Iconic Foods of Ontario, Canada

1. Poutine

Quebec-origin, now ubiquitous: fries + cheese curds + gravy. Ontario variations: pulled pork, butter chicken, vegan.

2. Maple Syrup

Ontario = 2nd largest Canadian producer (after QC). Sugar bush tours, pancake houses, maple taffy on snow.

3. Peameal Bacon

Wet-cured pork loin rolled in cornmeal. "Toronto's signature sandwich" (St. Lawrence Market).

4. Butter Tarts

Flaky pastry, gooey butter-sugar-egg filling (± raisins). National treasure; festivals province-wide.

5. Bannock

Indigenous flatbread (flour, water, baking powder). Fried, baked, campfire. Cultural staple.

6. Nanaimo Bars

BC origin, but beloved in ON: custard base, chocolate topping, coconut-graham crust.

7. Pickerel (Walleye)

Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, inland lakes. Pan-fried, shore lunch tradition.

8. Wild Blueberries

Northern ON (Temagami, Chapleau). Intense flavor, high antioxidants. Pies, jams, craft beer.

9. Craft Beer

300+ breweries. Styles: NEIPA, stout, lager, sour. Hubs: Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Niagara, London.

10. Schnitzel on a Bun

Southwestern ON (Kitchener-Waterloo, Stratford): German heritage. Breaded pork/veal cutlet, bun, mustard, onions.

Reflects Indigenous, French, British, German, Italian, Caribbean, Asian immigration.