Tuques, Two-Fours, and Tourtieres: Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About , Eh? (An encore presentation)

Week 4: Canadian & More Fun Facts

Dr. Danny Szpiro [email protected] Overview

• Goals • Mine: share some interesting information about the United State’s greatest ally and, historically, largest trading partner (until quite recently) • Yours? • Structure • 4 sessions: History, Culture, Fun facts, Cuisine • Interaction – lots, eh? Canadian Cuisine

• Regional treats

• Well, treats, mostly

• Desserts

• Some Canadian, some borrowed from the UK

• Canadian versions of (sort of) familiar Regional Treats: Quebec

• LaFleurs, La Belle Province • : a purist’s definition (3 ingredients) • Hand-cut, chunky, flexible (ideally) • Poutine (chicken-based, but then adjusted) • Squeaky Regional Treats: Quebec (cont’d)

• • St. Viateur vs. Fairmont • Smaller and more dense than NY bagels • Sweeter, too

• Montreal smoked meat • Schwartz’s on St. Laurent • Spicer and more dense than pastrami Regional Treats: Quebec (cont’d)

• Tourtiere • Different types of fillings regionally (, , fish) • Spiced (cinnamon, allspice, clove, nutmeg) • Buttery, flaky crust

• Quebec • Yellow split pea soup • Garnished with ham Regional Treats (cont’d)

• • Based on Scottish origins; unleavened barley or oatmeal • Combined with indigenous cuisine in many regions • Heavy and dense when baked, fluffier when fried • Recently going through commercialization in Canada Desserts: Quebec & Sugaring-Off

• Traditional spring event when maple sap starts to “run” • Popular in other areas where is produced • In French, “cabane a sucre” ( shack) • Usually, event where everything is smothered in maple syrup (eggs beans, etc…) Canadian Desserts • Nanaimo Bars • No-bake, layered treat • Crumb base, custard icing center, chocolate ganache top

• Tarts • Butter, sugar, syrup, egg, baked in pastry shell

• Beaver Tails • , flattened • Many toppings! Borrowed Sweets • Smarties • Kind of like M&M’s but smaller (thinner?) • You decide

• Coffee Crisp • Originally from UK as Wafer Crisp • 1938 Coffee-flavored wafer coated in chocolate Canadian Variations

• KD - Rarely referred to as “mac and cheese” • eat 55% more of this than Americans • Out of 7 million boxes sold weekly globally, 1.5 million in Canada Canadian Variations (cont’d) • The Bloody • Preparation: Rim a highball glass with the juice from the lime wedge and a combination of . Add the and juice. Season with pepper, Worcestershire and Tabasco to taste. Stir well. Garnish with a celery stick. Canadian Variations (cont’d)

• All dressed chips • The flavour combines the flavours of barbecue, , sour cream and onion, and salt and • In 2015, American manufacturer Frito-Lay began selling the all-dressed variety of their Ruffles potato chip in the United States. Finally:

• American Canadian bacon • Canadian • • wet-cured pork loin from • pork loin from the back of the back of the hog that the pig has been trimmed of fat • derived from the same cut and rolled in cornmeal, used for pork chops creating a yellow crust Alcohol by Volume vs by Weight

• ABV x 0.8 = ABW • Both are 5.0% ABV • Mainstream brands in both countries range between 4.0-6.0% and average around 5.0% • Some specialty with higher levels in both countries Canada Fun Facts: The Flag (cont’d) Canada Fun Facts: The Flag

• When was the current flag of Canada adopted? • For extra points, what was it before? Thoughts? Comments?

• I hope you had fun, eh? • I hope we all get to visit Canada again real soon, eh? • Until then, don’t be a , eh?

Sorry!