Sweet and savory delights: A rundown of 4 iconic Canadian foods

Text and photos byDad Seahorse

A few weeks ago, Dad Seahorse introduced several dishes originating from Vancouver but named after other places, which received an enthusiastic response from readers. Extended reading: Vancouver foods with misplaced identities. In fact, there are several other foods that originate from Canada and are ranked high on the culinary hall of fame, widely known around the world. Let Dad Seahorse introduce these four famous foods that come from Canada~

Nanaimo Bars (chocolate bars)

Nanaimo is a city located on the central eastern shore of Vancouver Island. Though blessed with a pleasant climate and unparalleled coastal scenery, it might not have left much of a mark in people's minds if not for the dessert named after the city — Nanaimo Bars.

The earliest recipe for this dessert appeared in a cookbook from Nanaimo City Hospital in the 1950s. This three-layered treat, based on chocolate and cream, has a crumbly cookie base, a middle layer of custard-flavored icing, and a top layer of chocolate. It has a rich, smooth, and crispy texture with a delightful mix of custard and chocolate flavors, making it a hugely popular sweet in North America.

To be honest, making this dessert is quite simple — it doesn’t even require an oven and isn’t particularly complicated. But modern pastry chefs have endlessly reimagined it with new twists: custard replaced with peanut butter, mint, or even latte flavors; the top chocolate layer swapped for 70% dark chocolate, or decorated with milk swirls, sprinkled icing, or dried fruits. The variety is endless and incredibly appealing.

Butter Tarts (walnut tarts)

Alright, we have to admit — Canadian butter tarts and American pecan pies are about 90% similar. Both have a crisp cookie-like crust, filled with butter, syrup, eggs, and nuts. The main difference is that pecan pies are usually regular tart size (six or eight inches), with a denser filling, while butter tarts are bite-sized and have a semi-solid filling due to the lack of cornstarch — one bite and you get a crispy outside with a soft, molten center reminiscent of a soft-boiled egg.

This dessert, originating from Canada’s English-speaking Eastern regions, first appeared in recipes around the year 1900. Despite sharing similarities in taste and form with desserts from various Western countries, it remains a beloved treat among Canadians. Modern bakers love to enhance the traditional walnut and raisin filling with various dried berries, chocolates, and more.

To celebrate this dessert, the city of Midland in Ontario holds an annual “Butter Tart Festival and Contest,” encouraging creative recipes. On the event day, over 52,000 butter tarts are sold. The Canadian spirit is fully embodied in their dedication to this national delicacy.

Poutine (fries with cheese curds and gravy)

When it comes to “Poutine,” many might recognize the name of the Soviet premier; but when talking about “fries with cheese curds and gravy,” its fame in the culinary world far surpasses that of the leader of the "warrior nation."

In the 1950s, poutine was born in Quebec, on Canada’s East Coast. There’s much debate and no definitive answer as to which restaurant first served it, but one thing is certain — poutine has become a Canadian classic. Whether at specialty chains like New York Fries or Smoke’s Poutinerie, or on the menus of fast food giants like McDonald’s, Burger King, or Wendy’s, poutine can be found everywhere. It’s no exaggeration to say that you can enjoy this hot, indulgent, and calorie-packed street food in every corner of North America.

Calling it a calorie-packed street food is no exaggeration — golden crispy fries, thumb-sized cheese curds, and a drizzle of beef gravy make up a trio that’s already loaded with calories. In recent years, poutine makers have added all kinds of toppings such as chicken, salmon, ham, sausages, even foie gras or truffles. The flavor variety and sky-high calorie count are so abundant that “a hundred schools of thought” barely describes this beloved Canadian dish.

BeaverTails (fried dough tails)

Beavers, masters of aquatic engineering, are a national symbol of Canada. Not only do they appear on the official emblems of many Canadian provinces, but the Canadian clothing brand Roots also features the beaver as its mascot.

Shaped like an elongated oval, these fried dough pastries have a taste not too different from Chinese scallion pancakes. They are named for their resemblance to a beaver’s tail. The small red BeaverTails shop near Ottawa’s ByWard Market may not look like much, but it’s the birthplace of this chain. Customers line up for the beaver tail pastries, which come in ten different flavors: the air is filled with the aroma of apple cinnamon, maple cream, banana chocolate, and more.

BeaverTails now has over 70 locations worldwide. Beyond the North American market, you can bite into these hot and fragrant “beaver tails” in Japan, South Korea, and Dubai.

Dad Seahorse
A Gemini man born under the air sign, he worked as a senior marketing and PR executive for multinational corporations before turning 45. After 45, he moved to Canada. Alongside his teenage sons, he plays the role of a father amidst foreign springs of cherry blossoms, summer sunshine, autumn foliage, and winter rain and snow, while documenting what he sees and hears in Vancouver.

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