Five Must-Try Foods in Quebec

The Canadian province of Quebec is a truly fascinating place to visit. Situated above the east coast of the United States and in between Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec retains its European heritage and influences more strongly than perhaps anywhere else in North America. 

The reasons for this are historical and complicated, but the result is that Quebec has some of the most gorgeous architecture in the world, not to mention a historic, diverse, and unique culture of food. First founded by the French in 1608, Quebec’s cuisine draws heavy inspiration from French culinary styles, but further informed by immigrants, as well as New English and Canadian influences. 

Furthermore, Quebec’s location makes it a perfect road trip when visiting other big cities like Toronto or New York. The largest city in the province, Montreal, is only a three-hour drive away from New York City. 

Rent a car for the day, perhaps choosing battery electric vehicles and other types of EVs to be more environmentally friendly, and come try these five famous dishes in the heart of French Canada. As always when traveling, remember to exercise safety precautions when dining out.

Bagels

Although the most famous bagels in the world might be from New York, true bagel-lovers know Montreal-style bagels are the best. Montreal bagels are smaller than their New York counterparts, with a sweeter taste and a thinner, denser shape and texture. These bagels are made by hand with flour, malt, and eggs without any added salt. 

They are then boiled in water sweetened with honey and always baked in a wood fire oven. The result is a delicious, smokey bagel with a crispy richly flavoured crust. You can order them with the traditional accompaniments of cream cheese and smoked salmon if you’re feeling indulgent, but honestly, Montreal-style bagels are best enjoyed on their own.

Poutine

Perhaps the most signature Canadian dish in the world, Quebec is the birthplace of poutine, a delicious combination of fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Note that this isn’t your average gravy and cheesy fries, with water-like brown sauce and bright orange “cheese.” Authentic poutine is made with fresh cheese curds, which refers to the curdles of milk used to make various kinds of cheeses. 

The gravy is a traditional recipe made using chicken and beef stock mildly spiced with a hint of pepper. Poutine is warm, comforting, and absolutely delicious. You can get poutine topped with a variety of add-ons, including pulled pork, sausage, or even foie gras, though poutine-purists will insist that the dish is best when eaten without the fancy additions.

Montreal Smoked Meat

Like bagels, Montreal-style smoked meat is influenced by the Jewish community in Quebec and remains an iconic part of the cuisine in the city. Montreal smoked meat sandwiches are served with cured beef brisket using a different spice mix found in recipes for pastrami or corned beef, sliced by hand. 

Traditionally, the sandwiches are made with rye bread and piled at least two inches high with meat. The bread is lightly spread with mustard, an element that fans of the dish insist is absolutely essential. Every bite of these sandwiches is filled with salty, fatty, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Tire D’erable

Tire d’erable, French for maple taffy, is a signature Quebecois dish generally served from carts along the side of streets. Aside from its cuisine and architecture, Quebec is most famously known for being the world’s largest source of maple syrup, the source of around 77% of the world’s supply. 

There’s no better way to experience the syrup than in the form of fresh maple taffy, made by drizzling syrup over a stick on top of a sheet of ice or snow until solidified. Fair warning though, once you’ve tried maple syrup you’ll never want to go back to using plain old table syrup for your Sunday pancakes, and the stuff ain’t cheap.

Cheese

Evidence of Quebec’s French colonial roots is perhaps most evident not in its architecture, but in its culture of cheese-making. Quebec is home to dozens of styles of artisanal cheeses, each made fresh in the province with a distinct and rich flavour. 

Many cities in the province offer cheese tours, where participants are taken to different restaurants and cheese producers to try the different varieties. If an endless line of cheese sounds like your dream vacation, Quebec is a fantastic place to start without having to fly to Paris proper.

These five dishes only offer a window into all the culinary delights that Quebec has to offer. The city’s cuisine is one of the most unique in the world, offering a slice of European tradition and heritage right in the center of Canada. The perfect day trip extension to a visit to the Big Apple, Quebec is a foodie adventure not found anywhere else in North America.

Image by Larry White from Pixabay