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Algoma’s Favourite Eats

Is there such a thing as Canadian food? 

When visiting Ontario's Algoma Country, partake in some of the favourite foods and local ingredients found in the region.

Butter Tarts

What’s a butter tart? Well, according to Wikipedia: “A butter tart is a type of small pastry tart highly regarded in Canadian cuisine and considered one of Canada's quintessential desserts. The tart consists of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg filled into a flaky pastry and baked until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top.

A butter tart is syrupy goodness in a pastry, and a must-eat while you’re in Algoma. The region is home to the very best maple syrup producers. Many of the delectable tarts you find here are made with local maple syrup. It truly is goodness at its best! But beware, the only way you can make them with fewer calories is to not eat a whole one, and that’s impossible!

Some Places to Find Yummy Butter Tarts in Algoma

Bacon 

We’re absolutely head over heels in love with bacon! Back bacon is better known as Canadian bacon but even the regular strip bacon that is served worldwide is a delectable treat that we Canadians are crazy about. 

Maple Syrup

Did you know that when the temperatures start to drop and spring is right around the corner, on St. Joseph Island and the Algoma area producers start to tap their trees? The wonderful lovely sap will be boiled to a 40-1 ratio; 40 gallons of sap gives you one gallon of pure, thick, golden maple syrup. If you’ve never tasted pure maple syrup from Algoma, it’s a must. Your pancakes and waffles will thank you!

Experience Maple Syrup Time in Algoma:

Wild Blueberries

Canada is the largest producer of wild blueberries, and Algoma is home to some of the best blueberries around! In mid-August, you’ll see trucks parked on the side of the highway with folks selling baskets of this wonderful fruit. Blueberries are believed to contain the highest antioxidant capacity of all commonly consumed fruits and vegetables. Not only are blueberries delicious, but they are so good for you! In Wawa, Algoma Highlands Wild Blueberry Farm & Winery sells this little blue fruit packed with such wonderful goodness. The Farm also processes some of the berries into jams, syrup, wine and barbeque sauce.

Milk

Milk in Canada is different. Did you know Canadian milk is free of all unnatural hormones? There is a local farm and producer right here in Algoma. Known as Lock City Dairies, we can buy our milk products only a few miles away from the cows that produced it! And milk is purchased in bags, yes bags, not cardboard or plastic cartons. This is great for the environment and very convenient! Lock City Dairies also makes butter and ridiculously wonderful ice cream!

Poutine

At Veilleux Camping and Marina, Hearst, Ontario. (Photo Credit: Martin Lortz)

Poutine is french fries, slathered with wonderful thick gravy and topped with cheese curds. The result is a wonderful mixture of flavours that will have you ordering this dish again and again. But remember, order it more than once, because this delicious treat isn’t served in the U.S. yet, to the best of my knowledge! 

Double-Double

The favourite and probably the most famous coffee shop in Canada, Tim Hortons, is home to the Double-Double. Now, you can probably order this at most coffee shops now in Canada, but the true beginning of the double-double got started at our very own Tim Hortons! What’s a Double-Double? It’s a coffee with double the amount of cream and double the amount of sugar. Now to someone who orders a coffee black, or with cream and no sugar, this would seem a useless fact, but to folks such as myself who perk up every morning with her Double-Double, this truly is a Canadian staple!

The Caesar

Now to folks with no idea what a Caesar is, perhaps you will be picturing Caesar and Cleopatra in your head right now. But in Canada, a Caesar is the sister drink of a Bloody Mary. You make a Caesar with clamato juice, vodka, Worcestershire, a tablespoon of pickle juice and a salted rim, some even throw in a few drops of Tabasco sauce for good measure! Often served with a dill pickle spear, a slice of lemon, and even at times a celery stick.

About Algoma Staff Writer

Algoma Country is a spectacular 4-season vacation destination for outdoor and urban adventures. The region borders Lake Superior and Lake Huron and is rich in old-growth forests, and countless waterways.