Frisee Salad
Bitter greens, warm bacon, and a soft egg—simple bistro comfort that suits a cold Canadian evening. The maple-kissed vinaigrette pulls it all together, turning pantry staples into something you want to linger over.
Shrimp or Fish Ceviche
Bright, zesty, and beach-day simple, ceviche may be rooted in Mexico, but it feels at home in Canada too—especially with cold-water halibut, scallops, or spot prawns. Lime “cooks” the seafood until just opaque, then fresh tomatoes, onion, coriander, and a little heat turn it into sunshine in a bowl. It’s coastal cooking at its cleanest: crisp, vibrant, and made for sharing.
Beef Carpaccio
Beef carpaccio may have originated in Italy, but it feels equally at home in Canada, where great beef is an integral part of our culinary identity. Thin slices of tender beef, paired with peppery greens, shaved cheese, and a drizzle of dressing, turn simple ingredients into something luxurious. It captures the elegance of Italian dining while showcasing the quality of Canadian beef — proof that restraint and balance can be just as impressive as complexity.
Scotch Eggs
Golden, crisp, and hearty, Scotch eggs are a true British pub classic — a soft or hard-boiled egg wrapped in seasoned sausage, coated in crumbs, and fried until crunchy. While rooted in England, they’ve found their way onto Canadian breakfast and brunch tables, often at farmers’ markets and gastropubs. Hearty enough for a meal yet portable like a snack, they fit beautifully into Canada’s love of breakfast-on-the-go, especially when paired with local sausage and farm-fresh eggs.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Warm, creamy, and bubbling from the oven, spinach and artichoke dip is one of those dishes that feels right at home in Canada — whether it’s served at a hockey night potluck, a summer cottage gathering, or as a holiday appetizer. Cheesy, garlicky, and loaded with greens, it’s indulgent yet comforting, a dish that always disappears fast when set on the table.
Smoked Fish Pâté
Smoked fish pâté is Canadian at heart — simple, rustic, and refined all at once. I usually make it with smoked trout, a nod to Canada’s lakes and rivers, but…
Chicken Truffle Parfait
Chicken liver parfait may sound like fine dining, but in Canada it often appears in the most down-to-earth places — from Québec bistros to farmhouse kitchens. Smooth, rich, and elegant, it proves that humble ingredients can create something indulgent and memorable. This version, with a touch of truffle oil, bridges rustic comfort and sophistication, much like Canadian food culture itself.
Canadian Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are one of those nostalgic starters that always bring people together. In Canada, they’ve graced potluck tables, holiday buffets, and backyard barbecues for generations. Simple, creamy, and endlessly adaptable, they reflect the thrift and comfort at the heart of Canadian cooking. Whether dusted with paprika or given a playful twist, they remain the appetizer everyone reaches for first.
Garlic Shrimp with Lemon and Chilli
Some dishes prove that less is more — and garlic shrimp is one of them. Sizzling in olive oil, butter, garlic, and a touch of chili, shrimp transforms into something bold yet effortless. Served with crusty bread for dipping, it feels as at home in Canada as anywhere in the world — whether made with sweet Atlantic shrimp from the East or meaty West Coast spot prawns, it’s a dish that celebrates the richness of our coastal waters.
White Bean and Chorizo Dip
Navy beans were a staple ration for sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy, and today they’re grown widely in Ontario. This dip blends old-world chorizo with a Canadian staple, giving you layers of smoky, creamy, and spicy flavours in one easy dish. It’s the kind of recipe you’ll bring out at a party and find the jar scraped clean.
Carrot, Ginger and Coriander Soup
Carrot soup is a true Canadian fall and winter staple — simple, comforting, and made with ingredients that store well through the colder months. On the Prairies, carrots and root vegetables were often stored in cellars to last through long winters, making soups like this both practical and essential. The sweetness of carrots pairs beautifully with the warmth of ginger and the freshness of coriander, creating a bowl that’s nourishing yet vibrant.
Butternut Squash Soup
Few dishes feel more like autumn in Canada than butternut squash soup. With its golden colour and naturally sweet flavour, it captures the harvest season — when markets overflow with pumpkins, squashes, and gourds of every kind. Roasting deepens the flavour, blending turns it velvety, and a warm bowl feels just as right at a fall table as it does on a snowy evening.
Tomato and Basil Soup
Few dishes are as comforting as tomato soup with grilled cheese. In Canada, this pairing is pure nostalgia — warming bowls of tomato-basil soup served alongside golden, gooey sandwiches made with chedder cheese on white bread were a childhood staple. Simple, nourishing, and endlessly adaptable, tomato soup is as welcome on a snowy afternoon as it is at a summer table made with fresh garden tomatoes.
French Onion Soup
Few dishes are as comforting as French onion soup, with its rich broth, caramelized onions, and gooey layer of melted cheese. While its origins are firmly French, the dish has long been embraced in Québec, where French culinary traditions have shaped Canadian cooking for centuries. On cold winter nights, it’s a bowl that feels both rustic and elegant, bringing warmth and history together.
Earls Inspired Clam Chowder
This creamy chowder, inspired by the version at Earls, is hearty, rich, and deeply comforting — the kind of bowl that feels like home on a chilly Canadian day. Made with chicken stock, potatoes, smoky bacon, and cream, it’s a versatile dish that works with or without clams. Whether served on the coast or far inland, it has become a Canadian favourite for its warmth and flavour.
Maritime-Inspired Lobster Bisque
Lobster bisque may be French in origin, but it feels right at home in Canada, where lobster suppers are a hallmark of Maritime culture. Once humble fisherman’s food, lobster has become the centrepiece of East Coast feasts and celebrations. Silky, rich, and deeply flavourful, bisque captures that spirit — simmered from shells, enriched with cream, and perfect for turning a cold winter night into something festive.
Steak, Stilton and Avocado Salad
Blue cheese like Stilton first arrived in Canada through English influence, but strict pasteurization laws made importing unpasteurized cheeses difficult through much of the 20th century. This limitation sparked Canadian cheesemakers — particularly in Ontario and Québec — to develop their own creamy, pungent blue cheeses. Paired here with Alberta or Ontario beef, ripe avocado, and fresh greens, this salad becomes a dish that bridges English tradition with Canadian innovation, rustic yet refined.
Prawn, Bacon and Mango Salad
This salad brings together Canadian favourites — shrimp and bacon — with the brightness of tropical fruit. Sweet prawns, juicy mango, and salty bacon or Parma ham meet crisp greens and homemade garlic croutons, all tied together with a zesty chili-lime dressing. It’s light yet satisfying, a dish that works as well on a snowy winter day as it does on a summer patio.
Classic Caesar Salad – Light
The Caesar salad was first tossed together in 1924 by Caesar Cardini, an Italian immigrant in Tijuana, Mexico. What started as a resourceful mix of lettuce, egg, cheese, and croutons quickly spread across North America. In Canada, it became a favourite during the steakhouse boom of the 1950s–60s and never left our tables. This lighter version keeps the bold, garlicky flavour but adds chicken, crisp Parma ham, and eggs to turn it into a meal.