"Ottawa's hand-stretched fried dough — shaped like a beaver's tail, topped with cinnamon sugar or Nutella — became internationally famous when Obama queued for one in 2009."
About BeaverTails
Canada's iconic fried dough — whole-wheat dough stretched by hand into the shape of a beaver's tail, deep-fried and topped with cinnamon sugar, Nutella, or maple butter; invented on the Rideau Canal in 1978; the Obama visit to the Ottawa stall in 2009 made it internationally famous.
BeaverTails are Ottawa's most recognisable food — whole-wheat dough hand-stretched into the shape of a beaver's tail (flat, oval, about 25 centimetres long), deep-fried to a blistering golden exterior and a slightly chewy, bready interior, then topped with cinnamon sugar, Nutella, apple cinnamon, garlic butter or maple butter while still hot. The brand began in 1978 on the Rideau Canal.
When President Obama visited Ottawa in 2009 and stopped at the BeaverTails stall on the canal, the queue for the next three days stretched 45 minutes long. The flavour he ordered was cinnamon sugar. It remains the most popular option.
What to Expect
At the Rideau Canal stand in winter (when the canal freezes and becomes the world's largest natural skating rink) the BeaverTail arrives hot, the cinnamon sugar crackling on the surface. You eat it while skating, which makes it taste better than it would sitting down.
Why Try It
BeaverTails are specific to the Ottawa winter experience in a way that few foods are specific to a time and place. Eating one on a frozen canal in February, in full snow gear, is both ridiculous and exactly right.
Insider Tips
The Rideau Canal in winter is the correct context — skating and eating is the intended experience.
Cinnamon sugar is the best topping. Nutella is fine but less interesting.
The dough should be fresh-fried. Avoid stands where they're sitting under a heat lamp.
