Canada Day barbecue? Cultural Do’s and Don’ts

Posted on 01. Jul, 2010 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Life
5 comments

Are you going to a Canada Day barbecue today? Chances are it’ll be a potluck meal, which means that everybody brings a dish to share with the other guests.

Potlucks are fantastic. Everyone makes enough food for a small army, you end up with 7 cheese platters and 6 different desserts… life is good.

However, if this is your first time bringing food to a Canadian party, there are a few do’s and don’ts to keep in mind – after all, you don’t want to be “that guy” who brought the weird dish, do you?

What to bring?

- Dips and raw vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli and baby carrots), spreads and crackers, salads, cold cuts, cheese and fruit platters, desserts.

- If you’re going to a barbecue, bring a side dish to share, plus anything you’d like to throw on the grill: meat, sausages, salmon – or vegetables and tofu if you don’t eat meat.

- Vancouverites love ethnic food, so why not make a typical dish from your country? Pick something mild, as not everyone is used to spicy or pungent foods… and some people really hate garlic, as I learned the first time I brought Provençal food to a party…

Potluck etiquette

- Ask your hosts if there’s anything they’d like you to bring.

- Potlucks and barbecues are very informal. Dress casually. You don’t have to bring flowers or a hostess gift, but a thank-you email or phone call the next day is always appreciated.

- There are always leftovers at a potluck party. Don’t be surprised if your host offers you to take some home. (Yes, it’s OK to have leftover cake for breakfast. I won’t tell anyone.)

Potent potables

- BYOB means “bring your own bottle”. Even if the invitation doesn’t mention this, you’re expected to bring something to drink in addition to your potluck dish.

- If you bring a bottle of wine, it will usually be shared, or left open on the table for other guests to help themselves. Beers on the other hand tend to be consumed by the person who brought them – don’t ask me why, this is the Great Unspoken Rule of Canadian parties…

- Most guests will bring alcohol, but you don’t have to. A couple of bottles of juice or mineral water would be great too – few people think of bringing them, and everyone ends up thirsty!

Allergies and sensitivities

- Be aware that many Canadians have food allergies or sensitivities. Eggs, dairy, seafood, and peanuts are the most common culprits.

- Let people know in advance if your dish has these ingredients in it. To be on the safe side, I avoid nuts altogether in potluck dishes, as these allergies can be severe.

Last but not least…

- Even at an outdoor event, don’t smoke without asking first, and avoid wearing strong perfume. People around you may be more sensitive to cigarette smoke or strong scents than you realise.

- Finally, don’t forget that Canadians dine early – don’t show up at 9:00 pm expecting the barbecue to be still in full swing, unless you don’t mind being the only one still eating…

Happy Canada Day! (ahem… looks like the barbecue will be indoors this year, unless the rain stops soon…)

Emmanuelle

Image by reutC, via Flickr Creative Commons