When you think of Canada do you think of seafood? Canada exports tons of seafood every year to countries overseas that pay top dollar for our pristine ocean gems.  With Canada Day just around the corner it’s the perfect time to spotlight some of our proud Canadian products. 

Canadian Sea Scallops harvested from the cold, clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  These gems are worth their weight in platinum, frozen at sea within hours after harvesting to maintain maximum freshness.  My favourite way to prepare them is a simple pan sear/char grill.  To check out this Maple Ginger Atlantic Scallops with Mango & Snow Pea Salad recipe click here .  Perfect as an appetizer/starter plate on your Canada Day weekend menu.

YES Canada has wild shrimp!  Our High Liner Foodservice Cold Water Shrimp is caught off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. They are sweet, tender and full of flavor, although they are not a product that a lot of people can say they have tasted.  I use them as unique steak toppers and also in the appetizer & sandwich section of my menus.  Check out this Canadian Shrimp and Spud Bite recipe which also showcases Canadian asparagus in the Cold Water Cooked Shrimp section of our site.

Could you create a Canada Day menu without poutine?  Elevate your poutine with some North Atlantic Cold Water Lobster.  We provide a variety of Lobster products from whole cooked to raw tails.  My favourite is the pre-shelled fully cooked Lobster meat.  It comes in individually vac-packed in 1 lb. portions and includes claw, knuckle and leg meat.  Simply thaw and use for pastas, pizzas, flat breads, omelets, salads and almighty Canadian Lobster poutine! 

Can’t forget about our pristine lakes!  Walleye/Pickerel is my favourite Canadian lake fish.  Highly sought after in Northern Europe, so if we don’t eat it somebody else will!  How about a Pan Seared Walleye with Chorizo Sausage and Heirloom Potato Salad?  Check out our website Fresh Water Fish product page for more recipe ideas using this fantastic Canadian fresh water fish.  

My previous blog was about ways to save on kitchen labour and I highlighted our P.E.I. Mussels which come in fully cleaned.  No more cleaning beards my friends!  I’d be hard pressed to develop a Canada Day menu without including our P.E.I mussels.  Steam these bad boys open with some craft Canadian beer or some Niagara region white wine and sing our national anthem.  We have a lot of seafood to be proud of in this great land of ours! 
Stay hungry my friends!