People often ask me about the food that is typically eaten in Canada, and I usually answer that Canadian cuisine is quite diverse because of the multiculturalism here, especially in Toronto (where I live), but I just spent 4 days visiting my parents in the countryside, so let me share what we ate during that time and what might be considered more typical/traditional summer meals in Canada. 

Day 1

Breakfast: Before hopping on the train, I had some coffee and an everything bagel with cheese, prosciutto, and mixed greens at home. 

(An everything bagel is a type of bagel that has a mix of toppings, such as garlic flakes, onion flakes, poppy seeds, and sesame seeds.)

Lunch: After arriving at my parents place, I heated up some leftover pasta (penne with carrot, zucchini, and chorizo slices) and sprinkled parmesan cheese and hot pepper flakes on it. My mother is Italian-Canadian and makes fantastic homemade pasta!

Snacks: Caesars 

(The Caesar, also known as the Bloody Caesar, is considered Canada's national cocktail. The key ingredients are vodka, clam juice, tomato juice, spices and Worcestershire sauce. It is typically served in a highball glass rimmed with celery salt and garnished with a celery stalk, olives and lime.)

Dinner: Beer, BBQ cheeseburgers, creamy coleslaw, and potato salad 

Dessert: Coffee and SOMA chocolate

Day 2

Breakfast: Coffee/Tea, cherries, and apple and orange slices

Lunch: We went out for lunch and ordered fish and chips, a Reuben sandwich, a Cobb salad, and Southwest(ern) chicken salad. Although my parents had beer with their meals, I just had water (to be healthy!).

(The Cobb salad is an American garden salad typically made with chopped salad greens, tomato, bacon, chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chives, blue cheese and red wine vinaigrette.The Reuben sandwich is a North American grilled sandwich composed of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing, grilled between slices of rye bread.)

Snacks: We were super full after lunch and had no room for snacks!

Dinner: Wine, BBQ chicken thighs and legs with roasted potatoes and tomato, cucumber, and mozzarella salad

Dessert: Coffee, ice cream (chocolate and cherry), and locally-baked sweets (coconut raspberry squares and cranberry squares)

Day 3

Breakfast: Coffee/Tea, fresh local raspberries, and toast with local bumbleberry jam

(Bumbleberry jam contains strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries.)

Lunch: Beer and leftover cheeseburgers 

Snacks: Beer, potato chips, Pepperettes (dried meat sticks), and fresh local raspberries

Dinner: Water, BBQ ribs and chicken wings, tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese salad, and leftover potato salad

Dessert: Coffee/Tea and ice cream (chocolate and vanilla)

Day 4

Breakfast: Coffee/Tea, apple slices, and toast with local bumbleberry jam

Lunch: Water, leftover ribs, chicken wings, potato salad, and tomato, cucumber, and feta cheese salad

Snacks: Beer, Doritos, and Cheetos 

Dinner: Back in Toronto, I grabbed some Vietnamese takeout food (back to multicultural cuisine!) with sparkling water.

Dessert: An apple (I don’t usually eat sweet or heavy desserts at home in Toronto)

As you can see, beer and barbecued meals are pretty popular in the summer, especially when you can enjoy grilling and eating dinner by a pool! Since we only have a couple of good months to use our barbecues, we try to enjoy them as much as possible in July and August. I enjoyed my trip and had lots of great food, and I hope you’re enjoying some delicious summer meals, too!