I love taking part in special projects, special initiatives and various challenges. This month I will be posting my first blog post as part of The Canadian Food Experience Project. For this project, myself and many other Canadian food bloggers (participants) will share our Canadian food stories and experience. What’s the purpose you ask? We hope to bring global clarity to our Canadian culinary identity and hopefully raise recognition to Canadian food and food bloggers and just make our Canadian voice shine.
Just so you know, anyone can join so please feel free and welcome.
So every month we get a theme, and this month the theme is “My First Authentic Canadian Food Memory”. I especially liked it because it brought up nice memories from 4 years ago when we just arrived to Canada (Halifax, NS to be more precise) and every time I think back, that time period makes me smile.
I’m not smiling because it was all warm a fuzzy, starting your life from scratch is not warm nor fuzzy, but if you look at it from a different angle, from an adventure angle, it could make the entire transition much friendlier.
When I first came here with the kids, it was after not seeing my husband for a month. You see, he left a month before us to organize our apartment, to make sure we have everything when we get here and that the kids are comfortable. We wanted the kids to land directly in their new home, so when I got here with the kids I was thrilled to finally be with my husband. I remember being so excited to both see him and start a new chapter in our lives, the Canadian chapter.
We flew in, and after hours of flight and waiting in between flights we were both hungry and tired so of course when we landed the first thing to do was get some food. Luckily my husband was already familiar with some of the places so he took us out for dinner.
I was looking at the menu, realizing that the food culture in Canada is a lot different than the one I was used to, and not in a bad way, just different.
I decided to go with something I’ve always seen people in the movies eat – Fish and Chips. So to me, the first ever Canadian food experience was fish and chips.
I remember thinking the taste was divine, and even though I knew eating so much fried food was probably not the healthiest choice I could make, I just loved every bite.
Living in Halifax, I now realize that fish and chips are part of the culture here. Beer battered fish with fries is something one can easily find around here; and having the ocean at our feet is a major advantage which only makes this dish taste better and fresher.
Taking part in this project made me also realize that I’ve lived here for 4 years now but never made fish and chips at home. So I decided to make my own version of it, the healthier version of course – the baked one.
No tartar sauce as well. You know me by now, I use what I have and I have what I use, so I came up with a side sauce to dip the fish in. The kids loved it and kept asking for more. If that’s not an A+ grade, I don’t know what is.
- 8 Sole Fillets (Any other white fish fillets will work too)
- 4 tbsp Mayonnaise
- ½ tbsp Lemon Juice
- 2 Garlic Cloves – Minced
- 5 tbsp Bread Crumbs
- 4 tbsp Water
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- Preheat oven to 425F (215C)
- Cut fillets into smaller pieces (nugget size or desired size)
- Whisk all other ingredients in a bowl
- Place fish nuggets in the bowl and gently fold in until each piece is fully covered with the batter
- Place in one layer on a parchment paper covered baking sheet and in the preheated oven
- Bake for about 15 minutes and then switch to broil. Broil for additional 10 minutes until golden
- Remove from oven and serve with fries or potato wedges
- Mix the ingredients together and serve on the side for dipping
Yum! This looks great. I don’t eat nearly enough fish in my diet except overly deep fried fish and chips but this looks like something I couldwrap my taste buds around.
Heather, tell me how it was after you try it!
Your fish and chips look absolutely fabulous!!!
I can not wait to give your recipe a try. Love the idea of baking the fish. I will let know know how it goes.
Great post.
Thanks Redawna! Let me know if you liked it 🙂
Maya,
I can just tell I am going to really enjoy your little family vignettes! I know where your husband is from, but OH MY – had no idea you came from somewhere else, too. Where is it? The question begs to be asked and as my husband came from Eastern Europe, I am dying to know… have been many places.
The best fish and chips I have ever eaten was in London along the Thames in a little blue trimmed cottage house aptly called “The Warf”. We don’t eat much of it on the Prairies. Fresh water fish we enjoy, but cod is a delicacy. It was divine! Unforgettable. You are so fortunate to live beside the ocean and I cannot wait to visit. Coming to NS in May! 🙂 Valerie
Hey Valerie! We actually moved here from Israel, so the culinary scene is very much different 🙂
Let me know when you’re coming to visit maybe we can meet!
[…] post about fishing in Ontario’s Cottage Country had me literally vibrating. When I read Maya’s post about her first Halifax Canadian Fish and Chips meal, I hurled myself at the deep freeze and pulled […]
I love the idea of baking the fish. do a lot of pan frying but your method is so much easier. And I love that fish and chips was your first Canadian meal. So authentic…
Thanks Bridget 🙂
I just make sure I find fast and easy ways to make food. You know how it is with kids around 🙂
Hi Maya,
I love your healthy take on fish and chips. I learned to make them in culinary class and they were definitely NOT as healthy as yours 🙂
Isn’t this a fun project that Valerie has started.
Looking forward to trying this and reading more from you.
Rhonda
Thanks Rhonda! This IS fun! I love themes challenges 🙂
Let me know if you try these 🙂
Growing up in a British family I practically grew up on fish and chips wrapped in newspaper from our local shops.
I never actually had them in a newspaper but I always see it in movies so I figured, why not…:)
[…] but I saw her at FBC2013 when she won a prize. She resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and writes at Maya’s Kitchen. What do the folks in Halifax have in abundance that the folks on the prairies do not? Seafood! […]
I look forward to your future contributions. This one was very interesting. Great take on traditional fish and chips. Oh, and, welcome to Canada!
Thanks Sarah!
Well, welcome to Canada (A bit late, I know!)
Loved reading your post, and your fish and chips photos are gorgeous!
Thanks Marie! It’s never too late for a welcome 🙂
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an very long comment
but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again.
Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
That IS weird, but thank you so much for your kind words.