Part of the reason we started Hand Luggage Only was to connect with more people who share our passion for travel so I am always delighted when we find out more about anything food or travel related.
I still get excited when someone tells me about a restaurant/bar/new attraction that I haven’t been to in London despite having lived here for years and years.
Take a look at some of the best foods to try in Quebec, Canada that isn’t just poutine (however yummy it is).
1.) Bagel
This is a Montreal classic! Don’t come to our metropole without sampling one of our bagels. There are two major bakeries in town: St-Viateur Bagel and Fairmont Bagel.
There’s an ongoing (friendly) war between these two about who makes the best bagel. I won’t take it aside. You try them, and you tell me!
Read more: Best things to do in Quebec City
2.) Tourtière (Meat Pie)
It’s not only a dish, but it’s also a tradition.
This meat pie can be simple, made of ground pork and ground beef, or elaborate, with layers of various meats and potato cubes, but it is a must-eat during our Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Each family has its secret ingredients and the recipe is passed from grandmother to granddaughter every generation.
Read more: Best things to do in Quebec City
3.) Pâté Chinois (Shepard’s Pie)
This is a classic weekday dish in almost every Quebecois family. The basic format employs of three layers: ground beef, corn, and mashed potatoes.
Nowadays, some restaurants offer fancier versions: they might add vegetables, or cheese and vary the spices.
There’s nothing Chinese about this meal. The name comes from the thousands of Chinese who worked building of Canada’s two transcontinental railways. It was an inexpensive way to feed a lot of people.
4.) Pouding Chômeur
Pouding chômeur is heaven a vanilla cake that has been baked in maple syrup or brown sugar syrup.
The cake batter is poured on a layer of syrup and is cooked directly therein.
It creates a warm soft cake. Perfect comfort food after a big snowstorm in January or riding horseback at the sugar shack. The maple syrup, of course, is from Quebec… the world’s best.
The name derives from the fact that it is very cheap to make, and was created during the Great Depression.
Read more: Best things to do in Quebec City
5.) Blueberry Pie
In the Quebec region of Saguenay Lac St-Jean, the blueberries are so famous that it’s the nickname we give to the inhabitants of the region! The best season to eat them is usually Mid-July to the end of August.
If you visit this region, you can pick the fruit yourself, which gives you the opportunity to eat a lot of them while picking and have some to take home too. Yum!
Of course, there’s blueberry everything: jam, cake, muffins, juice, etc. But choose the pie. This is a blueberries expert talking.
Read more: Best things to do in Quebec City
6.) Maple syrup everything
The possibilities are infinite: Maple syrup flakes in a salad, maple syrup smoked salmon, maple syrup on pancakes, maple syrup ice cream.
Let’s just say you can put it anywhere! Well, almost, but please take note here. I have a sweet tooth.
Read more: Best things to do in Quebec City
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