Eating Local - What's the Taste that Defines a Place?

Fish tacos in San Diego are just a little different to those I’ve eaten in the Bow Valley…

I find it fascinating to see how many travellers head straight for the familiar when they arrive at a new destination. McDonalds. Starbucks. Burger King. KFC. The big brands are everywhere and it’s easy to seek out something we recognize when we arrive in new territory. 

I do it myself. I know where to get my favourite beverage. Where to find good wifi. Who is likely to have clean bathrooms. 

You know you’re in Paris when you sink your teeth into a freshly-baked baguette…

But as soon as I’ve acclimatized, I make a point of seeking out whatever it is that the local area is known for. As I write this, I’m at a conference in San Diego - a town known for fish tacos. As soon as I’d dropped my bags in my hotel room I set out on a quest and half an hour later I was settled in at an outdoor table, listening to a reggae band, and chowing down on fish tacos and corn tortilla chips. 

In that first moment as I sank my teeth into the lime-drizzled deliciousness of crispy battered fish, soft tacos, shredded lettuce and picante salsa I knew that I was no longer in Canmore. 

There’s nothing like local cuisine to firmly establish exactly where you are in the world. 

A fish taco in the Bow Valley doesn’t go down in quite the same way as one consumed near the ocean in San Diego. 

You won’t find too many of these in San Diego… [@TheGrizzlyPaw on IG]

How Do You Define Canadian Food?

As I was sitting outside in short sleeves, marvelling at the fact that only a few hours earlier I’d been tip-toeing my way across the icy parking lot to get on my shuttle bus, I thought about the food of home. What dishes from home were likely to be scarce down in California? Poutine came to mind. Pancakes with real maple syrup. Bison burgers. Juniper-flavoured anything. Craft beer from Sheepdog Brewing Co. I had a pang of homesickness. It didn’t last too long - San Diego is a fabulous city. But it did make me realize that in exactly the same way that food experiences can define our travels, it also defines the place we come from.  

What Does ‘Home’ Taste Like?

Here’s a challenge for you. This week, eat something that’s distinctively Bow Valley. Post a photo. What does southern Alberta food mean to you? Tag us @tastecanmore or #tastecanmore and let us know what you think of when you think of local food.