Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[Buzz Rules]

 

[Buzz Rules]

 

[ronandannette]

Wasting too much time with this, but finally found the video, and after much stopping, rewinding, and playing back, I think I have them all:

Nunavut: Arctic char
Ontario: red and white wine (from Jackson-Triggs winery)
Prince Edward Island: red potatoes
New Brunswick: littleneck clams
Newfoundland: Screech rum
Manitoba: pickerel
Nova Scotia: wild blueberries
British Columbia: farm fresh vegetables
Alberta: ground beef
Saskatchewan: green lentils
Northwest Territories: wild rice
Quebec: maple syrup
Yukon: wild boar

ETA: It was S03:E03 - At Home and Abroad, which can be viewed on Tubi for free.

Ugh...what an undignified state to present the majestic Alberta beef. We are not amused.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Ugh...what an undignified state to present the majestic Alberta beef. We are not amused.
View attachment 698027

I thought the same thing! I was like, "Ground beef? Really???" But I guess that gave people more meal options than just slapping a steak on the table. I would have liked to have seen some bison or something instead. Most of the other options, other than the wine, Screech, and potatoes were fairly native foods to the country,

 

[Buzz Rules]

@Frozen Canuck, are there American phrases/slang words that Canadians don’t understand or think are weird?

 

[porschegrl]

While using my newfound Canadian inquisitiveness to research the 13 provincial ingredients used on Master Chef Canada, I stumbled on a few other links, which may be of interest to people...

13 Must-Try Canadian Foods by Province
21 Traditional Canadian Foods
50 Of The Most 'Canadian' Foods: It's Not Just Bacon And Maple Syrup

Americans (and Canadians too!) are there any of these that you have tried? Have not tried? Have found unique or want to try? Foods that you feel were missed? I'm not asking for a detailed list, perhaps just a few items that caught your eye. For example, I have never tried Screech or sushi pizza, and I have never even heard of a Jigg's dinner before. Items that are possibly missing from those lists include Hawaiian pizza and also Ginger Beef (a Canadian dish on Chinese take-out menus).

I've always wanted to try Nanaimo bars (or, when Emma on Corner Gas made them, Nanaimo-style Saskatchewan bars ), but I'd have to make them (vegan) myself, and I'm too lazy a baker.

Bannock looks like something I would make, though. I did a little extra research on it, and one website called it, "like a hockey puck made of carbohydrates." What's not to love?

 

[Aladora]

Ugh...what an undignified state to present the majestic Alberta beef. We are not amused.
View attachment 698027

At least Albert got something more Alberta-ish than "farm fresh vegetables"!

Come one, where is the salmon, geoduck, salal berries, Dungeness crab? Something a little more BC than veggies!

 

[porschegrl]

Canadians, if I were to vacation in your province, what would you recommend as can't-miss sites or experiences? (Pretend that any distance between them is no obstacle.)

 

[porschegrl]

At least Albert got something more Alberta-ish than "farm fresh vegetables"!

Come one, where is the salmon, geoduck, salal berries, Dungeness crab? Something a little more BC than veggies!

I thought that about the vegetables, too. Sorry, BC! I guess they figured they needed to get veggies in there somewhere, but it did seem somewhat generic.

 

[Aladora]

Canadians, if I were to vacation in your province, what would you recommend as can't-miss sites or experiences? (Pretend that any distance between them is no obstacle.)

I've talked about this a few time on the DIS but last summer we did a trip within our Province (BC) and the absolute highlight was hiking up the glacier at Whistler!

Other than that, Cathedral Grove right here on Vancouver Island is the place to walk among the amazing giant trees!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

@Frozen Canuck, are there American phrases/slang words that Canadians don’t understand or think are weird?

Good question! I don't remember anything too weird, but the whole "Wicked!" thing in the Boston area here took some getting used to. We used to use the term "Wicked awesome!" back in the 80's, but to see it used here, decades later is kind of strange.

Oh yes, now that I think a bit more, there were definitely words that were strange to hear when we first moved to New England. The whole bubbler (water fountain), carriage (shopping cart), Hoodsie cups (the little cups of ice cream that used to come with a wooden spoon), and I'm sure a few others. Also, I had a friend from North Dakota and she used to say "hot dish," where I would have said "casserole," even though we were from the same geographic area. (She grew up right across the border and many of our words and mannerisms were the same.) Oh yes! I forgot about the biggest one, which I have talked about before, the whole frappe vs. milk shake thing people have going on here. (For those not in the know, a milk shake is like when you mix up chocolate milk from chocolate syrup, while a frappe is what you need to order to get what we would call a milk shake). So confusing!

 

[ronandannette]

At least Albert got something more Alberta-ish than "farm fresh vegetables"!

Come one, where is the salmon, geoduck, salal berries, Dungeness crab? Something a little more BC than veggies!

Screw veggies - the real outrage is that they didn't showcase tree-ripened Okanagan cherries, peaches and pears. They are truly sublime and make similar fruit from anywhere else taste like dogfood. You also got hosed (there's a solid bit of Canadian slang, eh) on the wine - it should have been from BC's wine regions, not Niagara.

 

[prairie_girl]

Canadians, if I were to vacation in your province, what would you recommend as can't-miss sites or experiences? (Pretend that any distance between them is no obstacle.)

Churchill in the winter to see the polar bears.

Winnipeg in the summer. We have such a short summer that we pack in everything you could imagine. We just finished up Folklorama, which is venues set up around the city representing different countries. It runs for two weeks and the countries switch for the second week. You pay admission and get in and can purchase food from the country, sample some alcohol (if you like), and watch some entertainment. It’s hugely popular every year. Even more so this year because it was closed down for the past two years.

You could go to Lower Fort Garry to check out the historic site. Any kid who grew up in Winnipeg has been there at least once on a field trip lol

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/mb/fortgarry

A visit to the Forks (where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, the Human Rights Museum, a Winnipeg Jets game (hockey) and a Blue Bombers game (CFL football), and you’re set to go.

Lodgings should be at the Fort Garry Hotel. It was built in 1913 and it’s famous for many things, but definitely for its ghosts.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Garry_Hotel

 

[ronandannette]

Canadians, if I were to vacation in your province, what would you recommend as can't-miss sites or experiences? (Pretend that any distance between them is no obstacle.)

Banff National Park (must be visited in both winter and summer)
Drumheller (like a tiny, perfect Grand Canyon with some of the world's foremost paleontological finds and scientific research centre)
The Calgary Stampede
A visit with me.

 

[prairie_girl]

Banff National Park (must be visited in both winter and summer)
Drumheller (like a tiny, perfect Grand Canyon with some of the world's foremost paleontological finds and scientific research centre)
The Calgary Stampede
A visit with me.

I actually decided just last night that I’d like to go to Banff.

How did I not know about Drumheller?? The Grand Canyon AND fossils??

But, most importantly, I could meet the famous Ron?? I’m sold.

 

[NAB]

Ontario….
Niagara Falls, wineries , and CN Tower.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadians, if I were to vacation in your province, what would you recommend as can't-miss sites or experiences? (Pretend that any distance between them is no obstacle.)

(So many good questions today! Yay!)

Well, "Welcome to Saskatchewan! The land of the living skies!"

I am most familiar with the Moose Jaw and Saskatoon areas, so someone else may have to fill in the gaps for me. I'm just going to list random activities and places that I like in Saskatchewan, not necessarily tourist destinations per se.

First up, Mac the Moose! You can't miss seeing the largest moose in the world, especially after we nearly went to war with Norway over it! While in Moose Jaw, you should definitely explore the Tunnels of Moose Jaw. One is based off of Al Capone and the other one is a Chinese Laundry. It gives you a real look into the underground life of Moose Jaw's past. Be sure to spend at least one night in Temple Gardens with the geothermal spa and take a stroll through Crescent Park. Just south of Moose Jaw is the air base. You can't go there, but if you are in Moose Jaw on Canada Day, the Snowbirds (like California's Blue Angels) will fly over Main Street a couple of times.

Regina is the capital of the province and the home of the R.C.M.P., so be sure to hit up the R.C.M.P. Heritage Museum. It is also home to Megamunch at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Our football team is the Saskatchewan Roughriders and they call Mosaic Stadium home. Grab some tickets to a game, put on your watermelon helmet, and go help Gainer the Gopher cheer on the team.

Saskatoon is the City of Bridges, located on the South Saskatchewan River. There are many beautiful places to walk around, both in the downtown and on the University of Saskatchewan campus. While you are in the city, stay in the Delta Bessborough Hotel, the same hotel the Queen stays at when she comes to visit. A short drive outside of the city, will have you at the Berry Barn, where you can get all things Saskatoon berry. They have the best Saskatoon berry turnovers and if you stay for lunch, be sure to get the Saskatoon Berry pierogis for dessert. My favourite puzzle store is also in Saskatoon. Shout out to Puzzle Master!

Other highlights include the endless miles of golden canola flowers when they are in bloom, or the amber waves of grain in late summer. Lake Manitou is a salt lake, where you can float without trying. Waskesiu is a beautiful freshwater lake destination with lots of amenities. There is just so much beauty to be found in this often over-looked province, the locale that brought you Corner Gas!

 

[Frozen Canuck]

How did I not know about Drumheller?? The Grand Canyon AND fossils??

Drumheller is absolutely worth a stop, and while you are there, drive one mile down the road to The Little Church. It is a must-stop every time we are out there.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

A visit with me.

Well, now that I know that, I will definitely look you up the next time I am out that way!

 

[ronandannette]

I actually decided just last night that I’d like to go to Banff.

How did I not know about Drumheller?? The Grand Canyon AND fossils??

But, most importantly, I could meet the famous Ron?? I’m sold.

Almost positive I mentioned it to you when you were talking about a trip to Edmonton (pre-Covid). It is really something special.

Well, now that I know that, I will definitely look you up the next time I am out that way!

Y'all come up and see us sometime, y'hear!