove home happy.

4.) Poutine. Okay, so we can't get a vegetarian version at Harvey's, but we like to make our own at home. We also make disco fries, a variation on the theme, using plain cheese instead of cheese curds (those fresh curds can be hard to find locally). Totally bad for you, but tasty!

5.) It's gone now, but we used to adore the McDonald's cheese pizza. How I miss it! Never saw it anywhere but Canada.

6.) Tim Horton's. Now they're in the U.S., but they're still Canadian. Still kicking the rears of Dunkin' Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and every other coffee & doughnut place in existence.

7.) Caffe Demetre, for extraordinary desserts and ice cream. I've been to the one in Toronto and one outside of Hamilton. Yum. It was a chance discovery after the Cycling World Championships in Hamilton. Bad memory: getting a parking ticket while visiting the Toronto shop. Argh. But the food could be considered worthy of the ultimate cost of the trip.

8.) Cafe Crepe on Queen St in Toronto. Utterly delicious. So what if crepes aren't exactly Canadian? To me, a freshly made crepe filled with nutella and strawberries screams late night/early morning in downtown Toronto.

9.) Veggie dogs, from various street vendors, on the streets of downtown Toronto. Pure bliss. I can't tell you why these taste so good, they just do. But I'm not crazy about the new spicy ones they've got out now. Yves regular are perfect by me. I can't get veggie street meat in the U.S., at least nowhere around here.

10.) Surprises and variety. I'm always finding something new to love in Canada. From the hole-in-the-wall Italian food joints in Windsor to the ever-changing Asian food offerings in Toronto, there's never a shortage of places to try. As a vegetarian, that's something I adore about Canada, that I seldom find here in the states. Even the chips and candy bars are different across the border, with new varieties being offered over there that we never see in the states.

Canada prides itself on being a cultural mosaic, rather than a melting pot like the United States. It's true. Cultures and cuisines are preserved and highlighted, distinct and true, while here in the U.S. they tend to get homogenized into Taco Bells and Olive Gardens. Wherever I travel in Canada, I can find gems of places to eat, with something I've never tried before.

Canada rocks!

i'd have to say the best meals -- yes there were two -- i've ever had were a Jig's Dinner and fish n' brewis. as they are meals that represent my heritage as a Newfoundlander makes both meals even tastier.

i had my wedding at the sooke harbor house in the summer of 2006. the food is truly outstanding. the best sablefish i have ever had.

not only do they have an enormous amount of award winning wines in their wine cellar, the quality the food has is outstanding.

not only was it delicious, but it was one of the most extraordinary 2 dinners i have ever had due to the fact that they are canadian in every sense! the ingredients are so fresh it comes from bc's back yard ( literally and figuratively) they grow their own edible flowers and herbs which they used in the food they create. and all other sources were local, our lamb from saltspring, and seafood from our waters. we couldn't even plan our menu because we basically only had a choice of what they got in that day! i wouldn't say that was a gamble in any sense considering the skill and talent going into every dish, your going to be sure you meal will taste great.

when you can look at your food and know exactly where it comes from to me that is were you can connect with your country appreciate it to the fullest extent.

Beaver Tails or Elephant Ears ( same thing ). You can try 'em at Ottawa's Rideau Canal, or at Nakiska Ski Hill in Kananaskis, Alberta.

maple syrup!woooooo.

Maple syrup is definitely the staple of Canadian 'foods'...well that and "Canadian bacon". LOL

I still have fond memories of childhood and going to Pioneer village and tapping into that maple syrup right from the tree. It was (literally) the sweetest thing I've ever tasted! :~)

And Tim Horton's coffee. Definitely the best and uniquely Canadian.

Now if there was a way to combine them all into one meal, pancakes and syrup, Canadian bacon and Timmy's - you've found the perfect Canadian Meal that's for sure.

PS I just read about the raspberry bushes and trees. I definitely remember them being EVERYWHERE as a child and couldn't wait each day on the way to school to pick and eat the ripe ones along the way.

Not even in cottage country have I run into any "wild" raspberries since those childhood days.

I personally was raised on "Italian food"; all was home-made (and still is!!) Anything out of a can or box or restaurant was Canadian food to ME in those days!!!! :~) We grew our own produce. I guess I should expand and say "pickled" eggplant, zucchini, green beans, olives, and even green tomatoes, and beans were shucked and frozen fresh as was rapini, swiss chard, escarola etc. and tomatos were grown in abundance to make tomato sauce for pasta dishes. Mum still does all that too.

I as an adult prefer Lobster. Definitely east-coast lobster too. Okay and crab legs. My two favourite all time meals. I dont indulge in the rich and sugary foods anymore, as good as they may be they take their toll in no time. Simple cakes and with lemon/almond/cocoa/coffee (tiramisu!) with a cup of espresso (the real cafe latte!) any day.

I guess it's all Canadian now isnt it?

For Tim M, if you dig FAR BACK people indeed did eat the grossest things. I still remember people who would eat TRIPE (cow's stomach) and chicken heads simmering, chicken feet were delights too, eels, fried kidneys, rabbits and pidgeons and quails...oh and BLOOD pudding.

Remember those days people didn't have factories or manufacturers. Everything came from land, sea or beast and not much was discarded and some cultures still eat similar foods (you will notice a resurgence of certain animal parts in local supermarkets these days as new immigrants arrive from countries where those items are STILL eaten!!).

omg i hav lived in canada all my life.... and im 59.... the most extreme and traditional meal i had was SMOKED SALMON when i was in my 20s....haha

I was born in the United States and moved to Canada when I was twelve. I've been proud to call myself a Canadian since then, and have been feasting on the wonderful food every day since I got here!

The best Canadian meal I've ever had was at a wedding. It was a potluck supper that included all sorts of foods that I later found out weren't Canadian at all, but were from other countries. However, I think that all of our diverse cultures combined are what make our cuisine so delicious and so great, and a lot of Canadians will likely agree with me on some of the items that were on the menu that night!

We had:
-perogies with fried onions with sour cream
-Vietnamese fresh rolls and spring rolls
-cabbage rolls
-monkey bread
-roast beef and mashed potatoes
-Italian sausage
-ham and pineapple pizza
-lasagna
-turkey and dressing
-corn on the cob
-stuffed green peppers
-chocolate cherry cheesecake

As you can see, there were a number of different dishes from all sorts of cultures, but I think this is what made the meal truly "Canadian" for me. The meal itself was a representation of more than one culture, and I think that's definitely how many view Canada as well.

Fressen in Toronto is outstanding! It's vegan and organic, but my omnivorous friends were highly impressed with it as well.

It is tapas based so you don't have to limit yourself to one single meal. Everything is made fresh to order.

My favourite there is the Gluten Roast. Wheat gluten pan seared and roasted with seasonal vegetalbles. AMAZING.

As for traditional Canadian fare:

- Tim Hortons donuts and TimBits. Their coffee is a work of legend.
- Poutine
- Back bacon
- Maple syrop: Sure we are the home of it but many restaurants here make some awesome fare with it.

If you are looking for great game type fare, any of the wineries in the niagara region have incredible menus.

Proud to be a Canadian!!!

maple candy!!!

poutine is so yummy

Poutine at Costco's (as odd as that sounds) always hits the spot. They have great fries!

But don't forget Tim Hortons: a meal there always makes me feel warm and fuzzy deep inside! I think Tim's food truly captures the essence of Canadian living.

Hah I live in Canada so I eat it all the time! Homemade crepes, mmmm.. Yah they're french but so what!

Fresco in Kelowna, BC.

Chef Rod Butters uses only the best local produce, and freshest Canadian proteins to create an ever changing menu that dazzles the palate and delights the eyes. This, paired with an exceptional local wine list, creates a dining experience unrivaled in this area.

Alot of people like poutine, I'm a big fan myself, but the best poutine can be found in Ontario in a small town called Sturgeon Falls (about 1hr south of Sudbury). There you can find the best poutine (made with homemade gravy) and homemade pogo's (I think some american's call them corn dogs). You've NEVER had a good poutine and a pogo like you find at Larry's chip stand in Sturgeon Falls Ontario!

beaver tails! (not actual beavers) its fried dough with cinnamon on it... or whatever you want really.

Multicultural !

Caz's awesome fish & awesome Chips in Burlington

Blue Danube Restaurant's Red Cabbage "Rot *****" in Toronto

Heavenly Marzipan Strudel from (Hanson's?) Danish Bakery in Toronto

Boulanger Delicatessen baked gooods and pastries and deli foods and cheeses in Ottawa (Bytown)

Poutine at Horseshoe Valley

Local brews at Canmore

Chinese foods in North Toronto / Markham

Greek moussaka and souvlaki

Samosa

Variety Quality Variety !

Atlantic Lobster feasts in Halifax NS,I spent a week there and had the time of my life and ate like a queen.The people and music there made it one one of the most memorable moments of my life ...xxx

poutine, mmmmmmmmm it tastes so good. Eh?

I feel my favoroute is Crepes. Since they have my favoroute breakfest food ever since I could eat. I like them because all the different ways you can eat them with fruit, ice cream or evan with vegetables if you want to have them for dinner with gravie. Well that's mine how about yours !?

For Robert, and certain others: I disagree. Canada DOES have its own food. You did not do your homework very well. I do agree that most of Canada's culinary heritage is actually French-Canadian.

Have never been to Quebec? Have you never tried a home-made French-Canadian tourtière or pea soup or la tarte au sucre (sugar pie) and fêves au lard (pork and beans)?

Maple syrup in very abundant in Quebec and here, permit me to boast a little, it is probably the best in the world. One of the most famous desserts of Quebec cuisine is "tire", which is hot maple syrup poured on snow to harden it up and is usually served on a wooden stick.

Here are some of the "ingredients" of Canadian cuisine:
deer, moose, wild turkey, caribou, elk, porcupine, duck, partridge, pheasant, rabbit, bass, eel, haddock, salmon, shad, sturgeon, arctic char, corn, dandelions, squash, apples, beans, numerous types of wild berries including blueberries (again, some of the best in the world). There are also wild herbs, wild onions and wild garlic. Wild garlic is now an endangered species in Quebec and there are hefty fines for anyone discovered picking it. Oh, yes, we also have an abundance and many varieties of flavourful, aromatic wild mushrooms. Let's not forget wild fiddleheads, and maple syrup and salmon and Oka cheese.

Then there is Ontario Partridge with bacon (Canadian bacon of course) and shallots, Canadian clam chowder, New Brunswick lobster with...I could go on....

For some others: Yes, Canada does have its own culinary heritage beyond Timmy's and Poutine.

When I read the question, I thought of course of the great restaurants in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, and the meals I've had at "le baccarat", "Chez Henri Burger" (I was there the night it closed, and Robert Bourassa made the rounds among his last guests), "Les Fougeres" (steps from my cottage, my parents once save the building from fire; before it became a restaurant, it was a gas bar where I worked one summer), and all the special little places I've enjoyed.

The menus tend toward game and oft-overlooked wild plants.

But while these swirled in my head, I settled quickly on the one essential Canadian dish of my youth...

In 1967, Pierre and Janet Berton published a centennial food guide - a celebration of the history and tastes of Canada. We took a pass on the squirrel pie and pemmican recipes, but the one that clicked with us was also Pierre's favourite - Beef Heart Soup (a.k.a. Janet Berton's Soup).

This soup was the only reason we ever bought beef hearts. The smell of a major organ simmering on the stove for TWO DAYS either made you feel nauseated (my brother!) or led you (me!) to carry a BIG spoon around in anticipation. I never left the table until I'd had at least four bowls full, after which... I had great reason to leave the table.

The broth alone was headier than cognac and rushed through you like a blood transfusion. It may just be the brew that keeps Keith Richards alive - one of those unsolved mysteries, eh?

I think we both agree when I say you can't get a better donnut than from Tim Hurtons.

My aunt used to make homemade cod fish cakes. They were wonderful. Not at all like the kind in the freezer department. She also made wonderful berry pies as they came into season.

Most of the other items I love really aren't Canadian but represent our UK forefathers. Bubble & squeek, steak and kidney pie, Oatmeal & Sage dressing for the Turkey.