This weekend, my husband and I resumed our attempt to “travel” to every country with a pavillion in EPCOT World Showcase.
Our next stop was Canada. We went to Toronto in 2019, and it was one of the best trips we’ve ever been on. We visited the Hockey Hall of Fame, visited the CN tower, ate at Tim Horton’s a lot, and experienced the majestic Niagara Falls.
The Food
I made Nanaimo Bars, a no-bake layered dessert from British Columbia. They turned out so well. The bottom layer was rich and chocolatey and the buttercream was perfectly smooth and sweet. The buttercream also had the perfect yellow color from the custard powder. I would 100% make these again.
As New Yorkers, we love bagels in our household. We have become bagel experts while eating fresh and fluffy New York style bagels. We discovered that Black Seed Bagels makes Montreal-style bagels in NYC, and we picked up half a dozen. Montreal bagels are flatter and sweeter than New York bagels, and they were absolutely delicious. The bagels from Black Seed reminded me of the bagels I had in Montreal. They only had poppy seed and sesame left when we got there, but I would love to try their other flavors as well!
Poutine is another classic French Canadian Dish. It is French Fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. I was a little worried about finding cheese curds in NYC, but I found them at Target. This recipe turned out so well. The cheese curds were slightly tangy and not too squeaky (which sometimes they can be). The recipe created a lot more gravy than we needed, which in our case, means a nice treat for our dog.
The Entertainment
Schitt’s Creek, about a rich family that moves from NYC to a small town in Ontario when they lose all of their money, is one of my favorite shows of all time. It stars Canadians, was written by Canadians, and is set in Canada. I have watched it twice all the way through since the pandemic began, and I highly recommend it as a comfort watch on Netflix.
Robin on How I Met Your Mother is another major Canadian television character. Early in our relationship, my husband and I really bonded over this show, so it has a special place in my heart. We rewatched “Dual Citizenship,” the season five episode where Robin ends up in Canada as she debates whether she wants to give up her Canadian citizenship.
I love Canada, and I cannot wait until it is safe to go there again.
Bubbling up with Helena 