Traditionally Canadian

Living in the UK and being a foodie means that conversation always lands on, What is traditional Canadian food?


The typical jokey answer is, "Anything smothered in maple syrup!" But the real answer is complicated. Do you mean indigenous traditional, or do you mean food that has become traditional due to socio-economic-political influences or due to our extremely multi-cultural traditions? 


In my home the answer leaned more towards French-Canadian tradition with the likes of tourtiere, and Pate Chinois (which has nothing to do with Chinese food at all! It's a version of shepherds pie that was created by Chinese railway workers in Quebec).