America’s nicer Sibling Canada

Every family has its problems. America, for all its achievements has a checkered past, present, and future. Even our national anthem celebrates war and bombs. Meanwhile, our neighbors to the north came from the same group of settlers. And, they have a much rougher climate. But, they aren’t as interested in violence as we are. And, today, Canada celebrates their official confederation as a country: July 1, 1867, known as Canada day. While America’s independence day celebrates our separation from our “work daddy”, Canada celebrate the unification of their territories. In essence, America and Canada are brothers of sisters. So, let’s introduce you to America’s nicer Sibling: Canada.

Canada has a checkered past with colonization too. European settlers took the land of the indigenous tribes like the Mi’kmaq and did their best to “civilize” the natives by outlawing their culture and indoctrinating their children into their Euro-centric world. They also had skirmishes and eradicated other European settlers like the Acadian people who had to flee to The US to escape persecution in the Maritime territories.

But, overall, Canadians are good-hearted, kind, and thoughtful people. While there are exceptions to the rule, generally speaking, Canadians earned a reputation as nice people for a reason: they are. I once got stopped for speeding in Canada. While most American police would intimidate or worse, the Mountie I encountered was pleasant, respectful, and helpful, simply pointing out my mistake and offering ways to remedy the situation. As a cynical American, it was a shock to the system. I actually thanked him. Most Canadians are respectful, courteous, and want to be helpful in any way they can.

America’s nicer Sibling, Canada, Rolls out the welcome mat

Since 1867, Canada has been a united country. And, it has been a welcoming country. America may have the Statue of Liberty welcoming the huddled masses. But, in recent years that sentiment has waned. Canada has been there to do what America either hasn’t been able or willing to do with the aplomb we once did: accept foreigners to live the American dream without the violence (like the tee shirt says). In particular, they have taken in more Syrian refugees than most of their Western allies. Today, Canada is 8th on the list of Western countries accepting immigrants. And, it is changing the dynamics of the country.

Canada’s history of immigration has not been stellar, though. They prioritize economic immigration over humanitarian. And, in the early days, they only allowed white European settlers. But, they have always been a caring, loving country. With few exceptions, chances are you will be met with kindness and respect if you visit Canada in any and all provinces. Living in the Northeast, we find the Maritimes to be especially welcoming. This is not surprising as the border between Maine and New Brunswick was changed a number of years ago. And, we have helped each other out during times of trouble such as the Halifax explosion of 1917 when the city of Boston said aid and materials to a grateful city in turmoil. To this day, Halifax sends a giant Christmas tree to Boston every year in thanks.

America’s nicer sibling, Canada, is full of talent

In addition to the generosity of Canadians in general, there is a certain artistry across the country. Americans forget that many of our favorite performers actually come from or have ties to Canada. John Candy, Martin Short, and Eugene Levy are all Canadian, as are Ryan Gossling, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves. Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young also hail from Canada. Then, there are artists like Emily Carr and Jeff Wall. And, of course they brought us authors like Margaret Atwood, LM Montgomery, and Malcolm Gladwell.

Still, there are countless under appreciated artists of all media throughout the country. Take Lennie Gallant, probably the most famous singer/songwriter you’ve never heard of. He has a decades long career with multiple awards, honors, and people performing his songs (even Jimmy Buffet). As the saying goes, you can’t swing a dead cat around parts of Canada without hitting someone talented (What? That’s not a saying?). There is folk art, folk music, performance art, Rock Music, Pop, Jazz, hip hop, experimental, and all forms of artistic expression. And, why not? Most of the country is beautiful with vast stretches of unspoiled land. Even the manicured parts of the country tend to be picturesque. And, don’t forget, Canada is actually larger by size than America (albeit, mostly under ice), but, with about 11% of the population of its sibling.

So, how shall we celebrate?

Canada isn’t exactly world famous for their cuisine. Most people think of Poutine (French fries with gravy and cheese curds) when they think of Canadian food. Otherwise, it’s usually game like bison or moose. But, Canada has a much more diverse culinary culture than they are given credit for. It’s not all ice and wilderness. In fact, Canada is actually bordered by 3 oceans: The Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic. And, the Maritimes are full of natural food resources, especially seafood. Check out our post from National maritime day here. Since seafood is such a vital part of Canadian life, today we will celebrate with a little taste of the Maritimes with a classic French Dish: Matelote de Poisson, a hearty seafood stew reminiscent of bouillabaisse. And, coincidentally it’s the name of Lennie Gallant’s French music project, Sirene et Matelot.

So, let’s get started. This recipe may seem involved. But, it is a simple yet elegant dish. There are a lot of moving parts. You could juct throw everything in a pot and let it boil. But, seafood is tender. We prefer to get a little color on it, then add it back into the broth later, to preserve the flavor, texture, and integrity.

Matelote de Poisson

cheffd

Print Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine canadian, French, Maritimes

Servings 6 people

Ingredients

  

• 8 Cups Seafood stock or vegetable or chicken broth
• 1 Cup Diced Fresh Onion
• 1 Tbsp Chopped Fresh Garlic
• olive oil
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 2 Tbsp AP Flour
• 1/4 tsp Saffron Threads
• 1 Cup Diced Fresh Red or yellow bell pepper
• 2 Cups Diced Fresh Tomato
• 1 Cup White Wine
• 2 Oz brandy or cognac
• 2 Cup Diced Fresh Potato
• 1 Lb Cleaned and De-bearded Mussels
• 1 Lb Fresh Halibut or similar sturdy Fish boneless and skinless
• 1 Lb Fresh Peeled and deveined Shrimp
• 1 Lb Fresh Scallops
• 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Herbs, parsley, tarragon, thyme, and Dill

Instructions

 

• Make a flavorful stock. If you have fish bones make a seafood broth. Otherwise, you can use chicken or vegetable broth. If you don't have the ingredients or time, buy a pre-made broth.
• Heat olive oil in a large pot. Saute onion and garlic over medium high heat until translucent. Add the potatoes, and brown slightly. Then sear the fish, scallops, and shrimp, but, don't cook them through. You just want a little color. Remove the seafood items. Set them aside to add later in the cooking process.
• Add the saffron and stir well. Then add the brandy and flame off the alcohol. Add the wine when the flames die down and cook down until about half the volume of wine is left. Add in the stock and bring to a boil. The potatoes should become cooked, but not mush,
• In a separate pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour to make a roux. cook for a minute over low to medium heat to cook the flour. Try not to brown too much as this is going into a lighter seafood stew, not a heavy dish. Whisk this into the boiling liquid. It will thicken slightly.
• Add in the seafood, tomato, and peppers. Cover the pot to allow the mussels to open fully. This means they are cooked. Season the stew with salt and pepper. Add in the herbs and serve hot.

Keyword classic, French, Maritime, Matelote, Seafood Stew