7 Canadian Things I Still Do Living in England

When I’m not feeling well, I still want the same thing my mom used to make me in Canada. A grilled cheese sandwich, cut diagonally into two big triangles, with a little ketchup on the side. You can keep the tomato soup.

I was talking about the Canadian habits I’d kept in England in 2022, after six years here, and thought I might be on the edge of getting sick. I hadn’t definitely come down with anything, but a grilled cheese already sounded very appealing. Some familiar food habits were still firmly in place, however much else had changed.

Just give me the sandwich

My mom’s grilled cheese wasn’t only for being ill. If I was feeling down or generally having a bad time, it was something comforting she would make for me, and I still did the same for myself. She used to serve tomato soup alongside it, but the sandwich was the part I wanted.

To me, it starts with whatever bread you have, ideally very ordinary supermarket sliced bread. Nothing fancy. Margarine goes on the outside, with cheddar or Kraft Singles in the middle, or both if that’s what you fancy. I particularly liked the way the cheese slices melted.

Then it goes in a frying pan. Why do I call it grilled cheese when I’m frying it? I don’t know, and I’m not particularly concerned about it. The important finishing detail for me is cutting it diagonally and having that bit of ketchup. It was a lovely treat growing up, especially when I felt rough, and I was thinking I might make one later.

Coffee still wins

I’d tried plenty of British teas and had started drinking tea in winter, when the weather was really disgusting. At my core, though, I was still a coffee person. Living in England hadn’t changed that preference.

Tim Hortons was a good example of how familiarity and quality could be different things for me. I didn’t think it was particularly good, but it was very well known and I thought nostalgia played a part in its appeal. I hadn’t yet visited one of the UK branches when I made that account, so this wasn’t a verdict on a British visit.

Thinking about what I’d order took me straight back to childhood. I’d want an Iced Capp, an iced cappuccino, and an assorted pack of Timbits because I liked having a little of everything. Probably an everything bagel too, toasted with cream cheese or butter. I could want that whole order while still admitting I wasn’t calling Tim Hortons wonderful.

The crust gets a dip

Another habit that had followed me across the Atlantic was dipping my pizza crust. My ideal dip was ranch dressing, although the ranch I’d tried in the UK tasted a little strange to me. I didn’t know whether it was different or whether that was just my own reaction, so I couldn’t give you an explanation for it.

In England I’d usually go for Caesar dressing or a garlic and herb sort of dip instead. I’d dipped crusts growing up and had done it in Canada and America as well as here, but I wasn’t sure it was strictly a Canadian or American thing. I just knew that British people had mocked me for it often enough that I noticed.

I did have a limit. I wasn’t dipping the actual pizza, only the crust. Apparently that distinction was important enough for me to insist on it, even while defending the entire habit.

An October dinner I still wanted

I also liked celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving in England when I could. I thought of it as a giant Christmas-style dinner in October, with turkey, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and pies. It could be tricky to organise such a big meal, but I liked that family occasion and the food that went with it.

I didn’t normally go home in October; my visits to Canada were usually in summer. I still wanted to celebrate here, and at the time I was looking forward to getting together with friends the next month for American Thanksgiving. I loved living in England and learning about British culture, but I was happy to remain Canadian too, grilled cheese cravings and all.

Watch my original video about my Canadian comfort food habits in England.