Event: Food Day Canada 2023

Food, glorious food! This Saturday (Aug. 5th) is Food Day Canada, a day to celebrate the bounty of local food. The Canadian food scene is bursting with growth and opportunity, and Nova Scotia is no different. A province filled with farms, artisans, and producer/processors, there are so many ways to support local and enjoy what our home has to offer.

Whether you are a home cook, a local foodie, or professional chef, there are endless ways to celebrate and enjoy local food. Keep reading to see how you can shop, cook, and dine like a Nova Scotian this Food Day!

What is Food Day Canada?

Founded by the late Anita Stewart in 2003, Food Day Canada began as the Worlds Longest BBQ – an initiative to support local beef farmers to offset the economic hardships facing the agricultural industry at the time. Their mission is to promote the growth and study of our distinctively Canadian food culture, while offering a chance for all Canadians to join hands in one massive celebration in praise of our farmers and fishers, our chefs and researchers and our home cooks.

What does this mean in Nova Scotia? It means visiting your local farmers market, butcher, and bakery when purchasing ingredients. It means looking to locally owned restaurants when planning a meal out, and most importantly, it means being proud of the diverse Nova Scotian food industry.

Shop Like A Nova Scotian

In Nova Scotia, we are given the gift of a rich agricultural industry. Ranging from produce to meat products, to artisanal cheeses and even handmade animal feed, there are 2,000+ farms and producers in this province all offering fresh food products. Farmers’ markets are a great way to support these agricultural businesses, and ultimately grow the local economy. Shopping local also helps reduce the environmental impact of food production and processing, helps decrease food waste, and directs purchasing power back into the province.

Looking for a farmers’ market near you? Check out Farmers’ Markets of Nova Scotia to find your nearest market. Their website is also full of recipes using local ingredients, guides to seasonal produce, and ways to contribute to food insecurity relief efforts across the province.

Cook Like A Nova Scotian

Cooking like a Nova Scotian means using ingredients from our land and sea to create vibrant, locally inspired seasonal recipes. Whether you’re a self proclaimed chef or simply cook for the joy of it at home, there is a way to incorporate local ingredients into every recipe.

Are you a land lover? Try your had at these Pulled Pork Nachos using local pork from Meadowbrook Meat Market or The Pork Shop, aged cheddar, and The Kilted Chef seasonings to make a perfect game snack or weeknight meal.

Seafood more your style? This East Coast Seafood Gratin combines local Comeau sea scallops  and local lobster meat to create a decadent main course (it’s pairs beautifully with a your favourite Tidal Bay too!).

Need to satisfy your sweet tooth? Nova Scotian Apple Pie is the perfect way to end any meal. Using Nova Scotian apples and topped with Tatamagouche Ice Creamery Very Vanilla ice cream, this recipe will have you going back for seconds.

Dine Like a Nova Scotian

What does dining like a Nova Scotian mean? It means supporting locally owned restaurants that pride themselves on using local ingredients, wherever possible. The following Taste member restaurants are all participating in the Food Day Canada celebration of local cuisine. Be sure to check them out!

Founders House Dining & Drinks (3816 Hwy 1, Annapolis Royal) specializes in showcasing local wine and beer to accompany chef-crafted dishes using local ingredients. Their menu revolves around the seasons, often featuring simple yet elegant seafood and meat options.

Fox Harb’r Resort (1337 Fox Harbour Rd., Wallace) boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, providing a picturesque golf course back drop for your dining experience. Their menu is seasonally inspired, making use of the local producers and farms in their community.

The Canteen on Portland (22 Portland St., Dartmouth) a lively neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of Downtown Dartmouth, serving up chef-inspired seasonal fare for lunch, brunch, and dinner. Signature items include The Canteen Burger and Seafood Chowder, and their bar is well stocked with Nova Scotia wines, beers, and spirits.

The Flying Apron Inn & Cookery (3 Summerville Wharf Rd., Summerville) is hosting a Meet Your Farmers dinner, hosting three of their partner farmers and producers (including Planters Ridge Winery) to speak with dinner guests. The dinner is buffet style and will showcase a bounty of products from local farmers and producers.

Wild Caraway Restaurant & Café (3721 Hwy 209, Advocate Harbour) is a cosy restaurant and café that focusses their menu on farmed food products and wild forgeable foods. Their small but expert menu consists of foraged herbs and mushrooms, local seafood, and artisan desserts.

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Check out the Food Day Canada for more information on what is means to be part of the Canadian foodscape, and how you can support your local food industry producers.

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