May 1st, 2013
09:00 PM ET
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World-renowned chef, author and Emmy winning television personality Anthony Bourdain visits Quebec in the next episode of "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," airing Sunday, May 5, at 9 p.m. ET. Follow the show on Twitter and Facebook.

This week, Anthony Bourdain bundles up - then bundles up again - to head to the Great White North where he finds nostalgia for the cuisine ancienne in the French-speaking province of Quebec. 

Amid the snow, ice fishing, rogue hockey games and beaver snaring, he finds a deeply impassioned community, hell-bent on preserving their francophone identity that is culturally, spiritually and linguistically different from the rest of Canada.

Chef Martin Picard of Au Pied de Cochon, and David McMillan and Frédéric Morin of Joe Beef share their pride and affection for the old world charm of their beloved land and show Bourdain how they honor the tradition of the French table.

As McMillan says, "You always have to travel well and eat properly."

Dive into the food that Bourdain and guests enjoy in the episode:

Chartreuse
This green, herbal liqueur, nicknamed the "elixir of long life," has been made by Carthusian monks in the French Alps since the 18th century. The formula for this centuries-old spirit, made from approximately 130 herbs, plants and flowers, is so prized that no one monk knows the whole recipe; three monks are responsible for three separate parts of the recipe.

Choucroute garnie
Choucroute garnie, or "dressed sauerkraut," is a heaping platter of juniper-simmered sauerkraut, pork products and boiled potatoes. This hearty Alsatian dish is - in typical French fashion - meant to be served with a quality, whole-grain mustard. It's a meaty dose of comfort food for the frigid days of the Canadian winter.

Époisses de Bourgogne
Warning: This cheese is intensely stinky. What it has in odor, though, it matches in flavor. This French raw cow's milk cheese is intensely creamy with complex, salty and meaty flavors. Scoop it on a baguette and prepare to be knocked over.

Gateau Marjolaine
This classic, show-stopping rectangular cake alternates layers of hazelnut and almond meringue between chocolate buttercream. Fernand Point, chef of the legendary La Pyramide in Vienne, France, is credited with the creation and popularization of this ornate, multi-layered dessert.

Homard à la Parisienne
This dish gained traction via the Dinner of Three Emperors at Café Anglais in Paris, France, in 1867. The creation, by Adolphe Dugléré, features cold, boiled lobster served in its shell alongside vegetables in a creamy, mayonnaise-like dressing. The lobster is elaborately sliced; presentation is everything.

Lièvre à la royale
A wild hare (the "lièvre" part) is deboned and typically cooked in a jus of red wine, shallots, garlic, thyme and its own blood. The cooked hare is then set atop potato purée before the red wine-blood sauce is spooned over it. The whole dish is then lavishly garnished with slabs of seared foie gras and a shaving of black truffles. It's a rather royal affair, indeed.

Maple snow taffy
Also referred to as maple toffee or "sugar on snow," maple syrup is heated then poured over packed snow or shaved ice. As the hot syrup drizzles down the snow, it hardens into a chewy, taffy-like consistency before being twisted onto a wooden Popsicle stick for sucking and chewing. Sweet!

Oeufs en gelée
This vintage dish of poached eggs in aspic (a clear gelatin) is a cold buffet classic.

Sole meunière
Mild, sweet Dover sole is pan-fried in brown butter. In old-school establishments, the fish is typically sautéed and filleted tableside. Serve with lemon wedges and let the delicate flakes melt in your mouth.

Tourtière
This is Quebec's version of a savory, stick-to-your-ribs meat pie. Minced, spiced meat is covered and baked into a flaky, buttery crust. The dish is named such because it was originally made with tourte, or passenger pigeon, which has since become extinct. Nowadays, most variations of tourtière use ground pork and are typically served during the winter holidays. Eat, drink and be meaty!

Hungry for more? Explore Anthony Bourdain's favorite places to visit in Quebec:

Restaurant Le Continental
26 Rue Saint Louis
Québec City, Canada
(418)-694-9995

L’Affaire est Ketchup
46 Rue Saint-Joseph Est
Quebec City, Canada
(418)-529-9020

M Sur Masson
2876 Rue Masson
Montreal, Canada
(514)-678-2999

Wilensky’s
34 Avenue Fairmount Ouest
Montreal, Canada
(514)-271-0247

Cabane à Sucre Au Pied de Cochon
11382 Rang de la Fresnière
St-Benoît de Mirabel, Québec
J7N 2R9
(450)-258-1732

Liverpool House
2501 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montreal, Canada
(514)-313-6049

Previously on Parts Unknown:
Colombian cuisine – from aguardiente to viche
The ever-changing flavor of L.A.'s Koreatown
Fall in love with Myanmar's cuisine

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Filed under: Bite • Canada • Canadian • Content Partner • Cuisines • French • Parts Unknown • Travel • Video


soundoff (252 Responses)
  1. BrunoD

    I can't agree more...all the food and meals presented in the article are not truly Canadian, but purely a artistic creation of fancy chefs...In mt whole life of over 40 years in Canada, I've had maple taffy and tourtière...as for his first Cabane à sucre (sugar shack) experience at "Au Pied de Cochon"...it's like going for your 1st hamburger at Per Se in NYC, it tastes nothing like the hamburger you'd get in the greasy little parlor where normal people eat...I never tasted Chartreuse, Époisses cheese or Gateau Marjolaine (all non Canadian creation anyway)...Mr. Jourdain just got hold of some fancy chefs in Quebec and got to taste what normal people consider very fancy restaurants you might go to once a year for a special occasion. Has he even tried a real poutine from Ashton (chain) or Montreal Pool Hall (small greasy joint), or experienced a real sugar shack in the middle of the woods with food burning stove and wooden pic nic table, or gone to Lac St-Jean for a traditional tourtiere, or tried a maple syrup dumplings or rolls dessert. At least he tasted some Caribou, all is not lost!

    May 3, 2013 at 5:07 pm |
    • SoniaSonia

      I never tasted gateau Marjolaine either, or heard of it, for that matter, but boy did it look good! Would not mind eating some right now! lol I'm going that have to find out where I can eat some.

      May 3, 2013 at 5:12 pm |
  2. JustFred

    "Canadian cuisine" is a bit of an oxymoron. Like most things Canadian, I find it as bland and uninspiring at that tiresome Anthony Bourdain show CNN keeps trying to make happen.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:44 pm |
    • Donlizard

      Typical jackass that knows nothing about our country, but still posts ....

      May 3, 2013 at 5:18 pm |
    • lxNay

      You are wrong, but then that should not come as a surprise to any of us.

      May 3, 2013 at 6:25 pm |
    • rollie

      Yes, because everyone knows that Americans invented food.

      May 4, 2013 at 1:52 pm |
      • but we forgot to copyrite it

        damn could have made some serious cash

        May 5, 2013 at 8:48 pm |
  3. Clown

    After looking at some of those pics....I think I am going to enjoy my Burger King whopper and fries for lunch more than ever.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:42 pm |
  4. Constantine

    "In another international forum, the Province of Quebec is passed off as the representative of the whole nation of Canada. "

    Umm, the article says exactly the opposite, i.e.: "he finds a deeply impassioned community, hell-bent on preserving their francophone identity that is culturally, spiritually and linguistically different from the rest of Canada."

    Anyway, I've wanted to try a good tourtiere for years but I can't find anywhere in SoCal that makes them. You'd think there'd be a least a few Québecers around here who would open a restaurant and make them.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:31 pm |
  5. disgustedvet

    Beaver Stew ? If it tastes like muskrat stew you can have my share. Tastes like old swamp water smells. Of course we had no chef's to prepare it.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:29 pm |
  6. piglet

    Very disappointing program....the hype does not deliver..premise of the show a good idea, but just does not look good.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:21 pm |
  7. nblizard

    I've just eaten some beaver and I might even eat some more later, if she lets me.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:20 pm |
  8. EarlyBird

    What - no mention of Jos. Louis??

    May 3, 2013 at 4:18 pm |
  9. achepotle

    Friend bologna on white bread with a side of KD.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:06 pm |
    • achepotle

      fried....but it is your friend, too

      May 3, 2013 at 4:06 pm |
  10. atlantisdigital

    As a Canadian, I'm offended that Poutine is not on this list (I had it last night with wings). Also, you guys don't have Ketchup chips in the states? Did not know that.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:06 pm |
    • Marie Anti

      Yes we do have ketchup chips and like Poutine it will pack on the fat around your belly. There is far better food than Poutine. That's like eating at MacDonald s on steroids.

      May 5, 2013 at 10:42 am |
  11. stephen48739

    My memories of Canada are those spent at my Grandfather's cottage on Lake St. Clair, on the Canadian side. We enjoyed dinners of fresh-caught walleye, yellow string beans, beets and potatoes. They had a party- line phone there, back then, for those of you who remember that phone system.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:02 pm |
  12. abmri60

    I love the food in Canada.
    Whenever I am in Toronto I visit JOJO's, one of my fav's.
    Movenpick for steak tartare.

    May 3, 2013 at 4:01 pm |
    • Attilio Ciampini

      The food in Canada is disgusting.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:12 pm |
      • Sherri

        Food in Canada is the same as food in the U.S. Maybe some Canadians eat beaver but a lot of Americans eat Squirrel, possum and snake. If you survey both countries I am sure the majority of people eat beef, potatoes, vegetables, pasta and pizza. Nothing too bizarre.

        May 4, 2013 at 12:33 pm |
  13. Healthy_Human

    Clicked on couple of pics and almost threw up! What crap!!

    May 3, 2013 at 3:56 pm |
    • BeeLine

      You do realize, most Canadians don't eat or have never heard of this crap, eh?

      I'm Canadian and I enjoy maple syrup and have eaten tourtiere (meat pie, as in Europe). I've also a lot of wild game (moose, buffalo, bison) so I'm fairly adventurous when it comes to food and have eaten all over this country, so I can say with ease that Anthony Bourdain must have been smoking something. This isn't common cuisine, but neither is caviar, get my drift?

      May 3, 2013 at 4:20 pm |
      • PJ

        Well, since you're such a foodie, could you tell us the difference between buffalo and bison? And where you ate both?

        May 5, 2013 at 7:46 am |
  14. Born and raised

    Like many other of my proud fellow Canadians who have posted, I have lived in WESTERN Canada my whole life and other than Coffee Crisps and Ketchup chips (different brands) I've never even heard of most of these concoctions. Posting articles implying that we eat beaver? Well, it's no wonder when we head down south we get asked about our igloos. Ah well, we're Canadian! Laugh and carry-on. Takes more than this to offend our pride.

    May 3, 2013 at 3:55 pm |
    • Liz

      Cheers! I'm an east-coast girl living in Alberta, and I agree with my fellow Canadians. This stuff is just... well, it's meant to make you judge. Sugar Snow and Ketchup chips are about the only regular things. This show was about Quebec, not Canada.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:51 pm |
  15. shauna

    wow, really, really. am deeply disappointed by this very poor representation of the great Canadian cuisine. did not do the country justice by focusing on one province. and wtf Herrs is a usa manufacturer what about Old Dutch for true Canadian Ketchup Chips!!

    May 3, 2013 at 3:54 pm |
  16. Bayou_Disqus

    That Maple Snow thing reminds me of a Snow cone (the good ones with shaved ice). If it weren't 52 degrees I'd go get one.

    May 3, 2013 at 3:50 pm |
  17. Raedwulf

    Albertans would choke on their steaks if they heard that Quebec cuisine was representative of the Canadian palate. Thankfully poutine isn't on this list. Still can't figure out why it has migrated out of that god-forsaken province.

    May 3, 2013 at 3:47 pm |
  18. Canada

    Who honestly kept that whole Bloc Quebecois thing going anyways?

    May 3, 2013 at 3:44 pm |
    • KL KING

      Uneducated Quebeckers...Franco-Ontarians and educated Quebecois don't fret about separation and language.

      Dear cousins to the south, don't think in any way that this is cute, and certainly don't support their views, for the language 'police' and their lemming-like followers are ruining a great country. They are a have-not province that is a drain on the system, they have all-around lower education levels, get ridiculous transfer payments, lobby for subsidies and linguistic freedoms that the rest of Canada doesn't get...the list goes on and on, really. And once again, NOT a revenue-generating province.
      They get jobs because they speak French, not because they have the educational or experiential qualifications, so what does that say about the future of our beloved country?
      If they want to separate, take their share of the national debt with them, establish their own monetary and political system, they can be my guest (and the guests of millions of Canadians who feel the same)

      And as if all of that weren't bad enough, they are trying to raise heck in the U.S. by attempting to force small U.S. border towns to switch their signage to be bilingual (English and French) by threatening to stop shopping in them.
      It's bad enough the rest (and vast majority of Canada) is being bullied by Quebec, should the States be too?

      No amount of Poutine or Pouding Chomeur is worth that.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:10 pm |
      • SoniaSonia

        As a francophone Quebecker, I can tell you that most people in Quebec DO NOT want to separate. Separation is a political think that some politicians hold on too and bring back out during every election period, but I can assure you that the big majority of people under 50 do not care about separation. It was a popular concept in the 70s and early 80s, but it has lost its steam long time ago. In fact, most people of my generation are pretty fed up earing about it, becaure it's not part of our reality. Why do you think that the NPD came out so strong in Quebec during the last Federal election and Quebeckers rejected Bloc Quebecois?

        May 3, 2013 at 4:25 pm |
        • SoniaSonia

          Oups! *political thing*

          May 3, 2013 at 4:26 pm |
        • BeeLine

          I do agree with you on separation, Sonia, but I agree with KL on the language policing and special rights. I'm sorry, speaking french shouldn't be the only job requirement, nor should private establishments, especially ethnic ones, have to change the language on their menu items. I think that if Quebec construction companies are allowed to work in Ontario, then Ontario construction companies should be allowed to work in Quebec. Either all provinces are part of Canada and we have one nation and one national holiday, or not. Why isn't every province "one nation under Canada", only Quebec? This is absurd and only stands to alienate the rest of Canada.

          May 3, 2013 at 4:51 pm |
        • SoniaSonia

          I agree about the language. And again, I believe it is mostly a political discourse. I was born and raised in Quebec City. Spoke only French growing up. Learned my English from American TV shows. At 20, I move to Montreal, a very diverse city, where it is not rare to go in a store where they greet you in English... and it does not offend me one bit. If they greet me in English, I speek to them in English. If they greet me in French, then I spead to them in French. I do not care. And I do not care either if a sign is in English. I'm all for preserving the French language, but I think that the so-called Language police is ridiculous. With most Quebeckers outside of Montreal being francophones, many of them not even speaking English as a second language, I don't think that the French language is in any danger. I think that the government should spend its time and our money on truly important things like the environment and the healthcare system instead of worrying about business signs and other frivolous things.

          May 3, 2013 at 5:08 pm |
      • L Carbone

        lived in Ontario all my life...could not agree with you more. i was looking forward to watching this Sunday's program but after reading this article i wont. it is NOT a true representation of all of Canada only the one prvince. Unfortunate because Canada is many things and sadly the only thing that seems to be put out there is our French cuisine culture and heritage. im happy to say i live in a province that welcomes any and all cultures. i couldnt imagine forcing a language or culture upon anyone. Doesnt seem right.

        May 3, 2013 at 4:28 pm |
        • vermonter

          Yeah...too bad the French are so arrogant towards Anglophones. I seriously believe Canada should tell them to leave if they do not like English. The English had to learn French, but the French refuse to learn English...or can not. Time for Canada to get some backbone!

          May 3, 2013 at 5:40 pm |
      • Marie Anti

        And some Canadian Border Guards wear turbans........so what's your point?

        May 5, 2013 at 10:44 am |
  19. stephen48739

    Foe Gras is cruelty, served on a platter. Force feeding poultry to enlarge their livers is cruel.

    May 3, 2013 at 3:43 pm |
    • stephen48739

      Correction: Foie Gras

      May 3, 2013 at 3:45 pm |
    • MrApplesauce

      but raising cows, chickens, well... everything.... in confined spaces, feeding them other dead animals, and then eventually killing them for consumption is so great?

      Get over it or at least fake being a vegetarian.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:22 pm |
    • RC

      But soooooooo yummy!

      May 3, 2013 at 5:48 pm |
  20. Exile

    This Canadian living SOTB has eaten beaver, of the wild variety. It wasn't bad at all, stuffed with a wild rice dressing. The article, as noted by others, highlights dishes typical of neither Quebec or any other part of Canada. It comes across as "junk" journalism.

    May 3, 2013 at 3:42 pm |
    • Canada

      I love to eat Beaver, she does too

      May 3, 2013 at 3:49 pm |
  21. disgustedvet

    As a kid in rural Indiana we used to take hot maple syrup and drip it into clean snow to make candy. Never knew it was "cuisine " .

    May 3, 2013 at 3:38 pm |
    • Jon

      Just make sure you use clean snow. My grandfather told me never to use yellow snow.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:32 pm |
      • disgustedvet

        All farm kids learn that one at an early age.

        May 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm |
        • didn't Muthers of invention cover that topic?

          one of natures treats

          May 5, 2013 at 10:58 pm |
  22. David

    As a Canadian, I would like to thank CNN for it's international culinary reviews. Where is this outer-region and it's traditional fare you describe?

    May 3, 2013 at 3:26 pm |
  23. Expat Montrealer

    I think that Martin Picard was been watching too many "The Beverly Hillbillies" reruns on HULU. Just because you can't find an opossum for your stew doesn't mean beaver "yuck" is a suitable replacement. As for the rest of the food, "meh!" I would have found it a lot more interesting if Bourdain had included Montreal Smoked Meat or Bagels. Personally what I miss most about Montreal (west end) is the fresh bread. Sometimes I could just kill someone for a Montreal rye or pumpernickel with a real crust on it, "yummmmm"!

    May 3, 2013 at 3:23 pm |
  24. Sylvie

    I am a French Canadian, have lived in Quebec all my life and I confirm: Ketchup potato chips are very popular (and it's good too) ;-). I also confirm that we do not eat Beaver (except the Beaver tail pastry, but that's another story...), like SoniaSonia mentionned above, Martin Picard is a very popular chef in Montreal, but he is renowned for making inventive dishes with out of the ordinary ingredients, it does not all reflect what we eat.
    Maple Syrup, Tourtiere and yes poutine, are all very familiar, but not the rest mentionned above. They forgot the 'tarte au sucre' (sugar pie), 'pouding chomeur' (popular cake make of maple syrup)... and there are more, of course.

    May 3, 2013 at 3:21 pm |
    • Canada

      I'm Sorry that I'm terrible at French and make right hand turns on a red light....

      May 3, 2013 at 3:37 pm |
      • Sylvie

        FYI, Right turn in Québec in legal... With the only exception in Montréal city...

        May 3, 2013 at 9:39 pm |
  25. Scar007

    this is the equivalent of doing a show on New Orleans cuisine and calling it, "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: USA".

    May 3, 2013 at 3:18 pm |
    • Ed in Alberta

      BINGO! Scar007 nails it.

      May 3, 2013 at 5:03 pm |
    • Marie Anti

      Oh you mean Acadian Cuisine.

      May 5, 2013 at 10:46 am |
    • Michael Davis

      Huh... You'll see I made essentially the exact same comment a full day before you did.. Odd..

      May 5, 2013 at 1:06 pm |
  26. PMR

    As an American neighbor to the north, I can honestly say I loathe all Canadians and think an all out invasion is the only solution to the Canadian problem. If you're from Canada you know what I'm talking ABOOT!!!

    May 3, 2013 at 3:16 pm |
    • David

      Yup, nobody say nuthin, that 'murican gets mean when he drinks.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:36 pm |
    • Canada

      BLAME CANNADAA!

      May 3, 2013 at 3:38 pm |
    • Ken T

      Your threat to invade is quite scary. With so many guns down there protecting Y'all we don't stand a chance.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:42 pm |
    • Down to Earth Gal

      Feel free to try. Just remember what happened the last time the United States tried to invade Canada ... we burned down your White House and kicked your asses back over your border. From that day forward, the US decided to be our friends rather than have their asses handed to them again. Know what I'm talking aboot yankee?

      May 3, 2013 at 3:58 pm |
      • BeeLine

        Yee-haw!!!! We did!!!

        May 3, 2013 at 4:26 pm |
      • dhuff

        It's actually pretty funny (and kind of sad) that U.S. citizens are so ignorant of their own history. My fellow countrymen – check out the "War of 1812" on Wikipedia – go ahead, I'll wait...

        From a Texan who loves visiting Canada ;)

        May 3, 2013 at 4:36 pm |
      • Marie Anti

        Wow. Such hatred. Why?

        May 5, 2013 at 10:47 am |
  27. scarf

    Quebec. That unique combination of English cuisine and French charm.....

    May 3, 2013 at 3:05 pm |
  28. Angry Canuck

    Not worth the a single American Penny to comment.

    May 3, 2013 at 2:54 pm |
  29. The Other Canadians

    Typical...In another international forum, the Province of Quebec is passed off as the representative of the whole nation of Canada. The author of this series couldn't have provided a well-balance representation of one aspect of what is Canada. For example; what of the cusine of the Maritime Provinces (Newfoundland, etc.)? What of Ontario? The Prairie Provinces? The northern regions? Now, because of this article, the non-francophone proportion of Canada is going to have field questions from visitors as why we don't share the specific cuisine mentioned in this article. What a shame....well...off to purchase another box of Smarties (Canadian M&Ms).

    May 3, 2013 at 2:48 pm |
    • Pamm

      Exactly. I've lived here 50 years and never eaten this stuff except for the maple on snow.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:05 pm |
    • thewiz71

      Ummm...not to get picky, but Newfoundland is not one of the "Maritime Provinces". The Maritime Provinces (NS, PEI, NB) plus NFLD are Atlantic Canada.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:13 pm |
      • Canada

        lol, shows how bad my Canadian geography is, cuz I didn't know that.

        May 3, 2013 at 3:39 pm |
        • OntarioMe

          even Wikipedia is conflicted on the subject.

          May 3, 2013 at 3:41 pm |
      • OntarioMe

        You know 'Secret Nation' is only a movie, right?

        May 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm |
    • Castor Bricoleur

      Quit whinning and have somebody writing an article on chicken wings & beer. The aeticle had a recipe for Beaver for crying out loud. Can't be taken too seriously.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:28 pm |
  30. Robert

    very surprised that cnn would put a show of this very poor quality on the air never watch it again lousy show

    May 3, 2013 at 2:42 pm |
  31. Hal

    First, this article representative of the transformation of "journalism" into "content." Very poorly edited indeed, just on a nuts-and-bolts level.

    Second, I'm an American and I KNOW you can't have a list like this without poutine on it somewhere.

    May 3, 2013 at 2:36 pm |
  32. Bob

    hey there is a lot more to canada than quebec much more

    May 3, 2013 at 2:34 pm |
  33. hutchbunny

    I've had a beaver tail, but it was the deep fried dough variety, and it was covered in M&M's and ice cream :)

    May 3, 2013 at 2:33 pm |
  34. canuckophile

    so can anyone recomend a good canadian cookbook, besides Joe Beet and Cochon?

    May 3, 2013 at 2:24 pm |
    • Sylvie

      Here's a few suggestions:
      – The Great Canadian Cookbook
      – Ricardo Larrivée cookbooks(He has a popular cooking show at Food Network)
      – Josee Distasio (A la Distasio)- She has a very popular cooking show in french, she also has an english version of her cookbooks.
      – Canadian Living Cookbooks
      – Canada's Favourite Recipes (Elizabeth Baird)

      May 3, 2013 at 3:12 pm |
      • byapril

        I second A La Distasio, great refined recipes, very nice book

        May 3, 2013 at 3:25 pm |
    • Canada

      Burger King Menu.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:40 pm |
  35. Curtis

    People in Quebec do not reflect other Canadians opinions or views. :D

    May 3, 2013 at 2:21 pm |
    • Ann

      I am a proud American who has lived and worked in Canada for 13 years, I love Canada and have travelled to every part except for the Yukon, Northwest, and Nunavut. I am also a home cook and I love this guy. I was so excited to watch the show with the title of Canada. Now I'm just embarrassed for whoever titled this episode (more than likely an American). He did a whole episode on a small area of LA and it was called Los Angeles – Koreatown, not USA. Somebody at CNN owes the beautiful country of Canada an apology – No offense to Quebec at all – it is stunning and rich with history and culinary excellence but by no means captures the vast and varied delights of this great nation.

      May 3, 2013 at 2:48 pm |
  36. Carroll

    I'm Canadian, I'm almost 50 years old, I have a brother who's been hunting all his life and I'm sure he's never eaten a beaver he caought in a trap... I personally know of no one who has eaten Beaver... or at least the wild kind. All the cuisine mentioned is only found in Quebec and not in the East. The Heinz Ketchup Chips are not found in New Brunswick either... didn't even know there was such a thing. I have however eaten Maple Syrup over Snow. Canadian Food – Thick Beef Stew, Home Made Brown Beans and Molasses, Pizza... you know the drill :D

    May 3, 2013 at 2:21 pm |
    • Down to Earth Gal

      Ditto. I'm Canadian and didn't even know people ate beaver (yes I get the obvious joke, let it go). That was disgusting news to me. Many of these dishes were new to me and seemed repulsive. The only ones I related to were the Coffee Crisp chocolate bar and the ketchup chips.

      May 3, 2013 at 2:35 pm |
    • david

      we definitely do not eat beaver in quebec. i cannot think of any restaurant that serves it. maybe 4 restaurants serve game meat of any kind in all of montreal. also herr's ketchup chips are not the norm in quebec. i rarely see them anywhere.

      May 3, 2013 at 2:46 pm |
      • A Canadian from Quebec

        I agree with this, Ive personnally never even had or noticed those Herr chips before. Ive never seen beaver on restauramt menus and ive been to many.. Honestly most of the things they put on the list are bogus. Secondly, most french cuisine in montreal has its own spin on the recipies now and arent quite the same if at all the same as the original french from France versions. Therefor making that list even MORE bogus. I`m not saying that there is no french cuisine in montreal but why in hell would you talk about Canada, Québec and more so Montreal and then only put 1-2 things people who live there actually know and have regularily? I mean that will not teach anyone anything about Montreal, Quebec OR any and all of Canada as a whole. (Maple sirup asside)

        May 3, 2013 at 3:13 pm |
    • jheron

      Ketchup chips are all over western Canada...Not sure how you never heard of them unless you have never been to any other parts of Canada. Anyways, they are quite good if you like chips and are partial to Barbeque chips in particular.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:37 pm |
      • SoniaSonia

        I think that David meant that he never saw chips from the brand Herr's, not that he never saw ketchup flavoured chips. Because we do have ketchup chips here in Quebec and they are just as popular that BBQ chips and Salt&Vinegar chips. But we have Lay's and Humpty Dumpty, but no Herr's.

        May 3, 2013 at 3:45 pm |
      • Michael Bernard

        Is there a spicy ketchup type potato chip? Cajun Ketchup?

        May 3, 2013 at 5:15 pm |
  37. Arlee

    I'm one of the few that has eaten beaver. On a wilderness survival camp. At the time, I thought I would rather eat ants that had come out from under a log. The meat was chewy had a wild gamey taste and was nothing but gristle. If you are going to highlight Canadian food highlight poutine, butter tarts and grain fed beef.

    May 3, 2013 at 2:19 pm |
  38. Mary

    As a Canadian I was interested in reading this article. Until I realized this has little to do with "Canada" and more to do with a specific region in Quebec. Should we really be surprised that some Americans believe we drive sleds and live in igloos? With articles like this you would think we all chow down on beaver stew on a regular basis. I wish he had investigated an area of each province to give people a better representation of "Canada".

    May 3, 2013 at 12:09 pm |
    • SoniaSonia

      Believe me. People in Quebec do not eat beaver either. I don't even know if Martin Picard serves it at his restaurant, but he is renowned for making inventive dishes out of local products, so it's possible. But people don't eat that at home and I never saw it on any restaurant menu either.

      May 3, 2013 at 1:10 pm |
  39. Emily B

    Hi CNN-Awesome article, but did you mean to spell "cuisine" as "cusine" in the image caption?

    May 3, 2013 at 9:42 am |
  40. Glen

    Laylah I was gonna say the same thing....This is NOT PARTS UNKNOWN CANADA...this is PARTS UNKNOWN QUEBEC!

    Yes Quebec is part of Canada but, I dunno about you...I live in Toronto and from Newfoundland, and I have never Had Beaver Stew?! Let alone, would NEVER eat beaver.

    This is NOT a representation of Cuisine of Canada...hell our national favorite "Poutine" did not even make the list....they should rename this because with Canada being sooooo diverse each province and territory have their own regional cuisine...POOR EDITING AND PAKING OF THIS EPISODE I MUST ADMIT.....GET NEW WRITERS!

    May 2, 2013 at 11:37 pm |
    • Pierre

      Not many Québécois ever hate Beaver Stew either.

      May 3, 2013 at 12:52 pm |
    • SoniaSonia

      Poutine is from Quebec also. It's not a national dish.

      May 3, 2013 at 1:06 pm |
      • Carroll

        Poutine the Canadian way... Gravey and Fries soaked in Curdled Cheese.... and top it off with Ketchup. :D This is found all over Canada now :D

        May 3, 2013 at 2:25 pm |
        • emma

          As a Montrealer, I can attest that poutine is a visual and gastronomic insult andI couldn't gag it down if you paid me.

          May 3, 2013 at 2:56 pm |
        • SoniaSonia

          I know that poutine is popular in the rest of Canada nowadays, but still... it is not a national dish. Poutine is very "Quebec". Is there even a national dish in Canada? I think every province have their signature dishes and delicacies, but I can't think of anything I would consider like a typical Canadian meal.

          May 3, 2013 at 2:58 pm |
        • Canada

          @Emma, and that's why your from Quebec.

          May 3, 2013 at 3:42 pm |
    • A Canadian from Quebec

      Again... this has nothing to do with Quebec either.. or Montreal. The whole article just poorly represent Canada AND Quebec.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:16 pm |
  41. real canuck

    ah, good old canadians.

    we're the worlds greatest complainers..

    May 2, 2013 at 9:16 pm |
    • hutchbunny

      And yet for some reason the rest of the world thinks we're so polite

      May 3, 2013 at 3:25 pm |
      • I can see my toes

        Sorry about that whole politeness thing.

        May 3, 2013 at 5:48 pm |
      • Marie Anti

        Not people from Washington State.

        May 5, 2013 at 10:50 am |
  42. laylah b

    Glad to see that Wilensky made it on the list. It used to be Wilensky's before the language police made every business in Quebec pull the " 's" off signage, menus, etc. My mother and father lived in the neighbourhood years ago and Wilensky's (or Vilensky's) was a regular spot. My father doesn't go anymore–he says that he had a special in 1960 and he still has the heartburn.

    When I was growing up I used to go there with my uncle, who had a shoe factory around the corner. I had the "special with double meat," a karnatzel or two (think skinny, dry salami) and a cherry-cola. My uncle had an order of two hot dogs in a special bun, a choice they named after him. I go back to Montreal twice a year and try to get to Wilensky's at least once.

    I don't think they've renovated since the 1930's, maybe a coat of paint but that's probably it. I'll be there in a few weeks, and Wilensky's is on the list.

    May 2, 2013 at 8:02 pm |
  43. MarvinGerb

    What? No poutine? No trip to Schwartz's for viande fumée?

    May 2, 2013 at 7:42 pm |
    • laylah b

      Poutine is in one of the Boudain pieces. There's a photo of it on a very pretty plate. I never ate poutine when I lived there and I still can't look at it. Yuk..

      I was surprised that Schwartz's didn't make the list, nor some of the other landmarks. I didn't expect to see Moishe's or Gibby's, but I thought he'd look at Toque. He spent time with Joe Beef and a few other places, including one restaurant that has Bourdain's book on their website, as a gift that can be purchased from them. At least Wilensky/ Wilensky's made the cut.

      May 2, 2013 at 8:12 pm |
    • dd

      I know! I was born and raised in Montreal and now live in Toronto, and I crave Schwartz's on a regular basis...

      May 3, 2013 at 7:28 am |
  44. Michael Davis

    Okay, that's great, you essentially talk about french Canadian food which is a relatively small part of the country all in all... It's like going to Louisiana and having their food represent the entire country.. This "article" is horrible.

    May 2, 2013 at 7:32 pm |
  45. sleddog

    Does he have another show for parts West of Quebec? Alberta beef, wonderful and Vancouver has some tremendous restaurants and tons of great seafood. Some great stuff folks. (And Coffee Crisps. perfect)

    May 2, 2013 at 5:38 pm |
    • laylah b

      I was wondering what the show is called O Canada! It looks as if it's just Au Quebec..

      May 2, 2013 at 8:14 pm |
    • BeeLine

      I hear ya!

      I was in Nova Scotia and the seafood was DIVINE!
      I remember a Sunday eve special in a small town Near Peggy's Cove, where there was a weekly community lobster boil, so amazing and so charming to experience on that scale.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:33 pm |
  46. aerial

    In Canada we call it toffee, not taffy.

    May 2, 2013 at 3:53 pm |
    • Canada

      lol, good catch.

      May 3, 2013 at 3:46 pm |
    • disgustedvet

      Here toffee is a brown yucky tasting concoction. Taffy has many flavors but the stuff pulls your dentures out.

      May 3, 2013 at 4:31 pm |
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