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Cottage Life

9 delicious (and budget-friendly) Acadian comfort foods you have to try

Acadian cuisine is made for snug winter nights. With plenty of root vegetables, stewed meats, and rich molasses, these eastern-Canadian dishes are as frugal as they are delicious. Vegetables often take the starring role, nothing is ever wasted, and recipes are easily adapted to accommodate available ingredients. These nine Acadian dishes should be on everyone’s radar.

Chicken fricot

If chicken soup is the answer to any ailment, the delicate broth, chunky vegetables, and tender chicken of an Acadian fricot might just make it the best medicine around. Soft dumplings cooked in the soup’s steam take the comfort factor to the next level.

Chicken fricot Acadian cuisine with a bun on the side
Photo by Vanessa Chiasson

Corn chowder

Acadians might just do chowder better than anyone. Their creamy seafood chowders are legendary but humble corn chowder is not to be missed. Potatoes, onions, and creamed corn come together to make the coziest bowl imaginable.

Rappie pie

Generosity and community are at the heart of Acadian cuisine, and no dish personifies these qualities better than rappie pie. Many hands come together to make light work of the task of grating, draining, and then rehydrating the potatoes that top the poached meat. You’ll find this casserole at every Acadian family event in southern Nova Scotia and across the region.

Canadian Rappie Pie, an Acadian classic comfort food dish made with grated potatoes and chicken closeup in a baking dish on the table. Horizontal top view from above
Photo by Sergii Koval/Shutterstock

Meat pie

Acadian meat pie is a dense, delicious dish of seasoned shredded meat baked in rich pastry. A combination of pork and chicken is popular but in the olden days, other meats like stewed rabbit were often used. Excellent with a side of molasses or maybe some homemade pickled veggies.

meat pie on a white plate with a side of baked beans and pickled veggies
Photo by Foodio/Shutterstock

Fried smelts

Fresh fish, smoked fish, and salted fish all play a big part in Acadian cuisine but perhaps none is as tasty as fried smelts. These petite fish, popular with ice fishers, are irresistible when fried up with a bit of salt and butter and served with some fresh homemade bread on the side.

smelt fried in flour in a black pan close up view from above.
Photo by Venediktov Vladimir/Shutterstock

Mashed turnips and carrots

Root vegetables dominate regional menus, but that doesn’t mean that Acadian cuisine is all about potatoes. A mash of turnips or rutabagas and carrots, along with plenty of butter, salt, pepper, and maybe a splash of maple syrup, is popular at holidays and Sunday dinners.

Salted onions and salted herbs

The waste-not, want-not mentality of Acadian cuisine extends to condiments. Green onions, chives, and herbals like parsley are preserved with salt and stored in jars to save summer’s bounty well into winter to season every main course.

Molasses cookies

It’s impossible to imagine an Acadian kitchen without molasses. The thick syrup is equally at home in savoury dishes (like old-fashioned baked beans) as it is in desserts. You can find large, soft, lightly spiced molasses cookies in every Acadian grandma’s cookie jar.

Ginger molasses cookies with crackly top
Photo by Josie Grant/Shutterstock

Nun’s Farts

Yes, this is indeed a real dessert! Nun’s Farts or Pets-de-Soeur are pieces of leftover pie crust turned into a cinnamon bun-cookie hybrid. Brown sugar or maple sugar, cinnamon, butter, and evaporated milk turn leftover scraps into a delicious dessert—and usually a few giggles too!

Nun's Farts, Acadian cuisine and dessert
Photo by Vanessa Chiasson

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Cottage Life

What to do and what to eat in Summerside, P.E.I.

Conveniently situated in P.E.I’s western region (and only about 20 minutes from the Confederation Bridge), you’ll find the second largest city on the island. Summerside is home to great food, fun activities, and shopping for cottage visitors, residents, and tourists.

Before planning your next P.E.I. adventure, here are some places to eat, play, and shop when you visit Summerside.

Where to eat in Summerside

Summerside boasts many delicious opportunities, and it’s not hard to find local Island fare or a tasty treat when you are in the area.

For your next meal, stop at Deckhouse Pub and Eatery for a lobster roll or visit Brothers 2, a restaurant that has been serving Islanders for 50 years.

Coffee and tea lovers will be able to spend time at Samuel’s Coffee House sipping on their favourite beverage or enjoying a bite to eat.

If you are looking for a treat, Holman’s Ice Cream won’t disappoint with homemade flavours galore, or stop by Kool Breeze Ice Cream Barn for a sundae or cone.

If you are taking food back home or to your cottage, Water Street Bakery and Deli has sandwiches and pizza, as well as baked goods such as donuts, date squares, and pies. Be sure to stock up before you head out of town.

Where to shop

There are many local shops to check out, including Spinnakers’ Landing. Conveniently located right along the shore, this boardwalk-style shopping area is filled with local shops and places to eat, and from time-to-time, live music and entertainment.

Another great place to shop is the Summerside Farmers’ Market (seasonally, on Saturdays) for local food, produce, meat, cheese, and hand-crafted items.

What to do in Summerside

The city is home to historic sites and buildings with museums to visit and daily tours to take.

You can also visit the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, a celebration of P.E.I.’s sports history and achievements.

One of the newer additions to Summerside is The Knot Beach Bar and Rentals. Rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards for some on-the-water adventuring or rent their bikes to tour around. Afterwards, sit on their patio for a cold beverage by the beach front.

Get your tickets for the Harbourfront Theatre and one of their many upcoming musical shows, comedy acts, or special performances.

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Cottage Life

East Coast expected to see biggest cottage price hike in Canada in 2022

Atlantic Canada’s cottage market is expected to remain hot in 2022. Tied with Quebec’s 15 per cent increase, the East Coast is predicted to have the highest recreational property price gain in Canada this year. That includes waterfront cottages, chalets, cabins, and even recreational land used for camper trailers. According to Royal LePage’s Recreational Property report, the average price in Atlantic Canada will rise from $237,000 to $272,550 in 2022.

Following the rest of the country’s cottage markets, the price of an East Coast cottage has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic. Closed borders compelled Canadians to look for domestic retreats, and since many cottage owners have held onto their properties throughout COVID, it has kept inventory low, driving up prices with multiple offers.

Nova Scotia’s market, in particular, has piqued the interest of buyers. Thanks to the province’s affordable prices, Nova Scotia has become a compelling location for Ontario and Quebec prospective owners who have been priced out of their local markets.

“It’s about 50/50,” says Corey Huskilson, a real estate agent in South Shore, N.S. “Maybe even more Nova Scotians, actually. But with regular residential homes, we’re seeing a lot more out-of-province buyers.”

Further out on the Atlantic coast, Newfoundland’s waterfront cottage market has also experienced a jump. Combined with Nova Scotia’s market, the two provinces saw a 39.3 per cent increase in the price of a waterfront cottage between 2020 and 2021, rising from $239,000 to $333,000.

Year-over-year increase of recreational property price in Nova Scotia in 2021

Nova Scotia’s waterfront properties were in demand in 2021. The Annapolis Valley, which is located between two mountain ranges on the western side of the province, near the Bay of Fundy, led the way with a 70 per cent increase. The average price of a cottage rose from $210,000 to $357,000.

Cape Breton, on Nova Scotia’s eastern coast, followed with a 31.6 per cent increase from $266,000 to $333,000. Finally, the South Shore, near Halifax, saw a 16.8 per cent price increase, jumping from $315,000 to $368,000.

Who are the buyers?

As Huskilson said, Nova Scotia’s cottage market has seen interest from both Ontario and Quebec, but that segment will likely taper off in 2022 due to the government introducing a new property tax and a deed transfer tax aimed at out-of-province buyers.

“People who have not just purchased but inherited properties are now going to be paying more than double their yearly expenses for taxes. It’s a big hit. You can’t just sit on it like you normally would. It’s a full-on liability for people,” Huskilson says.

Aside from out-of-province buyers, there’s a lot of interest from young Nova Scotian families, Huskilson says. This segment could continue to grow as remote work becomes more established and out-of-province buyers are dissuaded by the new taxes.

What’s selling and what isn’t?

Waterfront properties are a key commodity right now, both oceanfront and lakefront. Oceanfront properties are more popular as four-season homes or cottages, while lakefront properties are in demand among those looking to take advantage of recreational boating.

“They’re all moving,” Huskilson says. “Everything from three-season, non-insulated, small little camps to high-end cottages.”

Future predictions for Nova Scotia real estate

Even with the new taxes and the reopening of international borders, Huskilson expects 2022 to be a strong year for cottages.

“I think it will hit pretty similar till at least the fall,” he says. “I don’t see a whole lot of change. I see a lot more [cottages] coming on the market, but more buyers are coming out of the woodwork. So, I don’t think it’s going to switch to a buyers’ market by any means.”

Year-over-year increase of recreational property price in Newfoundland in 2021

According to the Royal LePage report, most of Newfoundland’s cottage market is around the island in the province’s Central Region. Between 2020 and 2021, the area’s waterfront cottages saw a 22.1 per cent price increase, raising the average cost from $131,000 to $160,000.

Who are the buyers?

Unlike Nova Scotia, Newfoundland hasn’t had the same attention from out-of-province buyers. Instead, cottages are being snapped up by locals in their 30s or older with secure incomes, says Glenn Larkin, a realtor in Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. Since some sections of the island lack cell service, remote work hasn’t factored into driving sales, but the inability to travel has played a major role.

“People who have a good bit of equity in their house, now they’re saying, ‘Listen, we can’t travel to Florida, let’s let’s buy a summer cottage,’” Larkin says. During the pandemic, he even encountered some buyers who’d sold their Florida properties in favour of a local cottage.

Larkin isn’t convinced that the reopening of international borders in recent months has swayed too many Newfoundland buyers back to sunnier waters as the cottage market remains strong.

What’s selling and what isn’t

It’s not oceanfront that’s attracting cottagers in Newfoundland, it’s pond frontage. Rather than the large chains of lakes found in central Canada, the province features small ponds. Anything within a two-hour drive from St. John’s on a pond is popular, Larkin says.

“Those have sold very well, and have multiple offers, and are not on the market very long.”

Future predictions for Newfoundland real estate

Same as the rest of Canada, Newfoundland is experiencing a lack of inventory, especially in cottages, Larkin says. Compared to 2021, he feels there’s even less inventory on the market, but sales volume remains just as high.

Despite these trends, Larkin says he believes 2022 is going to be a changing of the seasons in terms of Newfoundland’s cottage real estate.

“Interest rates are getting hit. Gas is high. So, the problem you’re gonna run into is: I’m not going to buy a summer cottage that’s two hours away because the gas is too expensive to go to it,” he says. “It will have an effect. The farther [the cottage is] from St. John’s, the harder it’ll be to sell.”

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Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: South Shore, Nova Scotia

The most famous town on Nova Scotia’s South Shore lends its name to a prized Maritime architectural feature: the “Lunenburg bump,” a protruding dormer over a house’s main entrance. It’s not exclusive to Lunenburg but is seen as a mark of historical authenticity. Chester, closer to Halifax, is known as a summer playground for the well-heeled. Gatsby-esque waterfront places here are priced accordingly, so many people settle for a cottage on a side street, within walking distance of pubs and restaurants, the yacht club, and the theatre. From Chester, the ferry goes to Tancook Island, with its isolated, less expensive waterfront properties. Just west of Lunenburg, Bridgewater is the area’s commercial centre. Downstream, on both sides of the LaHave River, are some lovely shoreline properties with boating opportunities on the tidal estuary.

Along the South Shore, an affordable waterfront home may require some work and renovations to retain its historical character. Drive toward Liverpool and Shelburne and there are spectacular white-sand beaches.

 

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Cottage Life

Cottage real estate region: North and South Shore, P.E.I.

Waterfront property has long been something of an industry in P.E.I., and the whole province is smaller than the Greater Toronto Area, so we’re talking about a limited commodity. The first wave of construction was from the 1940s to the 1960s, and some of these rustic places may be available. A place one or two lots back from the water, with easy access to the beach, will be more affordable, while true oceanfront will definitely cost more.

The north shore (the Gulf shore) is more commercialized, especially near Cavendish, a tourist draw as the childhood home of author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The beaches here are protected Parks Canada land. Properties in the vicinity, especially near the Crowbush golf course, come at a premium for P.E.I.

The south shore is somewhat less built up than the north and offers great swimming in the relatively warm Northumberland Strait. For bargains, check out both tips of the island, especially toward O’Leary at the western end. If the price for waterfront seems too good to be true, there’s one word to consider: erosion.

 

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Cottage Life

Chicken Bones, the beloved Maritimes treat, is making its way into your cocktails

When most people think about chicken bones, a simmering pot of broth probably comes to mind. But for anyone with a connection to Canada’s Maritime provinces, Chicken Bones are the ultimate wintertime treat. 

First introduced by New Brunswick’s Ganong confectioners in 1885, Chicken Bones are a spicy cinnamon hard candy with a thin chocolate centre. The small pink rectangular treats bear a passing resemblance to their namesake, provided you have a bit of imagination.

 

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No East Coast Christmas table is complete without a cut glass bowl of this candy for snacking and occasionally stirring into hot chocolate. The team at Ganong also suggests adding them to raspberry cheesecake bites and sticky popcorn balls. But another company has come up with a modern twist on this old-fashioned flavour: a liqueur.

Chicken Bones Liqueur is the brainchild of New Brunswick’s Moonshine Creek Distillery. They introduced the candy-inspired spirit (which isn’t affiliated with Ganong) in late 2019 and to say it made a splash would be an understatement—New Brunswickers queued for hours just to get their hands on it. This year, bottles of Chicken Bones Liqueur are making their way across Canada. In fact, you might be offered a dram the next time you visit your cottage neighbours.

Here’s how to enjoy it: it’s lovely in any drink where you’d add a nip or two of Baileys, such as your morning coffee or late-night cocoa. And while it’s a dairy-free product, the spirit is perfect in creamy drinks. “My absolute favourite way to enjoy the Chicken Bones Liqueur is in eggnog. It’s perfect in its simplicity for the holiday season,” says Jeremiah Clark, CEO of Moonshine Creek.

Chicken Bones Liqueur is also very much at home in any recipe that relies on creme de cacao.  According to Jeremiah, a Brandy Alexander is particularly nice when made with Chicken Bones. He suggests a ratio of two ounces of aged brandy, one ounce of Chicken Bones, and one ounce of half-and-half cream. For an extra frothy treat, shake the ingredients without ice and top off the drink with some freshly grated nutmeg. 

However, for those who prefer things a little less creamy, the distillery’s “Dressed To Impress” cocktail will hit a refreshing note. It combines Chicken Bones Liqueur with blood orange juice, egg white, simple syrup, and other spirits for a brunch-friendly libation that would easily convince your friends to help you repair the dock and stain the deck.