If you’ve read the anything about me at all, you may realize that I am Canadian. I am a proud Canadian, and over the last year I was quite privileged to spread my wings and visit some more of my amazing homeland. Now I feel even more qualified and eager to share about my amazing country, and the things that make it tick.

The quickest way to a Canadian’s heart is through their stomach.

Canadian winters can be long and cold, so we are always in need of fattening food to keep us filled up, and makin’ love all winter long (which can last from September to June in some cases!). The most fattening food comes from Quebec.

My favourite Quebecois dessert is Pouding Chomeur. (I actually have a fab recipe that I should tack up in the Sustenance section under Media) Quite literally it is a pudding for peasants, and is made of a floury cake baked in maple syrup! If there’s one thing I learned from Quebec, it is that you can cook anything in maple syrup and make anything delicious. Even eggs! It looked gross, I admit, but you just can’t go wrong with a bit of maple heaven. Also, some Cabanes a Sucre make penis shaped maple pull on a stick!

Also from Quebec comes the glory that is Poutine. And let me tell you, it is more than just fries, cheese curds and gravy (although those are the standard ingredients). Many restaurants also sell it with bacon, beef, vegetables and all sort of stuff in it! They even have Poutine Italien, which finds the gravy replaced by Pizza sauce! Not a fan of fries and gravy, the cheese curds are great on their own as well! Available at any depanneur (read: convenience store), they are a salty, squeaky treat available right on the counter! Definitely something to pick up, since they are hard to find in Western Canada.

While you’re trolling the convenience stores, you may want to pick up a bit of candy! Canada has some really fantastic candy, let me tell you. On the mainstream end, we have Crispy Crunch bars! Canada, and more specifically, Calgary, is also home to renowned chocolatier Bernard Callebaut!

To wash that down, you may want to try some Newfie Screech. Now, I’ve never actually tried this, because I don’t have a death wish at the moment, but it is definitely on my list of things to do before I die! Until then, I will content myself with some Red Rose, which is pretty much the yummiest cheap black tea you will ever drink.

And last but not least, a Canadian Institution that really deserves a category to itself, Tim Hortons! The coffee is good, the doughnuts are good, the Timbits are better, and it’s ours dammit! You cannot drive past a Tim’s without stopping, the line-ups for the Drive Thru are normally backed up to Saskatchewan (or if you’re in Saskatchewan, Newfoundland.), and they get even longer during Rrrroll Up The Rim To Win. Your town is not a town until you have a Tim’s, but most towns do, it is a necessity, like water, or air. Also, their commercials are heart warming, kind and hockey-related, which is what we’re all about.