In Nova Scotia, people party in the kitchen. It’s where the food is, where the drinks are, and it’s the best place to relax and be you. Alongside the beer you’re likely to find plates of French cooking or French desserts. It’s not unusual for people to get together for potluck suppers. Everyone brings something different to eat. However, with the large population of French Acadians in the area, you’re most likely to wind up with a French menu. Bread pudding, pastries, smoked fish, seafood (lots of seafood), and traditional French Acadian dishes like baked beans and blueberry fungi might show up on the kitchen table.
French cooking is the heart and soul of many Nova Scotian households. It’s how people socialize. It’s how families come together. Even the English enjoy French recipes, incorporating them into their restaurant menus. When a tourist stops you in the street to ask where they can get “homemade Rappie Pie”, you know that someone, somewhere, has piqued their interest. There’s always a restaurant nearby (usually only open during the summer months) with a few classic French recipes on the menu.
So, the next time you have a party, don’t party like a rock star, party like a Nova Scotian.
