Learn about First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures as you sample and savour these Indigenous dishes and food products.
Indigenous cuisine varies depending on where you are in Turtle Island (a name that Indigenous Peoples use for North America). But isn’t that exciting? What you might find on the west coast won’t be the same as what you find in Southern Ontario. So let me help you start—or continue—your Indigenous food journey!
Here are four delicious Indigenous foods you need to try on your next trip to Tkaronto.
Seasonal menus at the CN Tower’s 360 Restaurant
The CN Tower 360 Restaurant works with Indigenous chef, David Wolfman from Xaxli’p First Nation in British Columbia, on seasonal three-course Indigenous-cuisine menus. Chef Wolfman’s signature style thrives on putting a modern twist on traditional ingredients. Make sure to check the menu on their website to confirm what they're serving since the menu is updated each season.
Arctic char and turbot from First Fish
Hungry for sustainably wild-caught fish from the pristine Arctic waters of Nunavut? If your answer is “Yes!” (mine is too), then check out First Fish, a unique non-profit social enterprise. First Fish sources delicious Arctic char and turbot from Inuit fishers in Pangnirtung on the coast of Baffin Island and Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.
First Fish works with Toronto businesses to portion and smoke their harvest, which is found at farmer’s markets and on the menus of top local restaurants, including Cluny Bistro and La Bettola di Terroni.
All of the company’s profits go back into supporting Inuit communities and sustainable fisheries.
Birch Bark Coffee
Headed to Kensington Market? Add a bag or two of Birch Bark Coffee to your shopping list. It makes the perfect souvenir or gift. You can pick it up at Sanagan’s Meat Locker.
This Ottawa/Atlantic Canada-based First Nations roaster produces six unique bean blends, from its mellow Two-Spirit light roast to Indigenous espresso roast. With a focus on Fair Trade partnerships, Birch Bark builds bridges between Indigenous communities here and in the global south, working with small producers to source organic beans for their coffee.
Birch Bark Coffee also uses its platform to advocate for clean drinking water on Indigenous reserves, many of which face substandard water quality.
Wabanaki Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a fan-favourite in these lands. Its distinctive sweetness pairs well with many foods and can also be used as a substitute for white sugar. Pre-contact, it was used as a tool for healing, and the makers at Wabanaki maple syrup know this well.
Wabanaki is an Indigenous female-owned company located in Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in New Brunswick. They use age-old techniques and blend contemporary ingredients to share oak barrel-aged maple syrup with the people.
And don’t worry: though New Brunswick may be far away, this syrup isn’t. You can find their products at select retailers like Sanagan’s Meat Locker in Kensington Market or at Ecotique in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood.
—This story has been updated with new details since it was first published in August 2022.
