Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Yes, have had it twice. It’s at Disney Springs just outside of World of Disney.

We liked it best the first time, it was mushroom (which was what caught my attention in the first place). Next time there they’d changed the menu and the mushroom was gone, so we got the Loaded, and not as good (in our opinion). We didn’t try the Canadian, but may next time, if still available.

Mushroom

View attachment 616087

Loaded

View attachment 616092


View attachment 616089

I would have gone for mushroom over loaded too.

The Canadian and the Korean BBQ also sound good too but sriracha is just so so to me but hmm that New Delhi (although I don't mind curry) and Italian not really striking my fancy.

I have to imagine they'll keep the Canadian around..well you'd think but I swear sometimes Disney makes weird decisions

 

[SCCNJ]

What Canadian anywhere of any age or background can't sing along to this one? We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner (but we'd still eat Kraft Dinner because we like it) and yes, we've all always wanted a monkey.

And what self-respecting Canadian is not singing it in their head just from reading this? I would like my Kraft Dinner with fancy Djion ketchup and a nice reliable K-car.

On an unrelated note; poutine must have squeaky cheese curds, if it doesn't it is NOT poutine. You are eating cheese fries with gravy...it's not the same.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I would have gone for mushroom over loaded too.

The Canadian and the Korean BBQ also sound good too but sriracha is just so so to me but hmm that New Delhi (although I don't mind curry) and Italian not really striking my fancy.

I have to imagine they'll keep the Canadian around..well you'd think but I swear sometimes Disney makes weird decisions

I agree. I was so disappointed because I’d been looking forward to the mushroom again! Idk how often they change the menu, or whether they keep the Canadian as a staple, etc. I didn’t really even know what Poutine was, I just happened to be walking by and saw someone with the mushroom and decided to try it. Those other flavors didn’t do much for us. DH and I share one of those and a Hawaiian hot dog, which is also good.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I remembered another memory from Canada. After one trip, we had a bunch of Canadian bills for what seemed like the longest time. They were pretty cool. More frequently, even in the absence of a trip, we’d on occasion have Canadian quarters mixed in with US quarters. Everyone takes them, though, as if they’re the same. I haven‘t seen one in a while.

 

[bcla]

Smokes was good when they first started with their food truck.. they are still a go to for many but they have more so become just another franchise operation, with an ever expanding menu that gets way far off track to be poutine these days.
fwiw.. I love McDs fries done without any embellishment.. just salted & hot from the fryer.

I never tried anything there except traditional poutine.

There are a few other places that **try** to make poutine in my area. One is a French takeout place where I guess he's trying. I haven't had it, but their fries were good the times I've tried them. Another is a place called Augie's Montreal Deli. It's mostly smoked deli meat sandwiches, but also either fried cheese curds or poutine.

Not sure about paying $11.95 for poutine, but it looks good.

https://augiesmontrealdeli.com/menu-2/​

Classic Poutine $11.95​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds, & Beef Gravy​

Frites Full $5.50​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries​

​

Smoke Meat Poutine $13.25​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds,​

Diced Augie’s Brisket Pastrami, & Beef Gravy​

​

Smoke Turkey Poutine $13.75​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds,
Diced Augie’s Brisket Pastrami, & Beef Gravy

​

Vegetarian Poutine $11.95​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds, & Shiitake Gravy​

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I never tried anything there except traditional poutine.

There are a few other places that **try** to make poutine in my area. One is a French takeout place where I guess he's trying. I haven't had it, but their fries were good the times I've tried them. Another is a place called Augie's Montreal Deli. It's mostly smoked deli meat sandwiches, but also either fried cheese curds or poutine.

Not sure about paying $11.95 for poutine, but it looks good.

https://augiesmontrealdeli.com/menu-2/​

Classic Poutine $11.95​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds, & Beef Gravy​

Frites Full $5.50​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries​

​

Smoke Meat Poutine $13.25​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds,​

Diced Augie’s Brisket Pastrami, & Beef Gravy​

​

Smoke Turkey Poutine $13.75​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds,​

Diced Augie’s Brisket Pastrami, & Beef Gravy​

​

Vegetarian Poutine $11.95​

Triple Fried Red Potato French Fries, Squeaky Cheese Curds, & Shiitake Gravy​

Now we’re talking.. lol! I’d def give Augie’s a try, it looks delicious!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I agree. I was so disappointed because I’d been looking forward to the mushroom again! Idk how often they change the menu, or whether they keep the Canadian as a staple, etc. I didn’t really even know what Poutine was, I just happened to be walking by and saw someone with the mushroom and decided to try it. Those other flavors didn’t do much for us. DH and I share one of those and a Hawaiian hot dog, which is also good.

View attachment 616095

My husband and I would so try that hot dog!

 

[bcla]

Now we’re talking.. lol! I’d def give Augie’s a try, it looks delicious!

Coming to Berkeley any time soon? Beside that, they're close for whatever reason, even though other restaurants are allowed to stay open.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I remembered another memory from Canada. After one trip, we had a bunch of Canadian bills for what seemed like the longest time. They were pretty cool. More frequently, even in the absence of a trip, we’d on occasion have Canadian quarters mixed in with US quarters. Everyone takes them, though, as if they’re the same. I haven‘t seen one in a while.

I usually have US currency in my drawer . Always carry some of it when traveling in the US.
Does your Canadian money smell like maple syrup?

 

[ronandannette]

I usually have US currency in my drawer . Always carry some of it when traveling in the US.
Does your Canadian money smell like maple syrup?

I'm embarrassed to say I actually sniffed a $10 CAD the other day after reading this thread. You all got me.

 

[fly girl]

Oh, here's a question about money!

In the states, our coins and bills never expire. Do paper bills and coins in Canada become expired after a certain period of time? I know in the UK it does, so I am wondering if Canada is the same.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Oh, here's a question about money!

In the states, our coins and bills never expire. Do paper bills and coins in Canada become expired after a certain period of time? I know in the UK it does, so I am wondering if Canada is the same.

I’ve never heard of money expiring and I’m older than the loonie!
We did get rid of the Penny about a decade ago.

 

[fly girl]

Lunch box here.
Mine was bionic woman.

I lived in Michigan growing up and we called it a lunch box. I got a new one every year in elementary school, 1st-5th grade. If I recall correctly I had: Muppets, Strawberry Shortcake, Wonder Woman, Holly Hobby, and Peanuts.
(FYI: Strawberry Shortcake was the best one. )

My daughter even wanted a retro lunchbox in the 2nd grade. I found a Wonder Woman lunchbox and she toted it around! Only bummer, no cool matching Thermos.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Oh, here's a question about money!

In the states, our coins and bills never expire. Do paper bills and coins in Canada become expired after a certain period of time? I know in the UK it does, so I am wondering if Canada is the same.

Sorta piggy backing off this (although I never would have thought about currency expiring good to know!) what's the various currency values?

While not very common in circulation we do have a $2 bill. And apparently there are people who are unaware it exists here. I used to love getting $2 bills. I'm pretty sure I have one more like a souvenir lol.

That reminds me did Canada do any collectors stuff? In the U.S. the quarter has had a while for collections. It started with doing one for each state and every year (I think it was that) they would release several states. Back when that first started my dad got me a commemorative map (with a certificate) where you input the quarters for each state into a round slot. I *think* I have all 50 but I'm not completely positive. Then over time they've added more and more collections to the quarter. I haven't seen any commemorative maps for those (or I haven't looked very hard) but I still do collect those.

 

[fly girl]

I’ve never heard of money expiring and I’m older than the loonie!
We did get rid of the Penny about a decade ago.

In London years ago I gave the bartender a 20 pound note (I was there for work, and before I left I took some of dh's foreign currency he has in a drawer thinking nothing about it) and he came back nicely saying it was old currency and expired. I paid with my CC but I had no idea money expired until then. Thankfully the bartender was very nice about me being clueless. ETA: I think this was back in 2009?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I usually have US currency in my drawer . Always carry some of it when traveling in the US.
Does your Canadian money smell like maple syrup?

Haha, I haven’t had any for a long time! But I will definitely check it if I come across some!

 

[bcla]

Oh, here's a question about money!

In the states, our coins and bills never expire. Do paper bills and coins in Canada become expired after a certain period of time? I know in the UK it does, so I am wondering if Canada is the same.

I don't recall that they've ever cancelled any government issued currency before. When I visited in 2015 it was several years after they'd switched new not production to the polymer bills, but I was still getting a few paper notes in change or exchange. When I visited in 1988, that's was after the introduction of $1 and $2 coins, although bills were still being printed and circulated.

It was odd because Canada was still printing CAD $1000 bills until 2000. I read somewhere that they were popular around the world with drug dealers because it was a lot more compact than the some common US $100 bill.

OK - I looked it up and Canada did remove the legal tender status from several bills, but they can always be exchanged at the Bank of Canada.

https://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/about-legal-tender/​

Not all bank notes are legal tender​

As of January 1, 2021, the $1, $2, $25, $500 and $1,000 bills from every Bank of Canada series are no longer legal tender.​

These bank notes have not been produced in decades, so the decision to remove them from circulation has had little impact on most of us.​

• The $1 and the $2 notes stopped being issued in 1989 and 1996, respectively, and were replaced with coins.
• The $25 note was a commemorative note. Both it and the $500 note were discontinued shortly after they were issued in 1935.
• The $1,000 note stopped being issued in 2000.

Removing legal tender status from these bills means that they are no longer considered money. Essentially, you may no longer be able to spend them in a cash transaction. This does not mean that the notes are worthless. The Bank of Canada will continue to honour them at face value.​

 

[bcla]

In London years ago I gave the bartender a 20 pound note (I was there for work, and before I left I took some of dh's foreign currency he has in a drawer thinking nothing about it) and he came back nicely saying it was old currency and expired. I paid with my CC but I had no idea money expired until then. Thankfully the bartender was very nice about me being clueless. ETA: I think this was back in 2009?

I believe retailers are simply not allowed to take "expired notes" in transactions, but they supposedly haven't lost their value. Funny how they can be deposited in a bank (where I suppose they will turn them in for destruction) or even accepted at a post office. They say have a counter in London that will accept them in person.

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/20-pound-note​

30 September 2022 is the last day you can use our paper £20 and £50 notes.​

After 30 September 2022, many banks will accept withdrawn notes as deposits from customers. The Post Office may also accept withdrawn notes as a deposit into any bank account you can access at the Post Office. And, you can always exchange withdrawn notes with us.​

​

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/exchanging-old-banknotes​

Obviously they're going to destroy the old banknotes. They do that with American bills that have been withdrawn. Frankly I would never deposit a $500 or $1000 bill if I ever received one, because currency dealers will buy them at a premium since they're pretty rare.

 

[Aladora]

On a much lighter note, and going back to the question about different terms for things, the current thread about what you ate for school lunches reminds me of this one:
America = lunch box
Canada = lunch kit

I grew up in ON and QC, live in BC now but I have never heard of it being called a lunch kit.

What's with the common use of the word "washroom". I never really though much of that until I came across something that my child has taken interest in a particular (highly toxic) vegan zealot from Quebec.

I think this was one of the first things I mentioned waaaaaay back on page 1!

Definitely gym strip here in BC, that's what it was called when I was in school and it's still called that with my own kids in school. Never heard of lunch kit, we call it lunch box or lunch bag

I never heard it called gym strip until my son started school here in BC. I think we just called the outfit we wore for gym class "gym clothes".

Here is one that I have always loved.

What do you call pencils that have coloured lead in them?

It seems as though the only place they are called "pencil crayons" is here in Canada, everywhere else they are called "coloured pencils". I think in the UK they are called "colouring pencils" though.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

pencils that have coloured lead in them?

There's colored pencils made from wax primarily (with other stuff in there) which you call pencil crayons. Honestly makes more sense to call them pencil crayons than us calling them colored pencils when the core material is more similar to actual crayons (made from wax).

Then you have colored lead and graphite pencils. I think they are grouped into the same colored pencils description. However that would actually fit more since they are made from what pencils use (graphite or lead).