Canadian American Food

An estimated 1 million Canadians live or work in the United States, and their diet is virtually identical to that of their American counterparts. There are only a few uniquely Canadian foods. Canada is the largest producer of maple syrup, but it is usually just poured on something else. Two distinctly Canadian dishes are butter tarts—small pastry shells filled with a mixture of butter brown sugar, egg, and raisins that are not usually found in the United States—and poutine—french fries served with cheddar cheese curds and brown gravy. The latter dish originated in rural Quebec and in recent years has enjoyed a vogue, especially among young people after a night of hard drinking. Chain restaurants such as Harvey’s, McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King sell poutine not only in Canada but in their stores in the Midwest and northeastern United States.