Kali Montes Dr. Welch Americans Seen From Abroad 6 November 2014 Staying Traditional in Quebec The history of Quebec has had a great impact on the cultural identity of its province. Early settlers who came from France and England have created a distinct Quebecois culture, separate from the rest of Canada. The two largest ethnic groups in the province of Quebec are French and Irish, and other than the cultural and linguistic differences that make Quebec distinct from the rest of Canada, there is noticeable differences in Quebecer cuisine. Many traditional dishes in Quebec including, tourtières (meat pies), Pâté chinois (shepherds pie), and Grand-Pères (maple syrup dumplings) are prepared with native ingredients like maple syrup, and smoked meat. …show more content…
In an area where a variety of ethnic backgrounds and languages are to be seen, the construction of cultural identity in the province of Quebec has been implemented. The use of former culinary practices have created the Quebecois cuisine existing today. Marc Charron, a professor who offers a course on English-French food studies at the University of Ottawa, stated in a journal on Canadian food culture called Cuizine, “Although Quebec is proud of having developed a distinctive cuisine drawing from regionally sourced ingredients, for instance, the eclectic and cosmopolitan food scenes in Montreal and Quebec City attest to a real Québécois fondness for fusion cuisine.” In other words, the cosmopolitan cuisine of Quebec gives citizens something to cling onto and identify as a part of Quebecois culture. In a way, this creates a sense of unity throughout the large province, including Quebec’s second largest city, Montreal, the heart of …show more content…
National Geographic lists poutine as number one, on a top ten list of foods to eat in Quebec, stating “Poutine just might be Quebec’s signature food.” Originating in the 1950’s, this dish has become a favorite amongst the province and consists of French fries, topped with fresh cheese curds, drenched in gravy. Today, several different recipes of poutine have been created and are served in pouteneries and restaurants throughout Quebec. For example, at many of these specialized shops you can find over twenty different types of poutine. Some examples include but are not limited to, barbecue chicken, chili cheese, beef, and many more! These pouteneries often stay open during late night hours, as this popular dish is widely known as a hangover food, enjoyed after sharing a few drinks with some friends at a local pub or night club. Shown below is an example of a traditional dish, served when ordering poutine in