Q. It’s one of Canada’s most famous, historic desserts. What is Pouding Chômeur? . A. This delicious Depression-era Canadian dessert – Pouding Chômeur – was created in Quebec. ‘Poor Man’s Pudding’ is said to have been invented in 1929 by women who, after a long day working on the factory

Q. When asked to think of Canadian foods, most will quickly generate: ‘maple syrup’.  Historically, how have we incorporated this marvellous maple sap into the most important part of the meal? . A. The preeminence of maple syrup comes through in a 2021 Narrative Research survey. 2000 Canadians were asked

Q. Which homemade cookies do we Canadians crave the most? . A. In February, Food Network Canada analysed their considerable data to unearth the cooking channel’s most popular cookie recipes of all time. The winner? Good old-fashioned shortbread. Fittingly, in the 1944 ‘Canadian Favourites Cookbook’, Mrs. Jane Montgomery from Victoria, B.C.

Q. How does the Canadian sweet tooth compare to those of our global counterparts? . A. We can start with the healthy sweets. Can you name the most consumed fruit in the world? According to the Guinness Book of Records, the most consumed fruit in the world is the banana

Q. Why do some people insist on crushing egg shells to dusty bits after peeling them off their hard-boiled interiors?   A. They are likely deferring to an old superstition. Diners crushed their egg shells to make it more difficult for witches who, rumour had it, would otherwise collect shell

Q. It’s all about the apple. Apples, apples, apples. But, when it comes to pome fruit, there is another member with a storied history: the pear. How were pears used centuries back? . A. It’s not all about Flashy Cousin Apple. The low key Pear has also had its time

Q. Will you give, get, or stockpile some conversation hearts for Valentine’s Day?  Where did these long-popular candies originate? . A. As it turns out, the technology behind these sweethearts came from the mind and hands of Mr. Oliver R. Chase, Pharmacist. His core invention? An 1800s lozenge cutting machine

Q. Happy National Cheese Lovers’ Day! How best to celebrate this glorious occasion? . A. Today’s cheese fest is rooted in the U.S. who in 2022 – according to Statista – rated second in the world for overall cheese consumption. The EU was first. Cheese consumption, for those aiming for

Q. Canadian Pride! We have been enjoying watching Dan Levy’s ‘The Big Brunch’, with co-judges Sohla El-Waylly and Will Guidara, and a talented roster of socially-minded contestant chefs. In doing so, we came to wonder: what’s the history of this most delicious late morning meal? . A. The origins of

Q. We’ve seen the great divide around certain candies. Candy corn, holiday peeps, nougat – were you a ‘love’ or a ‘hate’ on those? What are some other foods that tend to divide us? . A. Be it the texture, the smell, the childhood memories, or the quality of the taste