These foods aren't Canada's most iconic, but as a Canadian abroad, they're the ones I miss the most

“One year,” is what I told myself and everyone else. Maybe more if I settled in and really loved it, I’d stay a bit longer. Two years tops, I figured. That was 2018…

Now, I’m a Canadian settled abroad for the unforeseeable future. I love my adopted home (Ecuador) and I miss aspects of my country—like summer trips to the lake, distinguishable seasons, and certain foods. These snacks, drinks, and side dishes might not be the most iconic (do I even need to tell you I miss poutine or does that kind of go without saying?) but they’re ones my Canadian soul often craves. 

It’s funny the little things you feel nostalgic for once you leave home. Food-wise, these are the bites I’d grab immediately… if I somehow could!

Pierogies

I’m kicking off this list with an iconic Polish dish but honestly, Canadians really love a pierogi. These potato and cheese dumplings are everywhere! They’re standard pub fare on many menus, a usual suspect on the Costco grocery list, and even a popular topping on poutine. (Name a better comfort food… you can’t.) These are heavenly bites and truly, you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.

Cheerios

I know. I’m naming such a standard cereal that even gets accused of being boring. They’re not. Cheerios are the emotional support breakfast of my childhood and I miss them so much. Sometimes, the best things are the simplest and most overlooked. 

Coffee crisp chocolate bars

Coffee crisps are a tier-one chocolate bar and I would absolutely justify paying three times the price to eat one during a work break. Those sweet wafer layers are sublime and on my list to grab one asap the second I’m on Canadian soil.

Summer sausage

One of the simplest and most underrated experiences I’d often have in summer was a drive through the rolling green countryside to the local farmer’s market. There, you’d find fresh baked goods, rows of colourful produce, and my favourite: local summer sausage. With lists that favor poutine, maple syrup and French-Canadian cooking, summer sausage gets overshadowed. Totally unfair IMO.

Cheap breakfast sandwiches 

The quintessential Canadian experience is to book a road trip with friends but kick it off with a stop at Tim Horton’s for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. I know us Canadians are pretty hellbent on the Timmies pride but it doesn’t have to be this chain. (I said what I said.) What matters is coffee and cheap breakfast sandwiches.

Corn on the cobb

After a day outside swimming, hiking, and chilling at the campground, I don’t want anything fancy. I just want to roll up to the dinner table with sweatpants, sunburnt cheeks, wind-dried hair and have something simple. Like corn on the cobb from a local farm covered in butter and black pepper. That’s the real Canadian way! 

Interesting fusion foods

I lived in Toronto for almost eight years and if there’s something that’s truly Canadian, it’s our multiculturalism and the way we love getting to know other people’s culture. Food, of course, is a key way to do that. In hubs like Toronto (and other major cities), it’s so easy to find fusions of so many types of cuisine. I’m talking dumplings with butter chicken fillings, restaurants that blend Asian and Latin American flavours, and poutine topped with internationally-inspired ingredients. It’s so Canadian to take everyone’s best dishes and mix them. I miss that!

Ontario strawberries

There’s a hole in my heart in the shape of an Ontario strawberry. Ok I’m being a little dramatic, but seriously: this in-season fruit just tastes better than any other strawberry. These are the best for a picnic, as a snack at the beach, or a little break mid bike ride.

Canadian craft beer

Canadians love a good brewery. We love to take a classic IPA or sour and add a new twist. We love a boldly designed can with a nice illustration and giving our brews quirky names. And, most of all, we love to cheers with one of these perfect beverages after a day of exploring or meeting new travel friends in a hostel common space.

Homemade pies

Go to any Canadian farmer’s market and you’ll find tons of homemade pies for sale. Stuffed with locally-grown fruits (if you go in summer or fall) like berries, apples, pumpkin and rhubarb, there’s something just so familiar about this. You don’t know what you’ll miss about home until you leave and I’m telling you, these desserts are so underrated.

Campfire hot dogs

Few things beat a campfire on a balmy summer night in Canada. Your hair is still wet after a dip in the lake. You’ve got your favourite sweatshirt on. The fire is crackling. And you have a hotdog roasting on a stick. No fancy condiments: just ketchup, mustard, and relish. So good. So perfect.