Tasty Eh? My Favorite Canadian Foods

When we go to Canada, these are the kid (and parent)-friendly foods that we pick up:

1. Maple syrup. Of course, maple syrup. This stuff is everywhere. It even grows in trees up here, versus plastic Mrs. Butterworth containers. U.S.-based pancake eaters love the grade A syrup, but in Canada, you can buy grade C/No. 3 syrup, which is harvested at the end of the season. This dark syrup (or No. 3) is richer in minerals and taste. It’s like the superhero of maple syrups.

2. Liberte Yogurt. This dairy company, founded in Montreal, churns out creamy, thick yogurt in a variety of delicious flavors. It’s worthy of dessert status. You can buy Liberte in a few U.S. stores, but they never carry the full range, boo. Try the orange-and-marzipan, hazelnut or dulce de leche.

3. Candied salmon. While Pacific Northwesterners also love the pink-fleshed fish, Canadians get creative with their salmon prep. They smoke it in a variety of ways, turn it into spicy jerky, add maple syrup and even create salmon sausages. Candied salmon perks up dinner salad or an egg scramble.

4. Lesley Stowe’s Raincoast Crisps. No way, $8 for a box of crackers? Dang, that’s expensive. But as a treat, these crackers are killer. The hard wafer offers a strong backbone for any cheese you care to top it with; they also go over well as the kids’ afternoon snack. My favorite blend: rosemary, raisin and pecan. But the other flavors are good too.

5. Nanaimo Bars. You’re probably familiar with the four-layered dessert of chocolate, vanilla custard and more chocolate, named after the Vancouver Island community. But the bars just taste better when eaten in Canada.

Other ideas:

• Canadian chocolate bars like Aero, Coffee Crisp, Cherry Blossom, Crispy Crunch, and Mr. Big.
• Blackcurrant flavored drinks
• British import foods (less expensive here)
• Sparkling elderflower water

Read more about food around the world here.

What are your favorite Canadian foods? And Canadians, what are you always buying from Trader Joe’s?