This is our third month of ‘traveling’ without passports. This month, we are featuring Canada. And it just feels like this is the right time (I was going to wait for July) as many of us are focused on how to support each other and our economy. Our buying habits are being challenged as we peer at labels when we shop. It’s a good thing.
We are very fortunate to have a number of fine food manufacturers in Canada. We’ll look at a number of them and I promise you, your mouth will be watering by the time you finish reading…
The first Canadian company is Wildly Delicious. Based out of Toronto, Wildly Delicious is 30 years old and manufactures a number of barbecue and grilling sauces, salsas, marinades and other yummy things like bread dippers. The ingredients are fresh and the flavours are excellent. My favourite is the Lemon & Oregano Greek Souvlaki Marinade. It makes chicken skewers taste just like it was made by the Greeks themselves. The bread dippers are another best seller. Before your next barbecue, check out the Newfoundland Screech Rum BBQ sauce. You’ll be glad you did.
The Master Indian Spice Company from New Brunswick creates authentic flavours for dishes easily prepared at home. And I do mean easily. The packages have a grocery list on the back, a line indicating how many this meal will feed, and then inside, there are 4-5 numbered tubes of spices along with detailed instructions on how and when to add each one. I love it! Rather than stock up on spices I’ll rarely use, Master Indian Spice Company has it all for me in one convenient package. The step-by-step is very clear. The meals I’ve made have tasted so good.
Atlantic Mustard Mill is located in PEI, and is fully solar powered. Mustard is a very old form of condiment, for good reason, as adding mustard to your meal increases the production of saliva. This helps you have better digestion. And the enzymes in mustard itself help break down complex carbs. Atlantic Mustard Mill produces dozens of wonderful flavours of mustards. A few of our favourites are the PEI Wild Blueberry, the Sweet & Purple Hascap Berries & Honey, East Coast Hot Dog and The Maritimer. There’s a wide range from mild to spicy, and then hot. Adding a little Atlantic Mustard to your meal is a very flavourful thing to do.
Out of Quebec, we have Gourmet du Village, who began selling food from a hand cart in 1982 on the streets of Montreal. Now there are wonderful choices for hot and cold dip mixes, brie bakers and toppings, wine jellies, s’mores kits and hot chocolates, as well as burger and vegetable spice mixes. The brie toppings are our best sellers and for good reason. Each one complements the creamy brie flavour with a touch of sweet. The dip mixes are very popular too, as are the hot chocolates. I have a bottle of wine jelly in my cupboard, just waiting for a good sharp cheddar to go with it. Is your mouth watering yet?
And while not a food manufacturer, we couldn’t talk food without talking about Meyer. Meyer, Canada’s only cookware company, is located in PEI. They manufacture a wide range of cooking pots, some with encapsulated bases and others constructed with 3 or 5 ply materials. The new Hybrid is a staff favourite, with all the best features of cooking with stainless steel (caramelization) and the convenience of non-stick (for clean up). This cookware works on all types of stove tops, including induction. It’s a Canadian triumph of cookware.
Buying and supporting Canadian manufacturers and producers has never been so important. Our economy improves when we support our own. And our patriotism does our hearts good. And then as everything tastes great too, it’s all a win when we shop Made-in-Canada.