as guinness is to Ireland

Old Oct 3rd, 2004, 03:38 AM
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as guinness is to Ireland

just wondering what do canadian's consider their favourite "tipple" ? is there anything in particular to try ---like the way we encourage tourists to Ireland to sample guinness----
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Old Oct 3rd, 2004, 10:16 AM
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No.

There are two huge Canadian breweris, Molson and Labatt, and each has a varity of brands. Both make beers from other countries,under license.

Labatt and Molson have about equal market share, spread around various brands from each company.

Molson Canadian beer used to market itself based on the I Am Canadian theme, so that may be one to try.

I rarely drink beer, but had a Heiniken the other night, because I liked a Heiniken TV commerccial.

Sleeman is a smallish brewery, with a lot of happy customers who seem to value the beer for more than its alcohol content. And I have a friend who has a house in Creemore, so you could try a Creemore brand beer in her honor.

It's hard now to determine what is "Canadian" in many areas, because we've got so many immigrants. Pizza is a Canadian dish now.

That said: Some as Gusiness is to Ireland things...

Back bacon on a bun, at the St. Lawrence Market, preferably on Saturday morning.

Montreal bagels, although you'll be in Toronto. the closest to a Montreal bagel that is easy to get in Toronto is from St. Urbain Bakery, in the St. Lawrence Market building. These are vastly different from the bagels from Great Canadian Bagel, which are not Canadian at all.

Canadian Rye Whiskey, which we just call rye. Candian Club is probably the best seller; Crown Royal is probably the acknowledged taste leader, at a premium price. Tradition is rye and ginger ale. The rye market has dropped off over the past two or three decades, with gin, Scothc, and vodka moving forward. But rye is Canadian.

Kraft Dinner; you may be able to make this in the hotel. You'll need a little butter or margarine, a little milk, a pot, and a spoon or fork. A bowl might be helpful, but not necessary. Kraft Dinner, or KD, is a macaroni and chees p[roduct eaten in huge qualitities by children, teenagers, and early-twenties university students. When they can get away with eat, most just eat it straight out fo the pot. Costs between half a dollar and a dollar a box, depending on sales.

Flavored potato chips (more or less "crisps" to you. Hostess and Humpty Dumpty and Lay's are the most popular brands, they come in normal and ripple shapes, and uin flavours from regular to bar-be-cue to ketchup to dill pickle, to salt and vinegar. And Miss Vicky's is the premium brand, but they have a different texture.

And Swiss Chalet chicken, at Swiss Chalet restaurants. Excellent food, low prices, good service. Leave your hotel, walk along Charles to Yonge. North on Yonge a block to Bloor. Turn left/west and walk past Bay, past Belair, past Avenue Road, and most of the way inthe next block to Swiss Chalet, just before St. George Street.

Quarter chicken with french fries is the standard traditional Canadian meal. Chicken and ribs combo is good but costs more. Don't event hink about hamburgers or anything else.

Traditonally, shrimp cocktails, big steaks, high quality french fries or baked potatoes, and plates of dill pickes are the quintessential Canadian special occasion dinner, but this is falling by the way side as people eat raw fish or pasta or tiny peieces of something else. The steak dinner, in the best restaurants that still offer them, are around $200 for two people, with wine. (Ruth's Chris in the Hilton, Barberian's on Elm Street at Yonge, Morton's in the Park Hyatt...)

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Old Oct 3rd, 2004, 01:50 PM
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BAK beat me to it. I was thinking this afternoon, that I'd mention Swiss Chalet restaurant. It is a Canadian favourite and is reasonably priced and yhr chicken dinners are delicious. Do try it.
Also, a real Canadian favourite is Tim Hortons coffee shops. If you are looking for a coffee and muffin , or a soup and sandwich for lunch, this is a very Canadian thing to do and very reasonable as well.
You must be getting excited. Good luck..
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Old Oct 3rd, 2004, 02:36 PM
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Be forewarned that neither Molsons nor Labatt make "real" beer - for the good stuff you should try beers from any microbrewery in the area that you are visiting.

How about . . . . as Canadian as maple syrup on a pile of pancakes, with back bacon of course.

And have to agree with Kodi about Tim Horton's doughnuts and coffee - probably the only "fast food" place that isn't regional and can be found even in small towns all across Canada.
(however, TH coffee isn't my cup of tea. . . !

Enjoy!!
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Old Oct 4th, 2004, 06:26 AM
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There are lots of good Canadian beers. One of my favorites is Boreal rouge, a nice Irish style red ale. Canada also has a lot of double strength things like Le Fin du Monde and Maudite, which are very hearty, very unique brews.
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Old Oct 4th, 2004, 09:27 AM
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I find food/drinks in Canada to be less national and more regional. The chicken and fries might be popular in Ontario or Quebec, but I find seafood and sushi more popular in my neighbourhood. Alberta beef and Ukrainian/Polish-descendant foods in the prairies, etc.

Canadian food reflects the diversity of cultural backgrounds and regional specialities of this enormous country. The food preference differs from one end of the country to the other in the way that what one person would define as "Canadian cuisine", another person would have a completely separate idea.
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Old Oct 4th, 2004, 09:45 AM
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My vote for the All Canadian coast to coast tipple is the Rye and Ginger. I don't think anyone else in the world (south of Minnesota anyway) drinks this delicious nectar. Remember: lots of ice, Canada Dry gingerale, and BAK is right - only Crown Royal will do: stock up at the duty free for Christmas just like a real canuck!
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Old Oct 4th, 2004, 09:52 AM
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... on the theme of drinks, "Caesars" are uniquely Canadian. They're a spicy clamato-based drink similar to Bloody Mary's.
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Old Oct 8th, 2004, 02:46 PM
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Looking forward to the rye & ginger in 3 weeks - where is a good place in Old Montreal, staying at the Springhill Suites - and - need to walk back !

At home here in FL, It's rye & diet coke for me. I must have been 1/2 Canadien in my former life.
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Old Oct 8th, 2004, 03:54 PM
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Maryann, Rye and goiner is, I would venture, more English Canada than Quebec, so you might need to find a bastion of Old Anglo Montreal. But since it is a true multi-cultural place, here's a great compromise.

Go to the queen Elizabeth Hotel, and have your rye and giner in the bar right outside the doors to the Beaver Club. And if you want a great traditonal meal, then go into the Beaver Club for dinner.

I still remember eating there about 40 years ago, and several times since then. It's based on the old fur taders and voyageurs who opened up Canada hundreds of years ago.

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Old Oct 8th, 2004, 05:24 PM
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Now if you are travelling to the east coast, you will find rum and water a favourite drink with the locals--usually black rum! In Newfoundland try some "Screech".
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Old Oct 9th, 2004, 11:50 AM
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Just read this thread and can't believe someone hasn't suggested icewine. Although it is expensive, it is very Canadian!

Definitely Tim Hortons' coffee for the morning.

Also, in terms of food, poutine is a very Canadian dish - french fries with cheese curds and gravy, and sometimes also with Montreal smoked meat.

And for dessert, it's hard to think of something more Canadian for me than butter tarts.
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