Montreal smoked meat is a type of deli meat sandwich that originated in Montreal, Canada. It's similar to corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, but the meat used has its own distinct preparation process and flavor profile. Pastrami was invented in Romania, a cured beef product prepared by pickling and smoking the fatty and succulent cuts of brisket, then covering them with a coating of various spices and peppercorns. Reuben Schwartz, a Romanian immigrant, started making smoked meat in Montreal in 1928, a product similar to the original pastrami. Called viande fumé in the Quebec province, it is a much sturdier product with an intense, smoky flavor. Prime beef brisket is marinated for at least ten days in a mixture of herbs and spices, and is then smoked, hand-sliced, and placed in delicious, mouth-watering rye-bread sandwiches, accompanied by French fries, pickles, coleslaw, yellow mustard, peppers, or olives. It is no wonder that there are huge lines in front of Schwartz's Deli in Montreal because everyone wants to try this world-famous smoked meat sandwich.
Originating from Toronto, this simple sandwich consists of thick slices of fatty and crispy peameal bacon on a Kaiser bun. The bun soaks up the bacon's juices, developing its own meaty texture in the process. The sandwich is usually paired with mustard, and nowadays there are even modern versions with added cheese, eggs, tomatoes, or lettuce. The bacon is called peameal because it used to be rolled in ground yellow peas, and although it's now typically rolled in cornmeal, the name peameal bacon remains unchanged.
Wilensky Special is a Canadian sandwich hailing from Montreal's Wilensky's, which was first opened in 1932 as a cigar store and barbershop. The sandwich consists of a round flat pletzl roll that's pressed on a grill, cut in half, smeared with mustard, and filled with beef salami and beef bologna. The mustard is compulsory and there are no extra condiments, but patrons can add Swiss or cheddar cheese for a few cents more. Wilensky Special is often accompanied by a sour or half-sour pickle on the side and a soda frappé. According to Travel and Leisure magazine, Wilensky Special was named one of the world's best sandwiches.
Halifax donair is a Nova Scotian 'drunk food' staple, invented in the 1970s by a Greek man named Peter Gamoulakos. The dish consists of pita bread filled with roasted shaved beef, onions, tomatoes, and the signature donair sauce. The beef is flavored with secret spices, and those are believed to be salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, and paprika. The pita bread is usually dipped in water and grilled before assembling the dish. What makes this dish unique is the sweet donair sauce – a concoction made with a combination of garlic, vinegar, sugar, and condensed milk. Halifax donair is typically wrapped in aluminum foil before serving, and in 2015, it was even declared the official food of Halifax, testifying to its popularity as a favorite midnight meal in the city.
A regional specialty from Alberta, kubie burger is a type of Canadian hamburger consisting of a Ukrainian garlic sausage called kubie that is pressed and then served in a bun or a bread roll similarly to a hamburger. The name of this burger, kubie, comes from the Albertan abbreviation of the word kubasa or kielbasa, which is the corrupted name of kovbasa, meaning sausage in Ukrainian. The burger is typically accompanied by fried onions, creamy cheese spreads, caraway bacon sauerkraut, or cheddar cheese. This regional dish can be found in restaurants, diners, and burger shacks throughout Alberta.
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