There is no shortage of choices when it comes to food in Canada. With an amazing variety of cuisines from all over the world, there is a restaurant to suit every taste and budget. There are a few dishes that are native to Canada, particularly from the French Canadian regions of the country. Tortierre is a popular meat pie that is derived from Quebec. Canadians also take great pride in poutine…which is basically just french fries with gravy and cheese curds. Despite these delectable Canadian dishes, most of the local cuisine is based on that of other cultures. Because of this, grocery stores and restaurants are filled with foods from around the world.
While regular grocery stores carry a range of ethnic foods, many people prefer to shop at specialty stores throughout the city, many of which include culture-specific grocery stores, bakeries and restaurants. Another popular option is to visit flea markets or farmers markets to pick up fresh food from local farms and producers, many of whom are from different cultural backgrounds. As can be expected, areas with high densities of a specific population will have more culture-specific stores and restaurants than areas that are more varied in population. Even in areas that are predominantly Anglo-Saxon, it is possible to find Chinese food, Greek restaurants, sushi bars and many other ethnic foods.
In Toronto all restaurants must be inspected by the Toronto Public Health Department, and must disclose the results of this inspection in plain view for all visitors. To learn more about the Toronto Restaurant and Food Service Inspection program, visit http://app.toronto.ca/food2/index.jsp.
