Must-Try Food in British Columbia - Tasty Local Treats to Sample on Your Next Trip to British Colombia

Two seafood delicacies that are accessible to those who visit British Columbia include Sockeye salmon and Pacific halibut. The former is available from June to September while halibut is most often featured in local menus from March to November. These two seafood items not only appear in local community festivals and restaurant menus but also at home barbeques. In Vancouver, salmon is served grilled on a bed of rice when it's served at the August Powell Street Festival. The Steveston Salmon Festival, which is held in Vancouver's suburbs, on the other hand, tends to barbecue salmon. The costlier halibut is usually braised or roasted and available at Pajo's Fish & Chips and The Fish Counter.

Seasoned tourists and locals alike also love to dig into a plate of BC spot prawns as the crustaceans are a delicacy during a particular time of year. As one of the seven types of shrimp species found on the western coastline of Canada, the delicate taste and firm texture of the prawns is best enjoyed at the Spot Prawn Festival in Vancouver, an annual event in the area. Some of the best local restaurants to enjoy this delicacy include the Whistler Village restaurants located at the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre and the Blue Water Café while Miku is an eatery where they infuse the prawn into pasta, chowders, and sashimi dishes.

Fruit lovers and vegans holidaying in British Columbia will find that there's a berry for nearly every season in this region of Canada where the natural bounty matches the spectacular landscapes. Those who arrive in BC in June or July will find strawberries at every turn while blueberry season also lasts until the end of September. Raspberries are also frequently featured in local desserts from July to September. Expect to find fresh berry infused shortcakes, salads, and pancakes as BC is actually one of the largest blueberry cultivating areas in Canada and the world at large.

As a local cheese made in British Columbia, Comox Brie is a signature cheese manufactured by the Natural Pastures Cheese Company. Soft and mushroomy in texture, the buttery and cream-like cheese is runny and ideal for those who love to pair it with crackers. Having won many awards including the 2008 World Cheese Championship gold medal, the pungent cheese is named after the town of its origin, Comox.

Japanese food fans touring British Columbia must try this makizushi made using barbequed salmon or salmon skin, cucumbers, and sushi rice. As its name suggests, the dish was originated in BC and is considered a delicacy that was invented by Hidekazu Tojo, a Japanese chef who worked in Vancouver in the 1970s.