Here’s How To Eat Your Way Through Canada
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Our brothers and sisters to the north are often stereotyped for their drastic weather conditions, borderline obsession with hockey and laid-back frame of mind. More importantly, let’s focus on the thriving food scenes scattered throughout this beautiful country. They’re without a doubt destination-worthy.
It’s kinda weird that the U.S. hasn’t adopted more of Canada’s cuisine. Even their maple syrup puts our’s to shame. From killer smoked meats, beaver tails and Montreal-style bagels to unrivaled poutine and top-notch French-Canadian cuisine, you’ll want to plan your next vacation north ASAP. Here’s how to eat your way through Canada, one province at a time:
Mile End, Québec
Whether you’re born and raised in Montreal, Québec, or going for a weekend getaway, this bustling Canadian city, set on an island in the Saint Lawrence River, is where all of your smoked meat, bagel and poutine fantasies come alive. Mile End is a neighborhood in Montreal that’s been recognized for its artistic culture. It still remains a home to artists, musicians, writers and filmmakers. You’ll find galleries, boutiques and cafes all around the area, but the food scene alone should be enough of a reason to make the trip. There are a bunch of on-the-go options for all of the startup crowds in the neighborhood. Above all, the area is most well known for its bagels that are smaller, sweeter and slightly less doughy than New York-style bagels. The two bagel shops you need to check out when you’re in Mile End are St. Viateur and Fairmount. The Montreal-style bagel stands out from the rest since it’s hand-rolled and boiled in honey water before baking in a wood-fired oven. Other restaurants that continue to draw crowds in the area are Sparrow, Buvette Chez Simone, L’Atelier and Wilensky’s Light Lunch, a Jewish food icon in the area known for its fried bologna sandwiches. David Chang, chef-owner of the Momofuku empire, even calls Wilensky’s his “favorite place in the world.”
Le Plateau Mont-Royal, Québec
Le Plateau Mont-Royal fittingly gets its name from its mostly flat terrain and it happens to be just about the most densely populated borough in all of Canada. This brimming borough has a reputation for being hippy-ish, picturesque and overall one of the most fun areas of Montreal. There’s no shortage of cute shops and the cuisine is about as diverse as you’ll find in the area. There’s something for everyone with amazing bakeries, cheap quality eats and awesome bars. You’ll need to check out the Turkish coffee shop Café Réplika with vintage mismatched furniture, a laid-back vibe, savory scones, tahini rolls, meat böreks and strong Turkish-style lattés. Schwartz’s is THE DESTINATION for smoked meats and Jewish delicacies. Unlike most delis that sometimes use chemicals to treat their meats, Schwartz’s uses a combination of herbs and spices to marinate their brisket for ten days. You should also check out Bistrot La Fabrique for brunch and chef Jamie Oliver’s Maison Publique.
Little Burgundy, Québec
The name alone is pretty inviting as it might trigger your thirst for a deep red wine, but Little Burgundy goes far beyond its name. This is a neighborhood in the southwest part of Montreal with a blue-collar history that has blossomed into one of the more sought-after neighborhoods around. Also part of this neighborhood is the borough of Griffintown — an area that was once populated by mostly Irish immigrants and quickly became a gentrified hotspot, with a Brooklyn-ish vibe, that’s full of bike paths, new parks, upscale restaurants, bars and chic condos. Probably the most notable restaurant in Little Burgundy, along a tiny stretch of the famed Notre-Dame St. (one of the oldest and most prominent streets in Montreal) is Joe Beef. Anthony Bourdain is a huge fan of the restaurant and proclaimed it’s “unapologetically over the top… This is a place where you want to be: sucking down oysters and good wine at Joe Beef.” Within the Joe Beef family, there’s also the Montreal hotspot Liverpool House, with an extensive meat-centric menu and all of the oysters you could imagine, and then there’s the sister restaurant Le Vin Papillon. All three restaurants are helmed by renowned chefs and restaurateurs David McMillan and Frédéric Morin. You should also check out the English pub Burgundy Lion and the urban restaurant Grinder, where raw dishes like tartare, ceviche and tataki reign supreme.
Vancouver, British Columbia
This west coast seaport in British Columbia is one of Canada’s most ethnically diverse cities. Vancouver tends to be a popular spot for filming movies with its mountainous surroundings and booming art scene. The year-round temperate climate combined with the budding food scene makes this a city worthy of a trip. The fresh Pacific seafood and diverse cultures along with the wealth of British Columbia’s natural ingredients make this city an ideal culinary destination. The area of Gastown is hopping with new restaurants. Check out the intimate Italian joint Ask For Luigi that specializes in handmade pastas meant for sharing. Locals suggest Beaucoup Bakery and Café for the best croissant in the city. For seafood, head to Blue Water Cafe or the Fish Counter for some prime fish and chips. L’Abattoir is the spot for drinks with a French vibe and spiffy cocktails like the Avocado Gimlet. If you’re curious about the farm-to-table scene in British Columbia, The Farmer’s Apprentice will redefine your definition of fresh ingredients.
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, a Canadian port city on the western-most tip of Lake Ontario, is going through some insane culinary growth, according to this article by CBC. Especially in the downtown area, chefs and restaurants are all very supportive of each other in the food community. On James Street, there are 10 restaurants on a single strip. The city is continuously reinventing itself and with a ton of charming buildings and more manageable rents than downtown Toronto, a good amount of food industry people are looking to make the move to Hamilton. Restaurants have the chance to develop organically here without the harsh realities that come with a big city. You’ll find everything from pizza to fine dining and the diverse range of food keeps on growing. Make sure to check out restaurants like Lake Road by chef Dan Megna, the Salt Lick Smokehouse with Southern-style barbecue, Mattson & Co. (think dishes like pork belly poutine) and Nellie James Too from and chef Ken LeFebour, where the menu is guided by whatever produce catches his eye.
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