Canadian East Coast Cuisine: a feast for the taste buds

The east coast of Canada is made up of several provinces on the Atlantic side: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In the centre inland, there are also Quebec and Ontario. These territories are rich and have their own culinary culture. Zoom in on the cuisine of these regions which gives pride of place to fish and seafood, while being influenced by indigenous traditions and the British, French and Irish contributions who have historically settled there.

East Coast Cuisine: European and Indigenous Inspirations

The cuisine of this region is first and foremost that of the indigenous tribes. The latter enjoyed the abundance of natural resources to meet their needs. They already consumed seafood and various fish, game, berries and roots. They also cultivated corn, beans, squash and sunflowers.

The French were then the first Europeans to settle on the east coast of Canada in the 17th century. Their cultural and culinary contribution is felt, particularly in the Acadian communities of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The French arrivals introduced dairy products to the local populations, but also baking, pastry making and the concept of slow-cooked cooking, such as pot-au-feu.

It was then the British who influenced the Atlantic coast. They arrived in the maritime provinces from the 18th century and brought back their ingredients and their flagship dishes. They brought potatoes, oats and cabbage, as well as food preservation processes, such as pickling or canning.

Seafood and fish

The Atlantic coast is known for its seafood. The main products are lobster and clams. The latter, clams, are cooked in “chowder”, a great classic of the region. This slowly simmered soup contains corn, vegetables and potatoes. Cream or milk is added for more indulgence, and it can be served with fresh or smoked fish.

Lobster from Canada’s East Coast is caught in the icy waters of the Atlantic. Canadians can enjoy it year-round thanks to the changing fishing seasons and the different ways lobster is preserved. A popular snack is the lobster roll, which is a lobster meat served in a hot dog-style brioche bun with mayonnaise, celery and onions. Looking for the best place to eat fresh lobster and seafood in Canada? Head to Nova Scotia! For succulent scallops, head to the town of Digby. If you prefer oysters or mussels, Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island is the place to go.

The Atlantic coast is very rich in fish, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador where fishing is the historical industry par excellence. On Prince Edward Island, fish and baked potatoes are key resources. They are often combined in a slow-cooked oven dish, with fresh cod as the fish. Another of the main dishes on the Canadian east coast is British-inspired, fish and chips. It has been completely integrated into the cuisine of the region and is made with a variety of local fish species.

Meats

Meats remain quite popular on the Atlantic coast. Jiggs dinner is a must-have. This traditional stew is served most Sundays. It contains pork, veal or beef, split peas and root vegetables. It is a common menu item in Newfoundland and Labrador and is served with pickled vegetables, brined with sweet mustard.

In Nova Scotia, Halifax is known for its donair. It's a kind of kebab made with spicy ground meat, with fresh tomatoes, onions, and a sauce revisited for Canadian palates: garlic powder, sweetened condensed milk and vinegar. All rolled in a preheated pita bread. The Canadians in the region love it!

There are many recipes for savory pies containing meat in Canada, such as the tourtière - French-inspired - or the cipaille and its multiple layers.

Vegetables

The harsh winters of the Atlantic coast have given rise to many vegetable-based recipes. In New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, “hodge podge” is served. It is a broth or soup usually containing new potatoes, new peas, green beans and carrots. They are slowly cooked in a milk-based broth with butter, salt and pepper. It is usually served with canned or homemade corned beef. To taste this typical dish with fresh vegetables, it is ideal to visit the Annapolis Valley during the months of July and August.

To enjoy the potato in different forms, the flagship destination is Prince Edward Island, where it has been cultivated since the 18th century. To this day, this starchy food remains the island province's top export and an essential product of the Maritime provinces. Poutine is a Canadian dish emblematic. Did you know that there is an Acadian version? It is called poutine râpée. In this recipe, a kind of potato ravioli is stuffed with salted pork, then left to simmer for several hours. Hashbrown casserole is another dish to discover in these provinces. It is made with potatoes, cream and cheese. In fact, potatoes are also eaten for breakfast, in the form of pancakes.

There is a curiosity that you absolutely must taste if you are passing through the Maritimes, particularly on the coasts of New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. It is dulse, a type of seaweed whose color varies from reddish-purple to black. Dried and sometimes fried, dulse is eaten like a chip. A version of the BLT (Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato) sandwich replaces the Bacon with dulse, giving the DLT sandwich. You can taste this famous sandwich in the market of the city of St John's in New Brunswick.

The sweets

The Atlantic coast also has some sweet specialties to discover. Ice cream lovers will find a flavor of the maritime provinces. Moon Mist is a mixture of banana, grape and bubblegum flavored ice creams.

Blueberries are small berries related to our blueberries. The provinces of the east coast and Quebec are rich in wild blueberries. They can be enjoyed plain, dried, in ice cream or even in pastry turnovers.

Maple syrup is also a must in the provinces of the east coast of Canada. The products that contain it are very numerous: cookies, sweets, condiments, but also cosmetics or well-being.

Discover some of them on our site, like maple mustard, and many other authentic Canadian products in our shop online.