Canadian (read: Halifax) Food from an Antipodean Perspective
Haligonians seem to have one thing on their minds/menus: Cheese. The mother of all mamary fluid by-products. Mm-mmm. Every sandwich, wrap, muffin sub, salad, donair is infested with the stuff. Philly Cheese Steak (don’t be fooled by the name, there is no “steak”)? Pizza? Fuhgeddaboudit. It’s covered with the stuff. And by Antipodean standards I’m talkin’ “double double cheese cheese” (you could also double the cheese on the order, but it actually makes my stomach turn thinking about that much cheese). Canadians have also managed to take cheese to the next level by creating such delightful dishes as Poutine. The idea of doing anything other than dipping fries in good old tomato sauce is wrong in my book, but to smother them in cheese curd and then slather it all in beef gravy is just the epitome of gak! I am told that it is “the best thing ever!” but cannot quite bring myself to order it. There is a reason no one outside of Canada has never even heard of this “gour-met” meal.
A discovery made whilst sampling the local fare is that local industry is very much alive and, well… Molasses. This industry close to the very heart of Halifax, and spanning back to settler times, is present in everyday food items, an experience you shall have when sampling items such as the common Baked Bean (canned). Yet another marvel that awaits the tender palate is the inclusion of “essence of almond” in a surprising array of comestibles. You can sample this delight in such foodstuffs as: berry cordial and commercially packed pumpkin stuffed ravioli. Delish! Lamb, salmon and a variety of fish are to be handily found in the frozen foods aisle of your local supermarket; the freshest of all products being sent away to countries southern in a marvelous display of selflessness and generosity.
Ah, New Scotland! A capital city with dedicated local businesses bringing to us all the best Irish pubs the city can offer! A haven of wonderful Greek/American pizzerias/donair-ias! Land of Pepsi and Winston Churchill statues! Home to drip coffee connoiseurs! Where Cheese flows freely from your loving bosom!! With Justice and Freedom for All!
May the Halifax Mooseheads rule eternal. Amen.
—Where can I find a decent meat pie?
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2009.
Can’t get your kids to leave home? Stop cooking with cheese!
This is the most idiotic bitch evers.
Am I the only one who had to look up the definition for “Antipodean”? hehe
I’ve been told North Americans smell like milk because it’s so prevalent in our diet… in the way that an East Indian family smells like curry or an Asian family smells like sesame.
Interesting. What do Russians smell like?
It’s so hard to gain perspective on scent. We’ll have to ask a German. hehe
Kay, you are 100% right about that statement. And to be honest, I’d much rather smell like curry then sour milk.
Russians smell like vodka 🙂
Classic fucking Aussie whinging! (or maybe you’re Kiwi who cares really). People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. We can’t take culinary lessons from people who put “beetroot” and fried eggs and pineapple on hamburgers. Sucking tea through a Tim-Tam is not “the best thing ever”. In Canada mayonnaise tastes like mayo. Perhaps your idea of gourmet is to change the name from Burger King to Hungry Jacks; how sophisticated!
We can appreciate the antipodean palate by the huge number of American chain fastfood outlets which litter the landscape there. Yes we have alternatives to espresso: filtered coffee, french press, etc. Sometimes you want volume… kinda like tea, do you understand? In Oz it’s straight to instant I know but do try to broaden your mind while you’re away from home.
Careful with that meat pie mate; in Oz it only has to contain 20% meat (NZ 80%!).
Collingwood forever!
At least we’re not sucking back Vegemite.
I’m learning myself Russian for the fun of it. Bad idea?
Work on your English first Dino 🙂
We’re happy little Vegemites
As bright as bright can be.
We all enjoy our Vegemite
For breakfast, lunch and tea.
Our Mummies say we’re growing stronger
Every single week
Because we love our Vegemite.
We all adore our Vegemite.
IT PUTS A ROSE IN EVERY CHEEK!
We’re growing stronger every week!
I’m sorry, but how is this a bitch?
Also…………………………”whilst?” Really dude? WHILST?
Dollars to donuts this dude is one of those ‘balding with a ponytail’ guys who listen to Yanni.
If you want a seriously great Meat Pie (in my opinion) you have to travel down to Mahone Bay and eat at the Mug and Anchor.
I’m sure others will have their favourites, but the Mug and Anchor pie washed down with several micro-brewed beers on a sunny day can’t be beaten.
However, if you just want to dump on our local cuisine FUCK OFF back to Twatland
Fries dipped in tomato sauce sounds gross, I will stick to my fries and gravy.
Nevermind: ‘learn myself’ is a common play on old fashioned speak. I’m already an english major.
Haha Mole Rat I agree! He probably doesn’t use deodorant and may sometimes wear a fanny pack.
Now I have “Down Under” by Men at Work in my head with all these vegemite references.
Definitely….a leather one. More manly.
Bullshit! When I lived in Scotland I used to get chips/cheese&gravy all the time – popular late night junk food that was just like poutine.
I stopped reading this after I realized it was about cheese… Like two sentences in?
But while we’re on the subject of food has anyone tried peanut butter on apple slices? Damn it’s good. Best Snack EVER.
Fizz, my bf eats that all the time.
Personally, i prefer PB & blueberry sammiches. You should try it.
AHEM. Russian don’t smell like Vodka. We smell like borscht (beet soup) and pierogi… mmm…. all covered in sour cream and fried onions.
I’m going to live in Ireland for a few years after I graduate King’s. Perhaps they smell like potatoes and beer?
I don’t smell like milk. I can’t have lactose.
Nor can I have gluten, because I’m autistic.
But, I already have a big appetite, and this
bitch is increasing my appetite.
Bring on the HAGGIS.
Fizz, I needed a vessel to eat PB on when I gave up carbs for a while, and apples with PB are soooo good! But you have to have the right kind of apple. If they’re too soft it’s not as good.
Agreed, there is a divine balance between the density of the apple slice and the quantity of the peanut butter that must be achieved in order to do this delicacy justice…
*swirls wine*
Cheese-filled pizza crust – now that’s a treat my arteries can chew on and on and on….(TTFN falls over clutching chest)…and on…