Eating Local Is Genius
Quebeckers are often seen as proud and handy. The skidoo, padded bra, 3D puzzle, air-free baby bottle, they were all designed in Quebec. French Canadian creativity has also made its mark in the kitchen. To prove it, here are three local agri-food inventions, products or dishes we have every reason to buy and prepare just by looking at brands labelled Aliments du Québec or Aliments préparés au Québec.
Peanut Butter
PB makes our breakfasts crunchy and creamy and it gets even better with jam and honey. This guilty pleasure is also celebrated for lunch and dinner. We truly couldn’t do without peanut butter, and it’s all thanks to pharmacist Marcellus Edson, the Montrealer who made this discovery. In 1884, he patented his idea of butter-like peanut paste and it became the global success we know today.
Peanut butter is now available in a variety of brands and flavours. Among those, a fair share are prepared here in Quebec. To garnish your morning toast, go for Jardi or Jardins La Palmeraie delicious peanut butter. Although the raw ingredients are not Quebec-based, it is processed entirely in the province. Thanks to the know-how of our people, it contributes to essential job creations for our local economy.
Whippet
The first time a child had fun smushing a Whippet was in Montreal. The famous chocolate treat was created in the East side of the city, in the legendary old Viau biscuit factory that is now closed.
Now, the Ontario company Dare markets the Whippet, but we still acknowledge its origins with pride! As for cookies, Quebec knows how to do it! One of Quebec's treasures is another well-known cookie factory, the Biscuits Leclerc Group. Few have not tasted a Social Tea, Maple Leaf, Célébration or Praeventia cookie. For over a century, Biscuits Leclerc has been enjoyed by anyone who has a sweet tooth. The fact that they are made in Quebec adds to the joy of eating them.
Poutine
The debate is still raging: was poutine invented in 1964 at Drummondville’s local snack shop Le Roy Jucep or does it come from Lutin qui rit de Warwick in 1957? One thing is certain: poutine is easily Quebec cuisine’s best-known dish. You can find it almost anywhere in the province, from canteen menus to five-star restaurants.
In the restaurant industry, fresh French fries are usually prepared using locally sourced potatoes. But if you want to cook a 100% Quebec poutine at home, you will have to be more vigilant. In the frozen food section, the Quebec potato is rarely highlighted. However, local options do exist. For instance, you can try Saint-Arneault frozen fries, available in some supermarkets. Of course, nothing stops you from cooking your own homemade fries (using Quebec potatoes, duh!). On grocery store shelves, you'll easily find sauce mixes labelled Aliments préparés au Québec. As for cheese curds, it is quite simple: there is only one Canadian province who really knows how to handle squeaky cheese...