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Huffington Post notes Canada’s existence, job numbers

Keep left is more like it: HuffPo eyes the border (Image: TheTruthAbout)

In a post voiced somewhere between a zoo plaque for children and a swindling travel brochure, U.S. news site HuffPo tells its readership that Canada may be an excellent place to direct unemployed Americans:

Stubbornly high unemployment rates got you down? Not sold on the economic recovery? Look no further than America’s polite neighbor to the north, where jobs numbers are surging and home prices have been rising steadily for nearly a year.

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The Dish

Culinary Curiosities

June 21, 2010 | 1:10 pm

6 Comments

Canada escapes the haters’ list of the world’s worst food

Bangers and mash: British cuisine shatters no stereotypes (Image: Andy Bullock)

When it comes to gastronomical atrocities, it seems bangers and mash and sauerkraut are more poorly regarded than poutine and peameal bacon. The Huffington Post has published the results of an ongoing Titanic Awards survey that names the top nine countries with the worst national cuisine. Much to our delight, the survey of over 2,000 people from more than 80 countries didn’t name Canada among the worst offenders.

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The Dish

Culinary Curiosities

May 27, 2010 | 9:07 am

5 Comments

“Worst beverage in America” available at Tim Hortons

(Image: Marc Majcher)

Just as Canadians were congratulating themselves on their nation-wide health consciousness for rejecting the allure of the Double Down comes the news that Canada’s national ambassador, Tim Hortons, is home to a snack that makes KFC’s sodium speedball look positively ascetic. The drink that Men’s Health has declared the “worst beverage in America” is available right here in the GTA, all thanks to Timmies’ penchant for brand partnerships.

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The Hype

To-Do List

May 19, 2010 | 2:56 pm

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The (Long) Weekender: Smoke’s poutine-eating contest, Conan O’Brien’s show and six other things to do this May 24

Kayaks at Harbourfront (Image: Benson Kua)

1. HARBOURKIDS CIRCUS (FREE!)
Rather than allowing the house to become a three-ring circus with everyone home for the long weekend, head down to the Harbourfront Centre, where the Toronto International Circus Festival shares space with big top–themed activities. Highlights include pint-sized acrobats, stilt walkers and aerialists from the Canadian National Youth Circus, two pyrotechnic shows and a workshop where kids can try out circus equipment. May 22 to 24. Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

2. TAYLOR SWIFT
Sometime in the past year or so, Taylor Swift was probably crowned reigning princess of country-cool. We say probably because really, who can keep up with Swift’s plethora of awards? Grammys, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards… It’s totally possible her trophy cupboard contains a crown or two. Let’s be honest: girlfriend is on a roll these days. Even Kanye can’t keep her down. May 21 and 22. $35–$89.50. Air Canada Centre, 40 Bay St., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

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The Dish

Aprons & Icons

April 22, 2010 | 3:27 pm

12 Comments

Is poutine Canada’s national food? Two arguments for, two against

With slowing hearts we see thee rise (Image: blue.tofu)

When legendary U.S. journalist and food writer Calvin Trillin finally got around to trying poutine last year, he deemed it “surprisingly inoffensive” in an article for the New Yorker. That would adequately describe last night’s 11th annual Leacock Debate—which was to decide whether poutine should become Canada’s national dish—unless any ardent fans were to take umbrage with the oft-repeated breakdown of poutine’s essentially disgusting-delicious ingredients.

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The Dish

Culinary Curiosities

April 14, 2010 | 10:30 am

3 Comments

Poutine-eating contest at TFC game means Toronto might win something at TFC game

Go for the gold, Toronto (Image: Christoph Borer)

We remember how good we felt when Joe Carter knocked that winning home run out of the SkyDome and won us a back-to-back World Series championship on home soil. Since then, Toronto championship chances have decreased considerably. That is, until now. A poutine-eating contest is coming to town, and along with some of the world’s top professional eaters, Torontonians will have a chance to pump some winning pride back into the city.

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The Dish

Restauran-TO

March 27, 2010 | 11:47 am

2 Comments

Seven standout food deals for Easter and Passover

Whether you celebrate the slaves’ escape from Egypt, the resurrection of Christ or the annual arrival of Cadbury eggs, these seven restaurant events—with Passover- and Easter-themed menus—can help make next weekend memorable.

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The Dish

From the Print Edition

March 24, 2010 | 4:46 pm

3 Comments

Five food trends we have a love-hate relationship with

Every year, Toronto Life’s April edition names the current food and restaurant trends we love, hate and those with which we have a love-hate relationship. Here are the 2010 trends for which we have mixed feelings

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The Dish

Restauran-TO

March 6, 2010 | 11:03 am

2 Comments

Chef survey lists the top 10 food trends of 2010

Celiac-safe beer: gluten is so 2009 (Image: Joe Lewis)

Health nuts and celiac sufferers, rejoice. A survey of chefs reveals that 2010 will be the year of simplicity, sustainability and gluten-free beer. The list of top Canadian menu trends isn’t terribly surprising, as environmentally conscious diners have been forgoing imported produce in favour of all things Ontario for several years now, but considering all the poutine, burger and charcuterie joints that have been popping up in the city, we’re surprised these lists don’t show animal fat a little love. (The full lists, after the jump.)

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The Goods

Gossipmonger

February 19, 2010 | 12:05 pm

1 Comment

Americans win Olympic mittens by perpetuating Canadian stereotypes

The coveted mittens (Photo by Michael Francis McCarthy)

Today’s Olympic Mitten Update comes in the form of an on-line contest in which readers submit what they know about Canada in an attempt to win a pair. And judging from the entries, most of their knowledge comes from watching Molson Canadian commercials (in fact, one entrant quotes from the “I Am” commercial).

B.C.-based greeting card designer Fiona Richards announced on her company blog that she will give a pair of the coveted item to the person who gives her the best bit of trivia about the host country (no mention of what kind of trivia she’s looking for).

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The Dish

DIY Gourmet

February 4, 2010 | 10:14 am

3 Comments

An American’s guide to Canadian food: baffled Yanks panic over what nibbles to serve at their Olympic parties

Poutine: breakfast of champions (Photo by JoePhoto)

With little more than a week until the 2010 winter games, Americans are apparently stressing out over what to serve at their Canuck-themed Olympic parties. “I remember doing a viewing party for the Beijing Olympics, and we got a bunch of Chinese takeout,” a clueless party planner told the Sacramento Bee. He asked his Canadian friends, the local paper and even the Canadian consulate for help with his menu (since they clearly have nothing better to do).

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The Dish

Culinary Curiosities

December 1, 2009 | 2:17 pm

2 Comments

Canadian cuisine considered legitimate now that it’s appeared on ABC News

John Berman delves into the sticky world of poutine (Image: abcnews.com)

In the rare moments when Americans consider Canadians, do they still think of self-conscious, snowmobile-riding, backwoods-living lumberjacks out to stymie their convenience with vending machine–defying coins? Probably not—unless, of course, they work for ABC News, which recently posted this video profile of Canadian cuisine. The venerable broadcaster tells viewers that, although it would be impossible to spot a Canadian on Fifth Avenue (we are so unremarkable), our food is gaining popularity all over Manhattan. But what exactly does ABC consider “food” from the land of socialized health care and gay marriage? Why, Tim Hortons, of course, which represents all things Canadian: hockey, maple-covered doughnuts and curling (yes, curling). And then there’s poutine, that trendy Québécois concoction that was recently profiled in the New Yorker and that Lower East Siders are scarfing down by the kilogram.

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The Dish

Read All About It

October 23, 2009 | 10:05 am

1 Comment

Ten worst dining trends, wine corrodes teeth, recession takes its toll on Halloween

The recession, represented here by a plush monster, is a threat to Halloween candy everywhere (Photo by Matt Blank)

• The recession has claimed yet another victim: Halloween candy. A new U.S. survey has found that the recession will mean less candy for trick or treaters this year. Consumer spending is expected to drop 15 per cent from last Halloween, and 47 per cent of respondents said they would buy less candy this year. It’s a double whammy of bad news, as less candy for trick or treaters will presumably mean more tricks against homeowners. [Canwest]

• Wine aficionados complaining of sore teeth may want to have some cheese with their whine. A new German study shows that the higher acid content of white wine corrodes teeth faster than red, with rieslings being the worst. The effect can be easily countered, however, with a piece of brie or gouda; the calcium neutralizes the wine’s acid. [Toronto Star]

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The Dish

Restauran-TO

September 23, 2009 | 2:49 pm

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Cuban festival turns Queen Street into Castro Street—sort of

Viva! Cuban food and drink come to Little Portugal (Photo by Omid Tavallai)

This weekend, West Queen West goes Cubano with the second annual Havana Cultura Festival. There will be music, cigar rolling and, most importantly, Cuban-inspired culinary experiences from 16 restaurants and bars along Ossington, Queen and Dundas. One unlikely participant this year is Poutini’s. For the first time since opening, they will be offering something other than their standard menu dish: a “Cuban-style frijole” poutine consisting of black beans, onions, garlic, peppers, tomato and herbs over fries, and topped with sour cream and cilantro (it’s traditionally served over rice). On Saturday night, the staff will be manning a booth across the street in order to serve the same frijole over a baked potato instead of fries.

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The Dish

Read All About It

September 22, 2009 | 2:50 pm

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Bacon-flavoured beer, the fattest city in America, the 50 best spots to eat the 50 best foods

• On a recent foray to Huntington, West Virginia (recently bestowed with the dubious distinction of being America’s fattest and most unhealthy city), celebrity chef Jamie Oliver says he was so appalled that the hairs on his arm stood on end. Residents there “have never had food from scratch in their life,” he says, adding that big corporations control all the food, making it difficult to obtain fresh produce despite the rural surroundings. [Sky News]

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