Montreal-smoked meat, Philly cheesesteak and Buffalo wings all have something in common. Each iconic food sports the name of its origin and have become international household names.
This revelation has several Reddit users questioning, what is Toronto’s most iconic food?
Fusion foods like jerk chicken shawarma and sushi pizza quickly flooded the thread, showcasing the blend of cultures that exist throughout the city.
A few users said hot dogs, as you can always find a stand somewhere.
Many are arguing that a Jamaican patty should be considered the most iconic. It’s easily accessible in most areas, on-the-go, and a delicious snack.
Some people disagree, arguing that a Jamaican patty, a food that already has a location in its title, couldn’t possibly be Toronto’s most iconic food.
“I think [it] should count,” user u/SnooMarzipans4304 says. “The beef patty sandwich sustained me through high school and I’ve never seen it anywhere outside of Toronto.”
Peameal bacon showed up in the thread multiple times, with many pointing out that the cornmeal-covered pork loin was actually invented in the city.
The origins of peameal bacon have no official documentation, but according to Toronto’s oral history, a butcher named William Davies curated the dish. Originally rolling slabs of pork in ground yellow peas as a means of meat preservation, Davies would eventually begin processing half a million hogs a year at his Front Street plant, earning Toronto its nickname as “Hogtown.”
Another user points to the iconic California sandwich, which is also a city staple. The flagship California Sandwiches restaurant still sits at Claremont Street, serving Italian veal (and other meats) in tomato sauce on a kaiser bun.
“Wow this city has totally forgotten about the iconic California’s Sandwich, which was invented in Toronto and is only truly great from its original Claremont location,” user BenchZealousideal290 said. “Growing up in Toronto in the 80’s and 90’s, every single person knew about and appreciated California’s Sandwich.”
The jury is still out on what should be considered Toronto’s most iconic food. But no matter what your preferences are, one thing is for certain: Toronto is a food city, filled with mouth-watering endless options from a mosaic of cultures.
